Healing is nothing alien to biblical tradition. Healing has been present among the people of God from earliest times (Exod 15:26) and was linked to faith in the living God (Num 12:10-16; 21:4-9; Isa 38:1-6; Sir 38:9-15). Particularly in the New Testament, healing is accorded a pointed significance. Matthew unambiguously states: "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom ... curing every disease and every sickness" (Matt 9:35). In contrast to other religious traditions, healing is nothing marginal within Christianity. This is due to the imprint of not only the ministry of Jesus but also that of his disciples. Jesus sent them out to do as he did, namely, "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal," giving them "power and authority over all demons ... to cure diseases" (Lk 9:1-2; 10:9). The risen Christ reconfirmed this mandate: "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation ..." adding that by using his name "they will cast out demons" and "will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mk 16:15-18). The book of Acts shows that the apostles did, in fact, pay heed to this command--Peter and Paul being the most prominent, though not the only, examples. (1) And when writing to the Corinthians Paul acknowledged that healings are graciously granted gifts (charismata) of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:9-10). (2)
