Physical and spiritual healing

I love Lord Wilmore's idea of miracles being physical miracles in their own right, but also symbols of the greatest miracle of all: The salvation through Christ and covenants and the ministry of angels.

One type of miracle that we read about frequently in the scriptures is healing from sickness. It is very often connected with one or several senses: Restoring eyesight or the ability to hear or speak, for instance. Reflecting on this, I have found multiple scriptures supporting the view that accounts of physical healing also point to the spiritual healing offered by Christ. Here are some examples:

The gospel of John

In John chapter 9, Jesus heals a man that was born blind and restores his sight. He also says in verse 5:

I am the light of the world.

In John chapter 11, Jesus raises Lasarus from the dead. In verse 25, he says:

I am the resurrection, and the life

Obviously, these statements mean something more than the literal, physical implication. Jesus is performing miracles to help someone in need but at the same time he point us to the greatest miracle of all that can help all mankind.

Isaiah 6

This is the chapter describing the calling of the prophet Isaiah. In verse 9 and 10, God gives Isaiah the following instructions:

9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Much poetry in Isaiah as usual. A parallelism in verse 9 and chiasmus in verse 10, seen by the reversed order of the colored words. The colored words are recurring key elements as we shall soon see. Healing is often linked to eyes, ears and heart. John 9 in the example above deals with one of them, eyes/vision.

Obviously, Isaiah is using symbols and not talking about a literal healing of senses. But using the physical senses as symbols we see how the physical and spiritual healing go hand in hand. In fact, John 12, the chapter after the last one quoted above, quotes this passage from Isaiah arguing that it was fulfilled when the people saw Jesus' miracles and still didn't believe. (See John 12:37-40). So when people saw Jesus heal the blind, for instance, they still didn't believe, implying that they "shut their (spiritual) eyes" as Isaiah prophecied - a reversal of the very act that Jesus performed when he opened the eyes of the blind man. 

This Isaiah passage is quoted no less than three times in the New Testament. Gileadi's comment to these verses:

The verb “go” denotes Jehovah’s actual commission of Isaiah as his prophet. The terms “these people” or “this people” (ha‘am hazzeh), however, reflect the people’s repudiation of their covenant relationship with Jehovah that is commonly expressed by the possessive “my people” (‘ammi). When they grow alienated, they see things their way, not his (Isaiah 55:8-9). Hence the words, “Go on hearing, but not understanding; Go on seeing, but not perceiving.” As Jehovah forewarns, a wayward people’s typical response when a prophet appeals to them to repent is to harden their hearts and dull their senses.

Although Isaiah’s role as a hardener of his people’s hearts seals upon them Jehovah’s condemnation, there exists a redeeming side to his prophetic ministry. “Seeing” with the eyes, “hearing” with the ears, “understanding” in the heart, and “repenting” at the same time constitutes Jehovah’s formula for “healing” or salvation. A remnant of Jehovah’s people—a “holy offspring” comprised of those who repent (v 13)—thus survives destruction in his Day of Judgment. Typifying them are Isaiah’s disciples, for whom Jehovah provides sanctuary at the time others suffer covenant curses (Isaiah 8:13-17).

King Benjamin

In the very beginning of his speech to the people, King Benjamin has a special request to the crowd

My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. (Mosiah 2:9)

In the next chapter, King Benjamin speaks of Christ's coming to earth

5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men. (Mosiah 3:5-6)

This is another example of senses used in a spiritual sense and a physcial sense. The physical healing is also symbol of spiritual healing and just a few verses later

And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men (Mosiah 3:9)

Jesus in America

My final example is also mentioning physical and spiritual healing in two successive chapters. When Jesus says "now I go unto the father" in 3 Nephi 17:4, the people wants him to stay a bit longer and he does. He asks:

Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. (3 Nephi 17:7)

The people bring their sick and afflicted to Jesus and he heals them. In the next chapter, Jesus says:

Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them. (3 Nephi 18:32)

Jesus repeats "I will/shall heal them" but this time it is about spiritual healing and salvation. A few verses later he also repeats "now I go unto the father" (3 Nephi 18:35) and this time he does. Demonstrating his healing power was one of the things that he wanted to do before leaving. 

The Great Healer, Jesus Christ, touched some people with his physical healing 2000 years ago both in Palestine and America. But if that were the whole point, he really didn't reach out to many of Heavenly Father's children. However, the point is to reach the whole world, all mankind, with healing power that the physical miracles merely foreshadowed. When we walk the covenant path, we need ears to hear, eyes to see and a soft heart. Whatever we lack, we can come unto Him and be healed. His great spiritual healing power reaches you and me today. 

The Brother of Jared as a Type of Christ

This article by Thomas R. Valletta highlights some of the symbolic connections between the brother of Jared and Jesus Christ. The article is long, and I'll likely summarize some of its main points in a few different posts. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy this type of symbolism.

One point made early on which grabbed my attention is the meaning of the Hebrew name Jared -- "He descends" or "he goes down." Thus, the brother of Jared becomes "the brother of him who descended."  I see a clear connection to the Fall.

The symbolic connections continue.

The story of the Jaredites begins at the Tower of Babel, which for many scholars represents a mockery/imitation of true temple worship.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11, KJV)

This effort was rooted in pride and a mockery of the true way, however, and resulted in the confounding of the language and scattering of the people.

Contrast this effort with the words of the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple:

24 We ask thee, Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship, and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity;
25 That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself;
26 That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house; (D&C 109)

In the Garden of Eden, man succumbed to the temptation of the devil and transgressed God's commandments in order to gain knowledge. As a result, they were driven out of the God's presence. Jared asked his brother to "cry unto [the Lord] wither we shall go." Similarly, Jared and his people were "drive[n] out of the land" but through their faith and cries to the Lord, they were led to a land of promise.

If Jared represents fallen man, his brother brings about the means of their salvation and journey to the promise land. The author of the paper suggests that his actual name might have been left out to point out to the reader that each of us has a brother just like Jared did who can do for us what the brother of Jared did for Jared.

The following table presents scriptural references comparing descriptions of the Brother of Jared with Christ:

Table 2

The Brother of Jared as a Type of Jesus Christ

The Brother of Jared Large and mighty man, highly favored of the Lord (Ether 1:34).	Jesus Christ “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Intermediary for his people (Ether 1:34–39).	One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).
Commanded to gather his people, flocks, and seeds (Ether 1:40–43).	How often would I have gathered thy children together (Luke 13:34).
Commanded to lead his people in their trek (Ether 2:1–13).	All are commanded to follow Jesus Christ (e.g., Matt. 4:19; 10:38).
Visited by the Lord in a cloud (Ether 2:4–5; 14).	Jesus visited by Father in cloud (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34).
Procured small transparent stones for the Lord to touch for light in the barges (Ether 3:1–4).	Jesus Christ is the light to lead us through darkness (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); He is also the stone or rock of Israel (Acts 4:11; 1 Cor. 10:4; Hel. 5:12).
Had a great vision of Lord on top of an exceedingly high mountain (Ether 3).	Jesus received divine messengers and was transfigured on a high mountain (Matt. 17:1–2).
Forbidden to write many of the things which he had seen (Ether 4:1).	Jesus charged his disciples after descending the mount to “tell the vision to no man” (Matt. 17:9).

There is a lot more detail to get into in future posts. It's an interesting connection to be sure.