Jesus as Healer in First Century Judaism

Jesus as Healer in First Century Judaism

This is a paper that analyzes Jesus as a healer at the time when he had to deal with first century Judaism.

Jewish law in the Old Testament prevented idolatry practices that prevailed before Judaism had an influence over people. Pagan rituals often consisted of worshippers making sacrifices to idols, and the initial prophets went through hardships to help these people change their ways. To begin with, the task of changing their beliefs was momentous, as preaching about a God that cannot be seen was difficult and opposed easily. However, with the grace of God, the prophets succeeded after persisting for many years.

As a result of the efforts of the prophets that came before Jesus, the Jewish world was well-versed in all the laws that they were given through the prophet Moses. These laws were rigid because they aimed at ameliorating the condition of the people and removing the pagan-inherent habits, such as the drinking of blood. In addition to laws regarding eating, there were also laws that prohibited immoral behavior, and they all were apparently meant to attain social stability in those times. (Green, 1993, 20) However, from the time that the Mosaic Law was given to man its practices were rigid but may not have been upheld in the right spirit. This is because these laws could easily be used to target particular individuals, resulting in death for severe crimes. This is perhaps a major reason why Jesus relaxed the law. A prime example of this is when he prevented an adulterous woman from being stoned to death. It was because of deeds like this that the Jewish hardliners resented Jesus. (Dmitri, 1999, 15)

The Jews had more reason to resent Jesus when he broke the Jewish law and ate without washing his hands. In addition to this, the Jews could not tolerate him because he claimed that he was the Son of God. But even when he tried to provide them with proof through his healings they accused him of gaining his power through Beelzebub. However, Jesus continued to preach not fearing any repercussions. (Ferguson, 1993, 44)

The ministry of Jesus appears to teach all followers that there one should not fear what one believes in and knows is true. This is because of the manner in which Jesus went about preaching healing and baptizing those who were in need of him.

Jesus healed the sick and cured the lame. He even made the blind see again and raised people from the dead. Healing the sick too was an act that he frequently carried out, as exemplified at Simon's house. "Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her." (Luke 4: 38) As usual, Jesus never refused anyone a healing and traveled wherever he had to in order to reach the sick. Jesus "stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them." (Luke 4: 39)

Word about the healing at Simon's house spread quickly in the area. By sunset "all they that had any sick with diverse diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ." (Luke 4: 40-41)

These were acts that none of the other prophets managed to do, and so, there was hatred yet fear developing while Jesus carried out his work on earth. This was because they did not really know for sure who he was. (Alkire, 2003, 20)

In addition to Jesus miracles that saved people from their sicknesses, evil possession and even death, he also worked miracles in times of despair when there was no food to eat. This is exemplified in the miracle that he worked when Simon was putting his nets away after having no catch in spite of waiting a long time.

Jesus asked Simon to lower his nets again into the water, and Simon responded saying, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing." (Luke 5: 5) However, Simon proved that he had faith by obeying Jesus and "let down the net." (Luke 5: 5) Almost immediately "they inclosed a great multitude of fishes...And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." (Luke 5: 5-7)

On one hand, the earlier prophets in the scriptures emphasize on the coming of a Messiah. On the hand, the Jews probably expected this Messiah to be someone who would reinforce the Jewish law, instead of bending and relaxing the rules.

On a particular Sabbath, the Pharisee's were ready to accuse him for working on this day as it is was forbidden in the Jewish law. As Jesus knew what was in their minds he first asked them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?" (Ch 6: 9) Jesus then proceeded to do what he wanted to "And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other." (Ch 6: 10)

Prior to the coming of Jesus, the prophet John also announced that he was forerunner for the Messiah. This is why John proclaimed a baptism with water which was to symbolism the washing away of sins so that the people would be prepared for the Messiah. John "came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (Luke, 3: 3-4)

John also said, "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Luke 3: 16) John the Baptist himself did not know what the Messiah would look like, and he only realized that the Messiah was in his presence after he had baptized him and a rift occurred in the sky. It was from here on that John would receive news about the work that Jesus did with the people up till the time of his death when Herod beheaded him in prison.