Jesus healing ministry
Jesus had many roles during his earthly ministry. His most important was living a perfect life and being our savior. His ministry revolved mainly around teaching and healing. In this article I would like to focus on Jesus healings. How he conducted his healings sessions and how it fitted into his 3 year ministry. As healthcare professionals, there are many lessons we can learn from the way Jesus healed.
Topics
1 Case studies of the healing miracles of Jesus
2 Jesus instructions to his disciples conerning healing
3 The healing ministry of Jesus – an article by Sam Storms
4 My comments on the laying of hands by Sam Storms
5 Commentary of Jesus healing ministry in the book of Luke - Verse by Verse ministry
6 Comparisons between Jesus healing and medicine
Jesus had many roles during his earthly ministry. His most important was living a perfect life and being our savior. His ministry revolved mainly around teaching and healing. In this article I would like to focus on Jesus healings. How he conducted his healings sessions and how it fitted into his 3 year ministry. As healthcare professionals, there are many lessons we can learn from the way Jesus healed.
Topics
1 Case studies of the healing miracles of Jesus
2 Jesus instructions to his disciples conerning healing
3 The healing ministry of Jesus – an article by Sam Storms
4 My comments on the laying of hands by Sam Storms
5 Commentary of Jesus healing ministry in the book of Luke - Verse by Verse ministry
6 Comparisons between Jesus healing and medicine
1 Case studies of the healing miracles of Jesus
The healing miracles by Jesus are listed here in near chronological order. I have written by my own lessons on the miracles from the viewpoint of a doctor. The words I felt were important are highlighted in red.
1 Healing of the royal official’s son
John 4 :46-53
Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
Lesson
Healing can result in faith
In medicine faith is analogous to compliance. James 2:14-26 is a pragmatic description of true faith. A patient who places trust in medicine will demonstrate it through compliance with the treatment and follow ups. A patient who says they trust the doctor but fail to take medicine, comply with the lifestyle advice and default follow up are non compliant. Healthcare professional are very familiar with the issue of non compliance because it is very common.
So having seen the results of healing, patient and close ones will believe.
2 Healing of Simon Peter’s mother in law
Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39
Luke 4:38-39
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
Lesson.
- Jesus healing is immediate and complete
- Jesus have no reservations in treating relatives of close friends.
3.Healing the sick in the evening
Matt 8:16, Mark 1:32, Luke 4:40-41
Luke 4:40-41
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
Lesson
Jesus handles ailments with healing and demon possessions with exorcism. But sometimes certain demons possessions manifest primarily like ailments. Jesus could tell the difference but to others it was difficult to differentiate. However Jesus did not triage either conditions and he healed them both with equal priority
4 Healing a leper
Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-15
Luke 5:12-15
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Lesson
Jesus is willing to heal. But does he heal everyone? See the later section on commentary in the book of Luke by verse by vese ministry on healings for a better developed answer to this question
5 Healing a centurion servant
Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10
Luke 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Lesson
- The highlighted words in red by the Centurion accurately describes the powerful authority of God. God has full authority over everything including illness.
- We can have faith on behalf of others and God hears. Sometimes it is not a patient who has the faith but it is the caregivers who have faith and bring the patient for treatment. After all, power to heal comes from the healer / healing process, not from the patient or faith itself.
6 Healing a paralyzed man
Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:18-26
Luke 5:22-24
Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Lesson
Jesus tells everyone he can forgive sins and his healing is tied in with his message of forgiveness. For Jesus healing and the gospel go hand in hand.
7 Healing a withered hand on the Sabbath
Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-10
Mark 3:1-4
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
Lesson
- Healing can be public event.
- Everyday is be a good day to do healing. It is a good deed not bound by the Sabbath law. So doing night calls, shift work and Sunday calls are not against the word of God. But we should still remember over work and too much separation from worshipping together as a Christian community wears out the body and spirit.
