Quote:
Originally Posted by Socialite
That helps me understand why Jesus would heal someone physically, even while telling them that their sins were forgiven.
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The ministry of healing that Jesus conducted during that brief three and a half year period of time is remarkably different than the ministry of any other human being in history. I think we've seen the primary component identified here: Jesus could forgive sins.
Many have argued, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever..." (
Hebrews 13:8). Yes, that's true. But
we are not the same person as Jesus Christ. I am well aware of the many passages that can be taken to mean things like
John 14:12; but I have yet to see any of the enthusiastic advocates of this line of thinking actually do any work that is even comparable to the least of the works of Jesus Christ, let alone "greater." I think that we may be missing something important in our understanding of
John 14:12 as a result.
It occurs to me that some may want to add that Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (
John 20:23). However, I don't think this passage involved the idea of the disciples actually forgiving sins in lieu of the Lord's own forgiveness as some practice the confessional.
I believe that there is healing provided for in the atonement. However, I think that we must expend a bit more patience while we await that great and final work of healing (
Revelation 22:2).
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