This is a half-truth. Some of Jesus' miracles are called signs, implying that they were proofs of his claim to deity. While that was part of the purpose for his healings, it was certainly not the sole purpose. Even one healing of a blind man could have established that. Jesus healed primarily because God wanted to heal the people! He said that he always did what pleased God, so God was pleased to heal those people.


Jesus was moved with compassion, not desire to prove his deity

Jesus did not put on a circus. He told many that he healed not to tell anyone what had happened. If his motive were proving his deity, he would have said, "Go tell everyone to come to my next service -- I just proved that I'm God!"

Jesus' motive for healing the sick was compassion. Yes, the miracles did prove something, but his motivation was not publicity. At times, he wanted to be alone and get some rest. But because of his compassion, he healed the sick who came to him anyway.


Jesus walked on water, turned water into wine, multiplied food, and did many other signs that had nothing to do with healing. Even one such event would have been sufficient to establish his credentials. Jesus did not need to continue to heal the sick everywhere to prove something. Healing "all who were sick" on a few occasions would be enough to prove that God was backing his claims of deity. Jesus was continually doing this throughout his ministry. When the sick came to him, he healed them, even when he was tired and must not have felt like ministering to the sick.


Many who came were healed by their own faith

Jesus told many people, "According to your faith be it done unto you." Many came to touch him and receive healing. It was their faith, not Jesus' faith, that produced the results. It was Jesus' power coupled with their faith. This still works today.



Jesus did not minister as deity

The power was not resident on Jesus because of his deity. (See the answer to the objection, We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God for a complete proof of this.) Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit just as any other human minister would have to be anointed. Before he was anointed, he could not do miracles.

Since Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, his ministry is an example for ministers today. That is why we can do the works that he did, as he promised that we would.


Did Jesus prove he was not deity at Nazareth?

If Jesus did his works to prove his deity, he proved that he was not deity when he went to Nazareth. His inability to do miracles there (Scripture says he could not do them) would represent a failure to prove his deity. See the answer to the objection that we cannot do what Jesus did because we are not the Son of God for more on this matter.



Don't people still need proof today?

Were the people of the apostles' time any different from those in our time? If the people then needed proof that Jesus was God in the flesh, why shouldn't God be continuing to prove Jesus' deity today? God's gospel plan has always included confirmation of the preached word with signs following. This is one reason miracles still happen today.


This objection slanders God's character

What kind of God would do special healing miracles at a certain point in time for certain individuals in a certain country just to show off his power, but would then refuse to use that same unchanging omnipotence on behalf of sick people in other lands at other times? He would be nothing more than an egotist who wanted to show off but had no real concern for the suffering of people. To hear some talk, God is that way. They believe that God would make people sick and then heal them to show off his power. Be honest, would you make your children sick and then heal them to show off your power to their friends? No, you wouldn't. God is nicer than you are, so why would you accuse him of mean acts that not even you would do?