8 Raising a widow’s son
Luke 7 :11-17
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Lesson
- Jesus showed compassion for the family member too. In Jesus time, women were supported by husbands and children. Being a widow without children usually mean a life a poverty and isolation. Jesus probably healed the son to help the widow as well as to demonstrate God’s power
- Jesus healing led to God being glorified, not himself. God is the one who heals and controls the outcome. We should not accept too much praise from our patients if there is a good outcome but always point to Jesus – this makes a good evangelistic opportunity. And knowing we are merely God instruments of healing, we should also not be practicing medicine for unjust profits – 2 Corinthians 2:17
9 Healing a woman with menorrhagia
Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48
Mark 5:25-34
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”. “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Lesson
- Patients need to have faith to be healed. Jesus often but not always looked for faith in the sick or their relatives as a pre requisite for healing.
- Healing brings peace and freedom from suffering for that particular ailment. Jesus usually deals with the major issue and the encounters were brief consultations. He did not take a lengthy history or attempt to provide complicated holistic type of management.
- After the healing, Jesus usually educates the patient on the relationship between faith and healing. He also offers comfort her. To Jesus, a short consultation, treatment, emotional support and teaching the word of God was good enough.
10 Raising Jairus daughter
Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25; Mark 5:22-24, 35-43; Luke 8:41-42, 49-56
Luke 8:49-56
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said.“ She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Lesson
- Faith is important for healing
- Before the healing, Jesus encourages the caregiver ( Father ) so that he can have faith and be less anxious. It is also important for us to encourage our patients to have trust in us and the treatment process especially if the treatment is definitive. Experienced doctors especially in chronic care and oncology know that if patients had been compliant to treatment protocols the outcome would have been so much better. Because we also know that medical treatment can be uncomfortable ( side effects ), usually involve major lifestyle changes ( giving up bad habits like smoking & gluttony, high paying but stressful jobs) and patients have to stick the treatment plan for a long time or forever.
11 Healing 2 blind men
Matthew 9:27-31
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.
Lesson
- Jesus listens to cries of help
- Faith is important part of healing
12 Healing at the pool
John 5:1-17
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
Lesson
- The patient should have a desire to be healed. Though this is an understatement, I have encountered patients who have no desire to get better or were seeing doctor because it was a routine
- Jesus educates the patient on the relationship between health, sin and suffering. He warns the patient if he sins, he will suffer again.
- Healing work never stops on a holiday. Sick people still suffer on Sabbath
13 Healing of many in Gennesaret
Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56
Mark 6 :53-56
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Lesson
Many people need and seek physical healing. With sin came sickness and death. Healthcare will always be in demand. And yet the final outcome is always physical death.
14 Healing a deaf man with a speech impediment
Mark 7:31-37
15 Healing a blind man in Bethsaida
Mark 8:22-26
16 Healing a man born blind
John 9:1-41
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Lesson
- Sometimes healing is delayed
- Some sickness is not a result of sin but so that the works of God might be displayed
17 Healing of a epileptic boy possessed by a demon, Healing of a blind and mute man possessed by a demon. Healing of a woman crippled by a spirit
Boy: Matthew 17:14-18, Mark 9:17-29, Luke 9:37-43
Matthew 17:14-18
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Man :Matthew 12:22, Luke 11:14
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
Woman Luke 13:10-13
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Lesson
These 3 people were demon possessed but presented as physical symptoms. When Jesus cast out the evil spirit, people were also relieved of physical symptoms. Jesus could tell the difference but that’s something most Christians cannot do. Many do not have the gift of spiritual discernment. But if we follow Jesus example in focusing on both health and spirit; that is we bring the gospel to the patient, it would be enough. Accepting Christ is the primary means to driving out demons.
18 Healing a man is dropsy / edema
Luke 14:1-6
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” And they had nothing to say.
