# If Jesus Could Heal the Sick and Raise the Dead **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 24, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211 "2007-01-24T07:18:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/1 "2007-01-24T07:18:06Z")
Then why didn’t he heal his crucifixion wounds after he rose from the dead? Yeah, I know he wasn’t planning on hanging around long, but I can’t imagine that it’d be much fun to walk around with freakin’ _holes_ in your feet! I doubt that there’s ever been an official explaination of this so I’m putting it here in GD, rather than GQ or IMHO, since I figure that any answers posted will be hotly contested. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/2 "2007-01-24T08:41:00Z")
Well, I suppose in the sense of the narrative (and the traditions subsequently built upon it), '‘doubting’ Thomas might today have been called ‘Thomas that fell away’. I guess the ‘official’ explanation is that Jesus was actually quite a different creature after the resurrection - if you can overcome death itself, how much trouble can a few holes be? ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/3 "2007-01-24T10:25:00Z")
It could be given that no amount of praying has ever cured someone who had an amputation, then it makes sense that his powers were not able to fill in the holes as the material was missing. Kind of limited powers for a being claiming to have created the Universe, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/4 "2007-01-24T10:30:00Z")
Nah, it can only be that _God wanted it to be that way, for some reason_. It’s the only thing that makes sense (within the context of Christian belief, even if you don’t happen to subscribe to it). I don’t think it could even be, at that point, a case of Jesus wanting the holes filled, but submitting to the will of the Father, who has a different plan, not after the resurrection. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/5 "2007-01-24T12:30:23Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Then why didn’t he heal his crucifixion wounds after he rose from the dead? Yeah, I know he wasn’t planning on hanging around long, but I can’t imagine that it’d be much fun to walk around with freakin’ _holes_ in your feet! I doubt that there’s ever been an official explaination of this so I’m putting it here in GD, rather than GQ or IMHO, since I figure that any answers posted will be hotly contested. [/QUOTE] Your question raises many other questions,such as why the people closest to Him didn’t recognize Him until he identified Himself to them? Some say he was in a glorified body,so perhaps he kept the holes to prove his identity? He was quoted as asking Thomas to put his finger in the holes. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/6 "2007-01-24T12:35:20Z")
[QUOTE=monavis] Your question raises many other questions,such as why the people closest to Him didn’t recognize Him until he identified Himself to them? Some say he was in a glorified body,so perhaps he kept the holes to prove his identity? [/QUOTE] In the case of the Road To Emmaus thing, taking it as read, I think it more or less explains itself as that their faces were downcast, they were introverted because they were upset. I have also heard it said that the moment of revelation occurred when he broke the bread either because they saw his hands at that moment, or because he had some specific way of giving thanks, but both of those are a bit speculative (as if all the rest isn’t). ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/7 "2007-01-24T12:57:15Z")
He didn’t want to have to rest for eight hours to get his spells back, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/8 "2007-01-24T15:03:29Z")
Because he knew he wouldn’t be walking on water anymore. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/9 "2007-01-24T15:07:27Z")
This is just SO disrespectful of Xian beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/10 "2007-01-24T15:08:28Z")
Don’t worry, I expect the biased moderators will just slam down on any of that right away. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/11 "2007-01-24T15:12:03Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Then why didn’t he heal his crucifixion wounds after he rose from the dead? Yeah, I know he wasn’t planning on hanging around long, but I can’t imagine that it’d be much fun to walk around with freakin’ _holes_ in your feet! I doubt that there’s ever been an official explaination of this so I’m putting it here in GD, rather than GQ or IMHO, since I figure that any answers posted will be hotly contested. [/QUOTE] Jesus was sent to Earth to serve as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He could have saved Himself, but He chose to allow Himself to be sacrificed to save us. John 3:16 and all of that. I am a Christian, and this is what I believe. EDIT: By “us” above, I mean humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/12 "2007-01-24T15:17:05Z")
According to Christian belief, Jesus willingly sacrified himself to atone for the sins of the world. Preventing or healing his own wounds would seem inconsistent with that. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/13 "2007-01-24T15:24:11Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] According to Christian belief, Jesus willingly sacrified himself to atone for the sins of the world. Preventing or healing his own wounds would seem inconsistent with that. [/QUOTE] By exactly the same logic, so would rising from the dead. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/14 "2007-01-24T15:25:46Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] According to Christian belief, Jesus willingly sacrified himself to atone for the sins of the world. Preventing or healing his own wounds would seem inconsistent with that. [/QUOTE] But once He has sacrificed Himself and been resurrected, why doesn’t He heal Himself? ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/15 "2007-01-24T15:37:21Z")
Having visible wounds reminded people of his sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/16 "2007-01-24T15:44:32Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] By exactly the same logic, so would rising from the dead. [/QUOTE] NO! rising from the dead is his victory over death. What he came here to do. As for healing his wounds, what for? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/17 "2007-01-24T17:46:53Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] This is just SO disrespectful of Xian beliefs. [/QUOTE] What specifically? The OP or the D&D and walking on water jokes? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/18 "2007-01-24T18:59:16Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] As for healing his wounds, what for? [/QUOTE] Because he could? Isn’t that what the OP is asking? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/19 "2007-01-24T19:10:39Z")
[QUOTE=Mayo Speaks!] Jesus was sent to Earth to serve as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He could have saved Himself, but He chose to allow Himself to be sacrificed to save us. John 3:16 and all of that. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Steve MB] According to Christian belief, Jesus willingly sacrified himself to atone for the sins of the world. Preventing or healing his own wounds would seem inconsistent with that. [/QUOTE] The entire idea is irrational; how can can anyone atone for anyone else’s sin ? And why was it necessary anyway ? Healing, or not healing the wounds doesn’t make it any less of a silly idea. I expect it was just so he could dramatically show them off in the story. It’s story logic, not normal logic that’s involved. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211/20 "2007-01-24T19:28:44Z")
[QUOTE=ITR champion] Having visible wounds reminded people of his sacrifice. [/QUOTE] So then what happened to the spear hole in his side, or, for that matter things like petequial hemorrhage in his eyes or the lacerations around his head? Brain damage from the increasing lack of oxygen before death? Coagulated blood from rigor after his death? Were those healed, or not? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-jesus-could-heal-the-sick-and-raise-the-dead/389211.md?page=2)