Article August 5, 1985 Issue

Christ's healing touch

REITA N. DONALDSON

Human hands. Are they endowed, physically or spiritually, with healing power? Some people today think so. Christian churches have taken renewed interest in the Biblical practice called the laying on of hands. In some medical circles the human touch or near touch is considered therapeutic.

The Bible records that Christ Jesus sometimes reached out and touched those he healed: a leper, a woman with a fever, two blind men, and a man whose ear had been severed.^{See Matt. 8:2, 3, 14, 15 ; Matt. 9:27–30; Luke 22:50, 51.} But other healings were performed by the master Christian with no physical contact at all. In fact, some of these took place without his even being present. A good example is the centurion's servant, who was healed of a severe illness simply at Jesus' word.^{See Luke 7:1–10 .}

According to the Biblical record of his teaching and preaching, Christ Jesus never attributed healing power to the human touch. He turned his followers to the power of God, divine Spirit, as the restorer of physical health, strength, and life. He said plainly, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."^{John 14:10.} There is no implication here that the Father needs human hands to activate His omnipotence.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Christ's healing touch

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access