For the mature Christian; a somewhat controversial question in relation to Jesus not taken the initiative in?
healing:
After some very careful study, I noted the following:
The fact that our Lord so seldom took the initiative in healing the sick comes as a surprise, but it is clearly and undeniably the impression given in the records of His healing ministry.
There are four cases where Jesus Himself took the initiative.
There are seven cases in which the sick took the initiative.
There are thirteen cases in which others took the initiative.
And there are two cases in which the enemies of Jesus appear to have taken the initiative.
If anyone would like to ponder over the cases mentioned, email me and I shall forward them.
Question:
Why is it that our Lord so seldom took the initiative in healing the sick?
[For example; the most interesting record of all in this connection that I can find, is that of the healing of the impotent man by the pool of Bethesda in John: 5: 1-9. Around and between the twin pools of Bethesda King Herod the Great had built five porches to shelter the sick who gathered there because of the healing reputation of the waters. In these porches 'lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame paralysed' (v.3). Jesus comes into their midst and chooses only one of the multitude for healing, and withdraws quietly and quickly after he has healed him, what an opportunitry He missed here.]
But there is a clear reason for doing so, hence the question.
The healings of Jesus occurred for the very reasons miraculous healing occurs today, and that is that the will of God might be shown. When asked who was responsible for a man’s blindness, Jesus responded:
Jhn 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The "works of God" are not made manifest at charlatan tent revivals and neither are they made manifest by allowing a child to die needlessly by refusing them medical treatment. They are quite rare and are done at the will of God.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
It was all smoke and mirrors. Where do you think Benny Hinn got his ideas.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Technically, Christ took the initiative by coming to earth to live amongst us and subsequently dying on a cross.
Christ has done the work. We need to reach out, realizing we are in need of it.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 6:52 pm
John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 7:03 pm
The healings of Jesus occurred for the very reasons miraculous healing occurs today, and that is that the will of God might be shown. When asked who was responsible for a man’s blindness, Jesus responded:
Jhn 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The "works of God" are not made manifest at charlatan tent revivals and neither are they made manifest by allowing a child to die needlessly by refusing them medical treatment. They are quite rare and are done at the will of God.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 7:38 pm
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
References :
http://www.bibleuniverse.com/bible-school.aspx
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 pm
He was fulfilling scripture. He knew this man needed faith.
Here is another thought. The man at the pool was telling people to jump in. Do you think he was lying and giving people false hope. After Jesus made him walk, he told him not to tell anyone, but the man ran off and told all.
also, read the passage in the NIV and KJV, there are missing verses in the NIV (about the angel stirring the pool)
I think Jesus was just proving a point.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 pm
healing someone spontaniusly is something ‘unbelievable’. When Jesus healed people, whether they took the initative or not, they had to believe for it to come true , that jesus could actually heal them.
For example the sick woman who touched Jesus’ cloak was healed, the disciples were angry because she used Jesus and took some of his power but Jesus said to her that because she had faith he could be healed.
So it is a matter of helping others and spreading peace but also faith.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Here’s a supplemental topic of study: How many times do the scriptures ask us to "come unto him" or to "follow Him" or some such form of us going to Christ. Christ is willing and ready to help us, but I think that most scripture, including your astute observation, indicate that we must be the ones to accept Christ before he can heal us.
All Christians will tell you that you need to accept Christ before he can heal you of your sins, I don’t believe that physical healing is different. Even in the examples where you say Christ took the initiative, I would be willing to be he told the sick that it was through faith they were healed.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Good point. For that matter, you’d think He would have simply raised His hand and cast all the demons out…out of everyone, for all time. Think of it…do you suppose in addition to lepers a few folks may have had bad teeth? A short leg? Erectile dysfunction? Bad breath? The whole lot of ‘em could have been made well and happy.
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http://www.religioustolerance.org/
http://godisimaginary.com/video1.htm
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1xFg9w/www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DbGoYbjzy8-s
You have GOT to rent "Religulous" with Bill Maher–
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Jesus Christ and his original male and female disciples were devout,observant first century Palestinian Jews who were familiar with Old Testament Levitical laws and even the laws listed in the book of Deuteronomy regarding healing,sick people being quarantined,and,even having a Levitical priest examine the sick person,which is what he told one of the nine lepers to do after laying his hands on ten of them as he and his disciples were travelling somewhere from one town to the next in Galilee,in northern Palestine at that time,which is now northern Israel.
I think this story is in three out of the 4 gospels.Only one of those ten lepers thanked him,but,it’s that one that he told to go to the local levitical priest to get examined.
As devout first century Palestinian Jews,Jesus Christ and his original male and female disciples did their best to obey basic Old Testament laws as far as anything was concerned,especially praying for people and healing the sick. Many of Jesus Christ’s disciples were originally followers of another prominent first century Palestinian Jewish preacher,John the Baptist.Jesus Christ and John the Baptist weren’t the only itinerant preachers of their time period in first century Palestine.
There’s been others,like Honi the Circle Drawer and Hennina ben Dosa.
I don’t think Jesus Christ "missed" healing opportunities,but,because of how first century Palestine was a part of the Roman Empire at that time,and,also how some first century Palestinian Jewish groups stirred up revolts against the Romans at that time,it goes without saying that Jesus Christ,at several points in his three year ministry before he was crucified,had to be very careful about many things that he said and did,so that he wouldn’t get caught by the Romans and crucified earlier,that’s why!
By the way,the name of the first century Palestinian Jewish group that was always trying to stir up trouble with the Romans was called the Zealots,and,Jesus Christ had a male disciple who was a Zealot,and,his name was Simon.
What got Jesus Christ crucified was the fact that,when he and his disciples spent Passover Week in Jerusalem,he not only turned over the tables of the money changers in Herod’s Temple,but,when he taught in Herod’s Temple,he didn’t have the legal authority to teach there.
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My own knowledge and experience.