Miracle Healing in Christianity

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Miracle Healing in Christianity

Currently, Christianity is the world’s largest religion with 2.38 billion followers worldwide. It is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. It teaches that Christ came to save human beings and to raise up their bodies and souls to life eternal. It is a faith rooted in compassion and mercy for the afflicted.

The Bible teaches that healings and miracles are part of the salvific work of Christ. He used His miracles to testify to His divinity and to His compassion for the afflicted.

In the Gospels, twenty to eleven percent of the accounts of Jesus’ public ministry focus on physical healings. Jesus commanded his disciples to heal the sick and cast out demons. He healed many people in first century Galilee.

In addition to physical healings, Jesus also performed exorcisms. He cast out unclean spirits who cried out to him. He also healed a deaf-mute man who shouted praises to him. Eventually, these healings became sacraments.

The early church was known for its apostolic practice of prayer for the sick. Elders of the church were authorized to anoint the sick with oil. This was later renamed extreme unction. This sacrament served as a spiritual preparation for heaven.

The apostolic Church was respected without prejudice by physicians and scientists. Some church leaders restricted the practice of praying for the sick, exorcisms and the casting out of demons.

The Catholic and Protestant churches have both continued to practice the healings of Jesus. Some churches have even gone so far as to identify saints. These saints were known for their exceptional faith.