Miracle Healing in Christianity

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Miracle Healing in Christianity

Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with 2.38 billion followers. It is based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospels contain many healing stories.

In the first century, Christians used anointing with oil to prepare the sick for heaven. As the Christian Church grew, it was no longer limited to Jerusalem. Missionaries spread the gospel to all corners of the globe. During the Middle Ages, some Christians expected healing to be rare. However, the Church soared from five to thirty million members.

Many Christians in the Middle Ages were not interested in prayer for healing. They were more interested in proving that their religious beliefs were true. Consequently, the practice of healing slipped to the margins.

The nineteenth century was an exciting time for Protestants. Some Protestants reported a “new birth” experience of forgiveness from sin. Others claimed that they were healed of sickness and were freed from the power of sin.

In the twelfth century, anointing of the sick was renamed extreme unction. This sacrament was only used when people were close to death.

Healings were often done in private homes. A Christian with a firm belief in the power of the Holy Spirit would not be hurt by any deadly substances.

In the early church, the Apostles performed exorcisms. Many unclean spirits recognized that Jesus was the Son of God. These possessed people called out to him. He responded with Scripture.

In the twelfth-century church, anointing of the sick with oil was renamed extreme unction. The purpose of healing was to prove that the praying person was holy.