In the New Testament, there is a wide range of healing miracles attributed to Jesus, healing various physical ailments, including blindness, deafness, paralysis, and fevers. These healings often involve him touching the person, speaking words of healing, or simply their faith in him. As someone who has worked in a medical environment, I see healing miracles in a different light.
In a society like occupied Israel, it would not be unusual to find illnesses that we may think of as modern disorders, such as depression, chronic pain, anxiety and panic disorders, trauma-related disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, adjustment disorders. Psychogenic paralysis is also a phenomenon where individuals experience loss of motor function without any apparent physical cause that has a long history. In some instances, psychological factors like extreme stress or trauma can lead to temporary blindness or deafness, often referred to as functional or psychogenic blindness or deafness.
Many of the behaviours associated with demon possession, such as altered states of consciousness, agitation, and unusual speech or movements, are seen today as indicative of various mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or dissociative disorders. These conditions have in many cases been known to be resolved when the underlying psychological issues are addressed.
Ulrich Schaffer, a German who studied German and English in Vancouver and Hamburg, writes about the more conscious life, love and how it expresses itself in solid relationships and friendships, nature and our attitude towards it and the questions of faith and hope. He wrote a little anecdote that is often quoted: “You go ahead,” said the soul to the body, “he won’t listen to me. Maybe he will listen to you.”
The body answered the soul: "Well, I’ll get sick, then he’ll have time for you!”
Today, we are continually reminded in this way to care for the soul. However, the reason that we think of the above illness as modern conditions is only because we have given them a clinical name. These conditions can all be linked to psychological factors that have been around for as long as human beings have suffered, and generally it is a holistic approach that addresses both physical and psychological aspects that is needed to provide the best care for individuals with these conditions but historically has seldom been available.
Jesus is consistently depicted as having deep compassion and empathy for those who are suffering. He is moved by their pain and suffering, which often prompts him to heal. With Jesus addressing the destitute needing something to eat and something to drink, or outsiders needing an invitation, those who are in rags that needed to be clothed, and especially the sick who needed looking after, or in prison and needing support, he is addressing what is translated as “the least” of people, signifying their estrangement and rejection in society. His parable speaks of the faithful who are spontaneously merciful and compassionate, and in so doing serving God. I see it as the first steps to healing a community, not just individuals. People with strong social support networks and a sense of community tend to fare better in terms of overall health and recovery from illness.
Of course, Jesus’ healing ministry was not limited to physical ailments. He also offered spiritual healing and forgiveness of sins, which he often emphasized as being equally or even more important than physical healing. The mind-body connection is well-documented, and negative emotions and stress can contribute to physical symptoms. We know that forgiveness can play a significant role in the recovery from various illnesses, as it is closely linked to emotional and psychological well-being. High levels of stress and anxiety are known to exacerbate psychosomatic symptoms, so forgiveness can be a valuable tool in reducing these emotional triggers.
I see Jesus’s interpretation of the Messiah in the words, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”
And when He stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-20)