BULLETIN ARTICLE – 3 June 2018
In the early Jerusalem Church, there are many miracles that took place in Israel to show the people that the God of Miracles was moving in special ways to introduce the Messiah, the resurrected Jesus to the world. The Apostle Peter performed two great miracles in Lydda and Joppa. He healed Aeneas from his paralysis and raised Tabitha from the dead. Although the miracles are remarkable, it is only by the power of the resurrected Jesus that these miracles are possible in the first place.
To be paralysed and bedridden for eight years is a long time. Aeneas was a man who was unable to find any natural means of being healed. He probably visited numerous physicians for healing, all to no avail. Yet he was not born paralysed and could very well recall the days when he walked about freely or was strong and active. What a torment it must be, to lose the ability to walk or move on his own — how close it could bring him to desperation and despair! When Peter told Aeneas: “Jesus Christ heals you”, it points to the fact that what is impossible for man, is thoroughly possible for the God of Miracles. It is no coincidence that this episode mirrors Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus asked them: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed, and walk?’” Jesus, by forgiving our sins and restoring us as children of God, has done something far more miraculous and valuable. If miraculous physical healing is already so impressive, how much more we need to thank God for the miraculous healing of our internal disease of sin.
Similarly, when Peter raised Tabitha from death to life, we are reminded of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. More importantly, Jesus himself died on the cross at Calvary and resurrected on the third day. Death has no victory and death has lost its sting. Jesus has gone before us, raised from dead, and we can be completely assured of his victory over sin and death. As Jesus told Martha in Bethany when he raised Lazarus from the dead: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) Do we believe this? It is wonderful for us to believe in our God of Miracles.
