Witnessing and Believing in Healing
A. What happened to two people
1) Aeneas
As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (32-35)
2) Tabitha
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. (36-41)
B. What is happening today
This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. (42,43)
1) Healing
2) Belief
Summary
Jesus used Peter to heal the sick and to bring the dead back to life. Such things are possible even today, if God is willing. It is good for people to witness healing and miracles, but we need to remember that they are often the exception rather than the rule for how God reveals himself to us. The important thing is God drawing near rather than the extraordinary event itself. Even if we don't experience healing or miracles, we are witnesses to the greatest miracle of all: receiving new life by the mercy of God. His mercy is most often revealed to us, not by large-scale miracles or healing, but in our daily lives. The crowds who gathered to witness Jesus' miracles and his healing certainly got a glimpse of his power, but few of those people began to follow Jesus in earnest because of what they saw. Healing and miracles are expressions of God's mercy; they are not tools that should be used to introduce others to Jesus. In the gospel of John, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29). This is also applicable to the idea of healing and miracles.
For Discussion
1) Should we long for miraculous signs and wonders today?
2) Why is it problematic to be too focused on healing and signs?