Dropsy is a old word for edema
Lesson
Healing is permitted on Sabbath day
19 Healing 10 lepers
Luke 17:11-19
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Lesson
1 Expect that most patients won’t thank the doctor in person. Though most doctors would like to be thanked
2 All healing is attributed to God
3 Faith or expectation to be healed is important for healing.
20 Raising of Lazarus
John 11:1-44
Lesson
See Raising the Dead
21 Healing Bartimaeus of blindness
Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43
Mark 10:46-52
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Lesson
- This sick have a right to seek help and should not be hindered from doing so
- Jesus has again informed a patient about the link between faith and healing
22 Restoring a severed ear
Luke 22:45-51
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Lesson
Jesus healed his enemy
23 The resurrection of Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
Lesson
See the Physical death of Jesus
2 Jesus instructions to his disciples concerning healing
Luke 9 : 1-2,6
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
Luke 10:9
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Matthew 10:7-8
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Evangelism with healing ministry is not just for Jesus but for his disciples too. Such a combination was endorsed by Jesus and proven to attract people and win souls. Note that Jesus also advocated miracle healing should also free. Critics would comment on such a ministry hidden agenda but I would like to rebut there is nothing hidden because the evangelism is not done in secret but loudly proclaimed.
Luke 9 : 1-2,6
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
Luke 10:9
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Matthew 10:7-8
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Evangelism with healing ministry is not just for Jesus but for his disciples too. Such a combination was endorsed by Jesus and proven to attract people and win souls. Note that Jesus also advocated miracle healing should also free. Critics would comment on such a ministry hidden agenda but I would like to rebut there is nothing hidden because the evangelism is not done in secret but loudly proclaimed.
3 The healing ministry of Jesus - an article by Sand Storms
This article by Sam Storms is one of the best discussions I found on the healing ministry of Jesus was in the website
I have reproduced the entire text here.
www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/the-healing-ministry-of-jesus/
This article by Sam Storms is one of the best discussions I found on the healing ministry of Jesus was in the website
I have reproduced the entire text here.
www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/the-healing-ministry-of-jesus/
THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS
February 25, 2006 | by: Sam Storms|
Luke 4:38-41
Here are 12 principles that reveal the nature of healing in the ministry of Jesus and the importance he placed on it.
1. Jesus healed hundreds, if not thousands, of people. See especially Mt. 4:23-24. Some have argued that Jesus healed only a "few dozen", whereas the gospels indicate that he healed multitudes. Healing was a common feature of his earthly ministry. Healing was not a secondary or subsidiary activity for him.
2. Aside from the raising of Lazarus from the dead, there is not a single instance in the gospels where Jesus directly prays for the healing of the sick. Whereas prayer certainly occurs before ministering to the sick, the sick themselves are never prayed for. Rather, the dead are commanded to rise (Mk. 5:41-42; Lk. 7:14-15; Jn. 11:43-44), the lame are commanded to get up (Jn. 5:8-9; Mk. 2:11), the man with the shriveled hand is commanded to stretch it out (Mt. 12:9-13), the ears of the deaf mute are commanded to be opened (Mk. 7:31-35), the leper is commanded to be cleansed (Mt. 8:1-3), and before healing the crippled woman Jesus announces to her, "woman, you are set free from your infirmity" (Lk. 13:10-16).
3. No one Jesus touched was left unhealed. No one who touched Jesus desiring healing was unhealed (Mt. 14:34-36). According to Mt. 8:16, he "healed all who were ill." What does this tell us about God's "heart" or "will" for healing? Read Ps. 103:3-5.
4. Jesus never inflicted anyone with a disease or ever suggested that sickness was a blessing from God for obedient people. Healing and health are always portrayed in Scripture as the blessing of God, not disease and decay. In fact, Jesus "rebuked" illness (Lk. 4:39). Jesus always viewed illness as an enemy. Jesus nowhere told his followers to expect sickness or disease as part of their calling in life and ministry. Jesus never suggested that sickness was "a cross to bear." He promised persecution, slander, and eventual martyrdom for his followers, but never disease and sickness. Whereas all sickness is suffering, not all suffering is sickness.
There is no beatitude which says, "Blessed are the sick." They may be, but not because they're sick. Cf. Acts 10:38 and note the connection between "doing good" and "healing". Therefore, disease is an evil to resist. Remember: sickness or disease in and of itself does not glorify God. What glorifies God is our unwavering faith and loyalty and love for God in spite of sickness and disease.
