The thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah is a prophecy beautifully extolling the
glories and virtues of Christ’s redemptive works. “The desert shall
rejoice and blossom as the rose.” “It shall blossom abundantly, and
rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given
unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of
the Lord, and the excellency of our God.... Then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall
the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.”
In Isaiah sixty-one, is another prophecy of the Savior: “The Spirit of the
Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good
tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them
that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Isa. 61:1,
2. Where this text is quoted in the New Testament, there is added, “and
recovering of sight to the blind.” Luke 4:18. This addition is found in
the LXX.
Again the prophet speaking of Christ said, “But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5. The
evangelist in speaking of the prophecy of Isa. 53:4, 5, says, “When the
even was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils:
and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick;
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Mat. 8:16, 17. In
verse thirteen is recorded the healing of the centurion’s servant: “Go thy
way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant
was healed in the selfsame hour.” When Jesus saw the mother of Peter’s
wife lying sick of a fever, he touched her hand and the fever left her,
and she arose and ministered unto them. Ver. 14, 15.
In the ninth chapter of Matthew is recorded the instance of the healing of
the man sick of the palsy, and of a woman who had been diseased for twelve
years, and of the raising to life of the daughter of a certain ruler; also
the restoring of the sight of two blind men. Jesus saith unto them,
“Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then
touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And
their eyes were opened.” “And Jesus went about all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
Ver. 35.
John, when in prison, hearing of the works of Jesus, sent two of his
disciples who asked the Savior, “Art thou he that should come, or do we
look for another?” Now John was acquainted with the prophecy of Isaiah
concerning the Christ, so Jesus said to the disciples, “Go and show John
again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight
and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead
are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them.” Jesus
told them that he was doing just what was prophesied that Christ should do
when he came, then this must certainly be he and we need not look for
another. Throughout his ministry the Savior continued to cast out devils
and to heal the sick. He gave his twelve disciples power “against unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease.” Mat. 10:1. Not only did he give the twelve such power
over Satan and sickness, but in sending out the seventy he said: “And into
whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set
before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The
kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Luke 10:8, 9.
Before Jesus ascended to the Father he commissioned his disciples to
preach the gospel, saying, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-18. Jesus was the “light of
the world,” because he had power over sin and disease. The church becomes
a light in the world in proportion to her power and purity, and when she
reaches the zenith of her power the same power is exercised by her as by
the Lord himself. After commissioning the disciples to preach, Jesus was
“received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went
forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming
the word with signs following.” Mark 16:19, 20. Although Jesus had
ascended to heaven, yet it is said that he was working with them as they
preached the word. Here was the secret of their power, “workers together
with God.”
Again Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Mat. 28:19, 20. The Lord
here gives promise to be with them unto the end. Although he ascended, yet
he says, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John
14:18. The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost came and dwelt in the midst
of God’s church in the same authoritative power over sin and demons that
Christ exercised before his passion. He now comes in the power of the Holy
Spirit, performing great deeds of wonder through his church. The church
only was visible, therefore became the light of the world. After Pentecost
the disciples did as Jesus commanded. They began to preach the gospel, and
Jesus working with them, many souls were saved. Peter and John on one
occasion “went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being
the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried,
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,
to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and
John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his
eyes on him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them,
expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold
have I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and
lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him
walking and praising God.” Acts 3:1-9. This miracle of divine healing was
done by faith in the name of Jesus. Ver. 16. The Lord was with his
disciples confirming the preaching with signs following.
In the ninth chapter of Acts is recorded an instance of the dead being
raised to life. Dorcas, who was a good woman, was taken sick and died. Two
men were sent for Peter, who when he was come was brought into the upper
chamber: “and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats
and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them
all forth, and kneeled down and prayed: and turning him to the body said,
Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter she sat
up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up: and when he had called
the saints and the widows, presented her alive. And it was known
throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” This was when the
church was the light of the world; when the whole pure gospel was preached
for the gospel’s sake, and men lived humbly before God, and were workers
together with him.
Paul escaping the waves was cast upon the island of Melita. He says, “The
barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire,
and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the
cold.” And when he had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the
fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And
when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said
among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath
escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. Acts 28:1-4. Now was
the promise given in the commission to prove true? Jesus said, “They shall
take up serpents.” Here Paul had taken one up. Should he trust in the
promise of the Savior, or resort to some antidote? It is said, He shook
off the beast into the fire and felt no harm. The natives were astonished
and God was glorified. Had Paul sought and obtained relief by medical
means, whatever brought the relief would have been worthy the praise. He
was living solely for the glory of God, and by trusting in God and God
protecting him it was thus that God was glorified.
The “gifts of healing” were placed in the church. See 1 Cor. 12:28. As
late as the year 60 A.D., twenty-seven years after the Lord had ascended,
James tells us what to do when sick. He says, “Is any among you afflicted?
let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you?
let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith
shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have
committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Jas. 5:13-15.
Thus the Lord worked in the midst of his people in the morning of the
gospel day. He gave them grace and power to live the same holy, humble
life he lived. He gave them power to cast out devils and to heal the sick.
By performing the works and living the life of Jesus the church was a city
set upon a hill, which could not be hid—a light in the world.