Author Description

For 2,000 years, Jesus of Nazareth has stood as the iconic healer. The Bible records him curing a range of common human afflictions as well as seemingly incurable conditions such as blindness, deafness, and leprosy. Not only is he reported to have exorcised demons, he is said to have brought the dead back to life. What was his secret? Was he simply the earthly channel for the healing power of God? Or did he benefit from some rare and specialized training? Does the answer lie in his awareness of—and reliance on—an overlooked trait of human psychology? Here is a methodical and open-minded look at Jesus’ brilliant successes, as well as lackluster moments (see Mark 6:5), with a proposal for how he came to be such a master healer.