When I read in the Gospels that Jesus healed, I assume that is the entire story because that is what is stated. I suppose that Jesus spoke or laid on hands or whatever, and the person was immediately healed. Well, that is not necessarily the case. The Gospel writers were cramming a 33-year life into a few short chapters, so chances are good that details have been left out.

Let’s explore the story of the crucifixion, for example. To answer the questions below you may want to chart all details mentioned in each of the four Gospels and then note what each Gospel writer added or skipped as they tell the story.

• Matthew’s version of what happened at the crucifixion is recorded in Matthew 27:32-52. Please read it and list each main detail. So, you would think this is the whole story, right?
• Mark’s version of what happened at the crucifixion is recorded in Mark 15:21-41. What new details do we discover?
• Luke’s version of what happened at the crucifixion is recorded in Luke 23:32-49. What new details do we discover?
• John’s version of what happened at the crucifixion is recorded in John 19:16-37. What new details do we discover?

Now that you see the fuller story, does it help you see that these abbreviated accounts in the Gospels are only a portion of all that happened? Each author is only putting in the details they sense are important for their readers to read, and each Gospel is written to a different audience. When you put them all together, do you get a fuller picture of the crucifixion event? Do you think that there may still be details beyond what the four Gospel writers describe?

Should I assume this same principle is true when it says, “Jesus healed everyone”? Would it be wise to understand that statement as a summary of what happened and that there is a lot of detail being left out? Does that statement tell how long it took for each person to be healed? Does it detail if part of the healing was instantaneous, and part appeared the next day or the next week? Does it explain the exact approach Jesus took in healing them? Does it describe if Jesus used different methods with different people? Should I be making assumptions when there are no details to back them up?

Journaling question

Lord, what do You want to speak to me concerning the stories I read in the Bible? How am I to look at them? How am I to understand them? Can I understand them through my reasoning alone, or do I need Your revelation? Do I need You to "open Scriptures to me" just as You did the disciples on the Emmaus Road?

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