With such powers, Jesus could have become very rich. Instead, He lived and died with almost nothing. He never used His miracles selfishly (Matthew 4:1-10; John 4:3-8). Some miracles of the Old Testament had destroyed people. Jesus came on a mission of mercy. “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). Thus His miracles did no harm, even to enemies. His miracles carried a clear message of love and help for all, especially for the needy and suffering. When the 5000 men followed Jesus east of Lake Galilee, He “had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14). At another time, when Jesus fed over 4000, He said,
I have compassion on the crowd… I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest [in case] they faint on the way (Matthew 15:32).
Jesus was fully human, feeling much hunger, thirst, tiredness, sadness and pain. So He could feel the pains and needs of others. Jesus often reached out and touched sick people (Mark 6:5; 7:33; 8:23; Luke 4:40; 13:13) Even those with the worst illnesses, and with diseases that can be passed to others, were not left out.
While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him (Luke 5:12-13).
Were these true miracles of healing? Take a closer look. Jesus visited a pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem.
In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid [very sick] for thirty- eight years… Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked (John 5:3,5,8-9).
The best medicine could not have done what Jesus did. The man was so crippled that he had not walked in 38 years! Even if modern doctors might find a cure, they could never strengthen his leg muscles immediately. After the muscles were stronger, they would still have to help the man learn how to walk. Jesus healed and gave instant ability to walk. Here is a report from another visit to Jerusalem:
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth… Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”… So he went and washed and came back seeing (John 9:1,6-7).
Many knew this beggar who had been born blind. Jesus’ enemies had to admit that God’s hand had been at work (John 9:24). But they did not want to honor Jesus. So they tried to say that Jesus was a “sinner.” Though the healed man did not know Jesus well, to such things he replied,
“Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).
The healed man also said to them,
“Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing (John 9:30-33).
Some became upset that Jesus healed on the Jewish day of rest, the Sabbath. Jesus replied to them,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord [by himself], but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise (John 5:19).
So the miracles showed God’s own will and work. God cares for His people. He reaches out to meet their needs. Through Christ He sets right the things that are wrong.