Don't resign yourself to sickness. Don't acquiesce to it. Don't yield to it, unless God makes it clear, as he did to Paul in 2 Cor. 12, that this is his will for you at this time. I once heard Jack Taylor say: "Always assume it is God's will to heal unless shown otherwise by divine revelation or death!"
5. Jesus portrayed healing not simply as a sign that the kingdom was coming but as an essential element in the kingdom. In other words, the kingdom of God, in part, consists of deliverance from demonic spirits and healing from physical disease (Lk. 9:2; 10:8-9). Healing was neither a gimmick to gather crowds nor a confirmation that the kingdom was present. Healing is the presence of the kingdom!
6. Jesus self-consciously healed people by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14-21; Mt. 12:22-28). The earthly ministry of Jesus, primarily his miracles and healings, were the result not so much of his divine nature but rather the power of the Holy Spirit working through him. And let us never forget that the Holy Spirit in Jesus is the Holy Spirit in us!
7. Most often his healings were instantaneous, but on at least one occasion it was partial and gradual (Mk. 8:22-26).
8. Jesus' healings were subject to two factors: (1) the presence or absence of faith (Mk. 6:5-6; Mt. 13:53-58), and (2) the purpose of his heavenly Father (John 5:19). As for faith, if you struggle to believe, let others exercise faith on your behalf (see Mark 2).
9. Jesus interpreted many physical afflictions as the work of Satan (Lk. 13:10-17; Acts 10:38; Mt. 4:24 [he "heals" a demoniac]; 8:16-17; 17:18; Mk. 9:14-29 [esp. v. 25]; Lk. 9:42). Deliverance is thus often a prelude to and necessary part of physical healing.
10. Jesus identified some sickness as unrelated to personal sin (Jn. 9:1ff.) and at other times as directly caused by sin (Mk. 9:18; Jn. 5:14). Cf. James 5:16.
11. Jesus regularly healed the sick by the laying on of hands (Lk. 4:40). Sadly, many evangelicals lack appreciation for this dimension of healing ministry because they denigrate the body and fail to grasp its importance in God's redemptive purposes.
(a) Hand of God in Scripture (an anthropomorphism) = 1) God's sovereign purpose, plan, will. 2) God's sovereign power, strength in carrying out that purpose. 3) God's sovereign protection in delivering and blessing and saving his people. See Ex. 7:4; Joshua 4:23-24; Neh. 1:10; Isa. 48:12-13; Acts 4:28,30.
With Jesus, what was only a figure of speech became literal fact. With Jesus, what was only a theological metaphor became material reality. God, who is spirit, now really does have a hand, two in fact!
(b) Laying on of hands in healing ministry of Jesus - Mt. 8:15; 9:25; 9:29; 19:13-15; perhaps a dozen other examples.
Read Mt. 20:29-34, esp. v. 34 - Modern cynics about healing say: when Jesus healed it was always to confirm his deity/messiahship; the laying on of hands is weird and occultic; healing is only psychosomatic; nobody ever comes to faith in Jesus because of a miracle. Contrast with v. 34 - 1) compassion; 2) touched; 3) regained sight; 4) they followed Him!
(c) Laying on of hands in early church - Acts 3:7; 5:12 (NIV omits "hands"); 6:6; 8:17-19; 9:10-17; 9:41; 11:30; 13:1-3; 14:3 (NIV omits "hands"); 19:11; 28:7-8.
(d) Significance: Representation (scapegoat), Unification (identify with someone), Authorization, Impartation, Restoration, Love (communicates caring in a way words can't).
(e) Why do some object: 1) ignorance of Bible; 2) it violates "personal space" (cf. people in elevator!); 3) people come from families that didn't hug, kiss, touch, show affection (it carries over into church life); 4) fear of sexual implications; 5) fear of "magic" or "occultic" associations.
12. Virtually all Jesus' healings were motivated by compassion. See Mt. 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 9:22;Lk. 7:13-15. That compassion and not fame was his motivation is evident from his instructions inMk. 5:43 that no one be told what had happened. In other words, he didn't do it to draw attention to himself, but because he cared deeply for the grief of the family.
