Jesus healing the sick was a common feature of his ministry on earth. This topic is worth discussing since not many people understand the significance of Jesus’ healing. How did Jesus heal?
The Bible implies that Jesus healed differently. In some cases, he simply spoke, and people were healed. For example, he once healed a paralyzed man by merely speaking, as explained in (Matthew 9:6-7). In other cases, Jesus touched people, and they received healing. For instance, Jesus healed the mother in Law of Simon of fever by taking her by hand (Matthew 8:15). Sometimes Jesus healed people without being physically present, like in the case of him healing the servant of a Roman Centurion (Matthew 8:13).
Where in the Bible does it say Jesus is a healer? What did Jesus say about healing in the Bible? What is the significance of Jesus’ healing? These are some of the questions that this article will cover. By the end of it, one can also discover the kind of healing that Jesus did. Read on to find out more!
Where in the Bible does it say Jesus is a healer?
Matthew 4:23 suggests that Jesus is a healer. After calling his first disciples, this verse says, he went through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
In the same Gospel, Jesus is also described as healing the sick in Chapter 8: 16. This verse says, That evening, they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
Additionally, Matthew 14:14 also narrates how Jesus healed the sick. This verse says, when he went ashore, he saw a crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
John the Baptist believed that Jesus was a healer and preached about it. This is recorded in Acts 10: 37-38, which says, That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee and the baptism which John preached how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Mark 5:34 narrates how Jesus healed a woman with the issue of blood. In this verse, he said, Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your disease.
What did Jesus say about healing in the Bible?
According to Matthew 10, Jesus called his twelve disciples and told them to heal every disease and drive out impure spirits. Verse 8 says, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons, freely you have received, freely give.
The Bible also suggests that Jesus once performed a healing miracle and said that he had the authority to forgive sin. This was when he forgave and healed a paralyzed man in Capernaum, as recorded in Mark 2:1-12. In verses 10 and 11, Jesus said, But I want you to know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So he said to the man, I tell you get up, take your mat and go home.
Jesus also declared himself a healer and the Messiah, as recorded in Matthew 11:2-6. In this story, John the Baptist was in prison, and he heard about what Jesus was doing. He sent his disciples to ask him if he was the Messiah who was prophesied to come or if they should expect someone else.
Jesus replied in verse 4-6, saying, Go back and report to John what you hear and see. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.
What are the aspects of Jesus’ healing?
The Bible speculates that instead of praying for the healing of the sick, Jesus’ miracles of healing were based on him giving commands. For instance, he commanded the dead to rise (Mark 5:41-42) and commanded the lame to get up (Mark 2:11).
Mark 5:43 implies that the motivation behind Jesus’ healings was compassion and not fame. In these verses, he raised a little girl from the dead and then gave strict orders not to let anyone know about it. The Bible also suggests that Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit while healing people, as explained in Acts 10:38.
The Bible also suggests that some of Jesus’s healings were gradual. For instance, when Jesus healed a blind man in Bethsaida, he spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him. He then asked him if he saw anything, and the man replied, I see people, but they look like trees walking. Jesus had to lay hands on his eyes again for the man to open his eyes, and his sight was restored (Mark 8:22-26).
What is the significance of Jesus healing?
Jesus healed people to fulfill the prophecies of the coming Messiah. This is explained in Matthew 8:16, which says, That evening, many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word, he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. So, God’s promise came true just as the prophet Isaiah had said, “He healed our diseases and made us well.”
Additionally, Jesus healed people to show God’s work. He did it so that God would receive the glory. Jesus himself explained this in John 9:3, which says, Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jesus also healed people so that they may believe him. John explained this in John 20: 30-31.
What kind of healing did Jesus do?
The first kind of healing that Jesus did was healing ailments. For instance, Jesus healed the Leper in Mark 1:41 and healed the daughter of Jairus in Luke 8:54.
The second of healing was Jesus resurrecting the dead. John 11:38-44 narrates how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He also raised the son of the Widow of Nain in Luke 7:11-17.
The Bible also suggests that another kind of healing that Jesus focused on was spiritual healing. For instance, Mark 2:5 talks of Jesus healing a paralyzed man and forgiving his sins.
What was Jesus’ message when he was performing healing miracles?
Each miracle that Jesus performed had a specific message. For instance, when Jesus healed the sick, he wanted to challenge the notion that sickness was always a result of sin. During Jesus’ time, people considered the sick as unclean and punished by God.
In another incident recorded in Matthew 8:5-13, Jesus healed a Centurion’s paralyzed servant.
In this story, the Roman Centurion came to him and told him that his servant was lying at home paralyzed. When Jesus asked the Centurion whether he should come home and heal him, the Centurion replied, just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
When Jesus was performing the healing miracle on the paralyzed servant who was not physically present, he wanted to show the importance of having faith in the Lord. He was also passing across the message that his mission was for all people and now just the Jews.
Matthew 12:9-14 talks about how Jesus healed a man’s withered hand. He performed this miracle on a Sabbath, going against the Pharisees who believe that one should not do anything on this day. Jesus healed the man to challenge this belief and show that one should always do good regardless of which day it is.
References
- Don Stewart: Why did Jesus heal the sick?
- What did Jesus mean when he told people, “Your faith has made you well”?
- Healing in the Book of Luke
- The context of Jesus’ career
- Don Stewart: What methods did Jesus use to heal the sick?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
