Jesus is the “Great Physician” according to Mark 2:17. He came to cure the sick and poor in spirit and to heal our souls and restore our relationship with God. In his time on earth, to show his power not only did he heal spriits and of course provide “the cure” on the cross of the horrible affliction of sin, but he also healed many physical maladies, including death itself.
While he likely did more miracles than we even know, we do know about some of them as related in the Gospels. These acts took place across Israel and today some of them you are actually able to visit.
Capernaum
Capernaum held much importance in the ministry of Jesus. Not only did he live there, but several of his disciples also were from there, including Peter. With so much time spent there, he of course did miracles there as well.
John 4:43-54 speaks of when Jesus was returning to the Galilee from celebrating Passover in Jerusalem. A nobleman in Cana (another place you can visit) came to Jesus and told him his son was very ill in Jerusalem. Jesus told him to go home and his son would be well. When the man arrived, he found his son had been cured just as Jesus said it would.
In Matthew 8 a Roman Centurion came to Jesus worried about his suffering servant. The centurion had great faith and believed Jesus could heal his servant without going to his house, which he felt he was not worthy to have Jesus do.
Matthew 9 tells of the friends who lowered their paralyzed friend through a roof in order to get to Jesus for him to be healed, a true testament of good friends who will do anything to get you to Jesus in your time of need.
Also, as told in Mark chapter 1, Jesus healed Simon-Peter’s mother-in-law. This specific home is still able to be visited in Capernaum. Pilgrims have been visiting this 1st century home since the 2nd century as the home where the healing too place. The scriptures go on to say that many other people were also healed that day, so everywhere you walk, Jesus’s power was probably shown!
Jerusalem
Pools of Bethesda
As you walk through Jerusalem you will notice and learn that much of the city is layered upon where Jesus would have walked. Then you look come to the Pools of Bethesda and you look down into them and see a place Jesus performed a well-known miracle. Jesus was in Jerusalem observing another of the Jewish festivals. While going by the pools, Jesus healed a paralytic man and told him to pick up his mat and walk, which he did.
Pool of Siloam
A pool that was undiscovered until 2005, the Pool of Siloam held massive importance during Jesus’ time with a path to the Temple for ritual cleansing. As told in John 9, Jesus spit in the dirt and created mud, putting it on a blind man’s eyes. He then sent him to the pool to cleanse the mud from his eyes, where the man found his sight had been restored. You can visit this pool and imagine the man’s excitement as he saw the world around him!
Jericho
Jericho’s history in the Bible goes back to the Old Testament and is one of the first cities that the Hebrews attacked after they crossed into Canaan and brought the city’s walls down after circling the city seven times. It had once been a mighty city, but by Jesus’ time the ancient city was gone and a new settlement had been started by Herod in its place. In Mark 10, Jesus heals a blind beggar on the side of the road who called to Jesus even though others told him to be quiet until Jesus came to him. A wonderful lesson for all! You can still visit Jericho and see the location where this event happened.
Chorazin
While the Bible does not list any specific miracles that took place in Chorazin, Jesus equates what he did there to the acts in Capernaum. Jesus told them that due to their unbelief in the presence of such acts, they would be judged severely, as would Capernaum and Bethsaida. It is reasonable to believe that these signs and wonders would have included healings. Today the ruins are maintained as a National Archeology Park.
As the world continues to face illness and affliction, the hope of Jesus’ healing power holds no less wonder and awe today as it did then. When you visit these places, you are reminded of the promise and hope that Jesus offers and that he does care for not only our souls but for our bodies as well. We hope to be able to show you these places soon so you may also be reminded!