Two concluding observations:
First, we must leave room for mystery in God's ways. Some things will always remain unexplained. Why God does or does not choose to heal is ultimately subject to his wisdom and sovereign purposes. Why God chooses to heal in part or in whole, now or later, this person but not that one, is often beyond our capacity to understand. Resist the tendency to replace divine mystery with human formulas.
Second, we must be willing to bear the stigma of perceived failure. If you are unwilling to do so, you can stay safe and sophisticated, and you will eventually stop praying for the sick altogether. If there are 100 people who are sick and need prayer, I'm willing to live with 99 who remain in their affliction for the sake of the 1 who is healed. Why? Because I'm confident that as I remain obedient to God it will someday be 2 and 98, then 3 and 97, then 4 and 96, etc.
"But Sam, if I pray for the sick, will they be healed?" That is quite beside the point! The point is this: will you obey God and His Word, will you love those who are hurting, will you extend compassion to the broken? Your responsibility is to pray. Whether or not they are healed is God's business. God says: 'If you won't take the credit when they are healed, I'll take responsibility when they aren't.'
4 My comments on laying of hands by Sam Storms
Sam spend some effort discussing laying of hands. I do find that patients expect and and would like me to a general physical examination and on the diseased part. Doing a physical exam to the patient is statement that the doctor’s consult is complete, that their body parts that of concern are addressed. And of course physical examination compliments history taking and laboratory test in our assessment of patients. There is something special about physical touch that brings people closer. Strangers don’t touch. Acquaintances usually do a handshake. Friends may kiss or hug depending on culture. Toddlers and young kids love hugs and kisses from parents. Sex between a couple is the most intimate form of physical experience where even nakedness brings no shame. So from this scale of physical contact, physical examination would rank somewhere between friends and parents / kids. And this is an indirect reflection of the relationship between a doctor and patient. It is quite a strong relationship
I don’t have a special way of doing a physical exam. The principles I abide by are age old
Sam spend some effort discussing laying of hands. I do find that patients expect and and would like me to a general physical examination and on the diseased part. Doing a physical exam to the patient is statement that the doctor’s consult is complete, that their body parts that of concern are addressed. And of course physical examination compliments history taking and laboratory test in our assessment of patients. There is something special about physical touch that brings people closer. Strangers don’t touch. Acquaintances usually do a handshake. Friends may kiss or hug depending on culture. Toddlers and young kids love hugs and kisses from parents. Sex between a couple is the most intimate form of physical experience where even nakedness brings no shame. So from this scale of physical contact, physical examination would rank somewhere between friends and parents / kids. And this is an indirect reflection of the relationship between a doctor and patient. It is quite a strong relationship
I don’t have a special way of doing a physical exam. The principles I abide by are age old
- Did it in the way I was taught in elementary clinics
- Ask for pain and approach painful areas carefully
- Do the physical examination purposefully and with concern
- I talk to patient during the examination and may combine with relevant history taking. Running commentaries is great way to tell the patient what I had done.
- Sometimes I do hold a patient’s hand to comfort them. One of my elderly patient likes to hug me at the end of every consult. She initiates and is the only patient who hugs me
5 A commentary of Luke 5 by Stephen Armstrong of Verse by Verse ministry
http://www.versebyverseministry.org/bible-studies/the_book_of_luke
Stephen Armstrong provides very good bible based commentaries. You can find his work on his website and phone app. I have edited his commentaries on 2 passages in Luke 5 that concerns Jesus healings
Important lessons
Luke 5:1-3
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Luke 5:12-16
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
http://www.versebyverseministry.org/bible-studies/the_book_of_luke
Stephen Armstrong provides very good bible based commentaries. You can find his work on his website and phone app. I have edited his commentaries on 2 passages in Luke 5 that concerns Jesus healings
Important lessons
- How Jesus viewed healing
- Why are some people healed and some not?
- Prioritizing the importance of healing ministry
Luke 5:1-3
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
- Jesus asks to be taken out in a boat to put some distance between Himself and the crowd.
