Two temptations when it comes to the absence of a MIRACLE

  • EMOTIONAL – When we suffer we are tempted to feel that either God is a) not good, or b) not transcendent.   But…“If you have a God great and transcendent enough to be mad at because he hasn’t stopped evil and suffering in the world, then you have a God great and transcendent enough to have good reasons for allowing it that you can’t know. You can’t have it both ways.” — Tim Keller
  • INTELLECTUAL – We may believe that God has stopped performing miracles, because they hinder, not empower our faith. This is called CESSATIONISM: Cessationism is the theological belief that the miraculous spiritual gifts—such as prophecy, tongues, and gifts of healing—were intended by God to function uniquely during the foundational era of the church and ceased with the close of the apostolic age.

 

Mark 1:29-34  This isn’t just a story about one woman’s fever. It’s a snapshot of what the world looks like when Jesus is King — sickness is banished, people are lifted up, and community is restored.

 How was she healed? According to a GOSPEL pattern:

  • Incarnation – Jesus came close and touched her hand.
  • Redemption – Jesus rebuked the disease with words – Luke 4:39 CSB So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them.
  • Resurrection – Jesus raised her up with a complete restoration, and in gratitude she served them.

What was the nature of the healing for the crowds?

  • Discerning – Physical ailments and spiritual affliction were different from each other
  • Irreligious - Jesus healed in spite of adherence to the Sabbath or connection to the synagogue

 

Biblical Healing: Biblical healing is the gracious and sovereign work of God—through Jesus and by the Spirit—that restores aspects of physical, emotional, or spiritual life as a sign of the in-breaking kingdom, a foretaste of the coming wholeness in the new creation, and a witness to the power of the gospel, to the glory of God alone.

  1. Healing is not guaranteed in this life but is promised in the coming resurrection – Miracles are uncommon. That’s why they are called miracles.
  2. God uses ordinary and miraculous means of healing – Both medical and supernatural are methods at God’s disposal.
  3. Healing never occurs without faith – Healing is not formulaic; it is deeply dependent and trusting.
  4. Lack of healing is not always due to a lack of faith – Nowhere does the Bible say that failure to healed is always the result of sin or insufficient faith.
  5. Suffering and unhealed pain can deepen faith - God often works more deeply through suffering than by removing it. He doesn’t glorify suffering but insists it can lead to spiritual transformation.
  6. The church should pray boldly yet humbly for healing – The normative pattern of healing is within the local church community.
  7. Healing serves the mission of the gospel, not human comfort alone - Healing is a sign that points to the in breaking kingdom of God, meant to; strengthen faith, glorify Christ, and advance the gospel—not merely to make life more comfortable.
  8. The greatest miracle will always be salvation from death-in-sin to life-in-Christ - This begins spiritual and fulfilled physically. This miracle is available to everyone.