Suppose a person claims to be a miraculous healer, but finds that he cannot attempt the impossible. To keep up his claim, all he can do is to attempt the possible. That is, he only attends to cases that can appear successful. Instead of straightening an obvious deformity, he adjusts a leg that might have been slightly shorter or longer than the other. Instead of healing a serious amputation, he treats an unseen discomfort. Hence much of modern faith-healing focuses on headaches and stomach complaints. There is certainly no shame in addressing internal conditions. Jesus Himself was touched by a woman whose condition was not obvious to most people, and “instantly the woman was made well” (Matthew 9:22). However, that was one example among many which, when put together, covered the entire range of afflictions. As Matthew 9 goes on to testify,
Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction (Matthew 9:35).
How convenient, to heal invisibly. It is easy for any self-proclaimed healer to say he succeeded. The sick person may even feel better. But there is no way to check whether anything happened, much less anything miraculous. How, then, can such things be tested?