We have discussed the test of what people attempt as they claim miracles. The real issue, however, is not just about attempting, but succeeding. Even if someone is bold enough to try the same range of healings as Jesus, does he have the same success of Jesus? Surely that is a fair question when the person claims to heal like Jesus. In fact, some faith-healers are fond of saying that they do more than Jesus did. They quote John 14 in which Jesus said to His disciples,
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).
If they promote their miracles as greater, then they agree to a very high standard. For Jesus addressed every kind of illness. Furthermore, He succeeded every time. Even when it did not fit Jesus’ specific purpose at the time, He still healed all who came to Him. This included a time when Jesus visited a foreign city briefly. A Canaanite woman there begged Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus had been sent to serve the Jews in a special way, as part of God’s plan. Yet Jesus said to her, “Be it done for you as you desire.” Then the Scripture says, “And her daughter was healed instantly” (Matthew 15:21-28). When Jesus returned to Galilee, many more people were brought to Him. He helped with each and every need, no matter how hard.
And great crowds came to Him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at His feet, and He healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel (Matthew 15:30-31).
This accomplishment is all the more remarkable for the vast crowds and the great variety of illnesses. Jesus’ complete success had been the case all along.