LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE HEALING

Some things in Scripture are meant to be read literally, and some figuratively. 

To me, the most fascinating aspects of Scripture are those passages meant to be read both literally AND figuratively.

In other words, through so much of Scripture there are two levels of meaning. And most often, the figurative is the more important. 

Because the figurative points to spiritual truths.

The Egyptian slavery is a figure of human slavery to sin.

The lamb sacrificed at the first Passover – during the worst and final plague – is a figure of Jesus.

Crossing the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land is a figure of baptism.

Moses is another figure of Jesus. The mysterious priest Melchizedek who visits Abraham is also a figure of Jesus. 

Even the snake raised on the staff by Moses is a figure of Jesus. (One of my favorites because of its simplicity.) 

Jonah in the belly of the fish is used by Jesus Himself as a figure of his death and resurrection.

Noah’s Ark is a figure of the church, a place of refuge in the midst of a wicked generation doomed to destruction. 

This trend continues in the New Testament.

Jesus takes a handful of literal fisherman and tells them He plans to turn them into figurative “fishers of men”.

In my opinion, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John picked his four stories of healing based on their figurative significance to Jesus' true mission.