- By sitting in the boat and floating a short distance from the shore, Jesus gave himself a platform from which to speak without having people pressing against Him. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus felt it was important that He be able to teach these people that He took the step of distancing Himself from the people? When He was in their midst, completely accessible to their touch, they apparently made every effort to reach Him physically. They pressed against Him. They wanted to touch Him- most likely because they sought healing or some other supposed blessing
- Today you also see this with followers of religious movements centred on a single person. Even in the Catholic faith, people want to touch the pope, kiss his ring. They bring back trinkets blessed by the pope. It becomes a faith and worship focused on the material, physical – something that can be touched and seen
- But the scripture tells faith is trust in things unseen – specifically in the Word of God. No doubt that Jesus felt love and compassion for these people; and wanted to reach out and contend with their infirmities. No doubt he wished to take away all their pain and suffering. But instead he separates Himself just enough that they can’t get what they think they want but close enough to keep them by the shore. So while they stand there waiting for Him to come back to the shore, He speaks the Word of God to them
- So do you think they came for the Word of God? Perhaps some did but most likely didn’t. Very likely many came for the immediate relief from suffering that Jesus offered. They wanted healing, they wanted their needs met. What they received was the Word of God
- What would have happened if Jesus healed all of them? Certainly the news would have produced even greater crowds as more streamed to receive what they wanted as well. What would have happened to the ones who were healed? They would have left, gone home to celebrate their healing. And how many would have stayed to hear the Word of God? How many therefore would have left as healed and content unbelievers, destined for destruction? Would there have been love in the truest sense?
- Rather than give them what they want, Jesus left them wanting while he taught them the Word. He must have withheld healing in many more cases than He actually healed. He left many more with infirmities, with trials, with demons than He chose to heal. Partly because of lack of time and opportunity and partly because His real interest was in healing their hearts and souls. He knew that a man satisfied in his flesh will not seek for the Spirit. Nor will he desire for the Word of God
- Jesus does the same for us today. We will not be spared all trials and difficulties. We will not have all our desired granted. We will not find satisfaction in this world. Because Jesus isn’t; primarily concerned that we achieved everything we want in this world. He is concerned with our spiritual development, our sanctification, our godliness, our knowledge, and obedience to His word
- Spiritual development comes by only one way – by time spent in study of God’s word. And just as Jesus held the crowd at bay – literally – then delivered His Word to them, Similarly if we find some of our prayers for physical and material needs unanswered, perhaps Jesus is just simply holding us at bay. Perhaps he knows that if He were to grant us those things, we would merely walk away to our own life leaving Him alone in the boat. But because He loves us- just as He loved those in Galilee that day, Jesus has distanced Himself just enough to leave us seeking Him.
Luke 5:12-16
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
- Healing within the crowd was a demonstration of Jesus power and authority. It was also a reflection of his compassion. He came to heal but the more important kind of healing is spiritual. Physical healing is a picture of that healing
- Jesus teaches in cities and small towns and along the highway. There were more people in the cities, so that’s where he goes. The healing ministry has the potential to overshadow his teaching ministry. When he enters a city, his presence stirs up the crowd and attracts interest, primarily for healing. Crowds would press in close. But Jesus doesn’t heal every last person. Because healing is a means to an end. The end was to substantiate his claims as Messiah
- Leprosy is bacteria infection that infects the whole body. It prefers to grow in the cooler part of the body ie extremities like finger, toes, nose. It grows slowly. As it grows, it removes the pigments from the skin, turning it white. And it slowly destroys the nerve endings so that parts of the body where it grows eventually become numb. About 95% of people have natural immunity. Incubation is 8-10 years before symptoms are evident. It is transferred by nasal droplets – sneezing and coughing. It can’t be caught by touching or physical contact. Leprosy causes numbness, the numbness is permanent, so extremities lose the feeling, causing injuries. Infections destroy the flesh. Today, leprosy can be cured with antibiotics, but the damage to the body is permanent.
