CHRIST JESUS promised his disciples that every form of error could be healed by spiritual means. This was his command: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. . . . And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." And this prophecy was fulfilled even in apostolic times; for Mark in his Gospel tells us that "they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
Our first serious consideration, then, is this imperative command; every obedient student of Jesus' teaching must heed it. And it is possible for each of us to demonstrate the truth, or Jesus would not have commanded us to do so. His own experience can be made our model.
Jesus considered the confirming of the word by works of first importance. Those desiring to know the truth, and also those seeking freedom from all manner of affliction, came to him for help. He healed all manner of sickness, sorrow, limitation, and sin. When John the Baptist sent "two of his disciples" to Jesus to inquire about his authenticity, saying, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another," John's attention was called to Jesus' healing work as proof that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
