In the Name of Jesus

I remember watching a show that interviewed centenarians and to what they credited with their advanced age.  The ironic thing was many of them admitted habits and choices of food and drink that would not be considered healthy--like smoking cigars and cigarettes, eating chocolate, drinking beer, and downing shots of whisky or Worcestershire sauce.  There were some healthier habits credited, like walking, swimming and dancing, but for the large part I doubt there was any medical or scientific evidence to support the health supporting things people swore by.

In God's wisdom, Jesus came to earth and did miraculous works and signs that could not possibly be attributed to anything or anyone other than Him.  When else did mud placed on the eyes cure blindness?  At what point in history did water turn to quality wine in an instant?  There was no formula Jesus followed, no magic incantations, amulets, charms or gathering of obscure items to bring cures.  His power over demons, illnesses, permanent conditions and even death was breathtaking.  And He did it so simply, so easily, people could not believe their eyes.  After Jesus caused a man born blind to see, the Pharisees grilled him on how Jesus did it.  The man said, "He put mud on my eyes and told me to wash in the Pool of Siloam.  I washed and now I see."  The power to heal was clearly not in the clay but in Christ.

Jesus was different than all the pagans and idolators before Him because He did not appeal to any deity, spirit, or anyone else:  by His own word alone He cast out demons, caused the blind to see, the lame to walk and even the dead to rise.  He often commanded ill people to do what they literally could not do, and by exercising faith in obeying Him they were instantly healed.  When a man with a withered hand was brought to Him Matthew 12:13 tells us:  "Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other."  Jesus said concerning a paralytic carried to Him in Matthew 9:6-7:  "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." ⁷ And he arose and departed to his house."  People glorified God for what was done, for Jesus alone had power to heal and forgive sins.

One thing I observe after Jesus ascended to heaven in the sight of His disciples, that they spoke in Jesus' name to ascribe all power to their Saviour who heals and does wonders.  Acts 3:6-8 says, "Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God."  When Paul encountered a spirit of divination in a slave girl, he said to the spirit in Acts 16:18, "...I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour."  In the name of Jesus, His born-again disciples are endowed with power to do God's will by the Holy Spirit.  May God's people be quickened to exercise faith in Jesus so He might work powerfully through us, and may there be no other possible explanation for miraculous works done except that Jesus has done them.