- In Jesus’ days, there was tremendous fear about this disease and stigma attached to the disease. Leviticus 13 provides an entire chapter on how lepers were to be treated in Jewish society. The emphasis was whether a leper would be clean or unclean. Not all lepers were unclean. It depended on the state of the disease. Leper could be in a state of remission, then they were not unclean. The priests were the ones required to determine if a leper was clean or unclean. Lepers were typically treated cruelly even if they were clean for a time, they would be shunned by society. They lived a solitary life. They could be severely beaten or stoned if they failed to keep their distance as required.
- In fact in Jesus’ day , leprosy is seen as God’s judgement on a person for some secret or hidden sin. Obviously one shouldn’t see leprosy as God’s judgement. Lepers are under no greater condemnation than any other sinner. But the disease has been used throughout scripture as a picture of sin and its effect on us. Leprosy infects the entire body. Sin is part of our flesh, not just a momentary decision. Leprosy causes a separation for lepers because they defile everything they touch. Likewise sin defiles and those who have sin are separated from fellowship with God. Leprosy turns the body white over time, leading to a point when the entire body is white, Periods of white skin are typically associated with periods of remission. Likewise we say that when we have been forgiven, our sins are washed clean, washed awhite. But ultimately neither leprosy nor sin can be washed away simply by an external cleaning. Eventually the leprosy leaves remission and becomes active again, causing further destruction of the body until is it destroyed. Likewise anything we might do externally to address the problem of sin is temporary at best. In the end sin continues to infect and destroy the body. The final answer for sin is an internal cleansing of the spirit that only God can accomplish in us. There is no human solution for the disease. Finally when a leper died, he body was burned and even his clothes and personal belongings were burned in the hope of purifying them from the disease. Similarly if the body dies in sin, it will face the burning of God’s judgement fire.
- In the account, the leper falls to his face and declares that Jesus could heal if he wanted to do it. The leper’s tactic is easy to appreciate. Lots of sick people trying to compete for Jesus attention in the hope of healing. They must be have been doing anything they could to get Jesus’ attention. By throwing himself in front of Jesus, he clears the crowd. He used his sad and frightening state to gain an audience with Jesus. He almost dares Jesus to heal him. He said if Jesus wants to do it, He can heal him. The statement conveys a degree of faith. It acknowledges that Jesus had the power to heal and that power was limited only by God’s will. And therefore the statement implies a belief that Jesus was God Himself. Because God can heal according to His will. And in this statement we have the simplest and clearest statement of biblical truth concerning God’s healing ministry. God can heal us any time He desires to do so. Sometimes God chooses to heal us, and sometimes He doesn’t.
- The fact that God sometimes answers no to our request for healings is proof in itself that God does not desire that we always be healed. Why? Some people live lifetimes in suffering from disease. Many people eventually succumb to some illness and die as a results. And then on other occasions, God may choose to heal us of an ailment. Other times, God will heal supernaturally, where no natural explanation exits for the healing. But even in those circumstances where God permits healing, it doesn’t change the ultimate reality that in the end, we all die of something. The manner of death of irrelevant. The point is our sinful body is not supposed to live forever. God intends to replace it one day. And before he can give us a new body, he must do away with the old, either through death or rapture.
- This fact shows that should we ask God to heal us, as this leper asked Jesus, And should God honor the request and grant us healing, His purpose in healing can never be simply for the purpose of preserving our body. Since He intends to put our body in the grave sooner or later, it stands to reason that preserving the body can never be an end in itself. Why heal you of cancer when He knows you will be hit by a bus next month? Why save you from the hurricane if He knows the rapture is coming next week? The only answer to God wanting to heal is that God receives glory in some way by preserving your body in the short term. Perhaps He gains glory simply through the display of His might by healing itself. Perhaps He gains glory because our preservations gives us opportunity to praise His name to others. Perhaps He gains glory because through our preservation, we have opportunity to raise godly children who serve Him and glorify Him. Perhaps he preserves us so that we might serve Him and His kingdom is some new way.
- But the flip side of this truth is that God has no reason to preserve an otherwise dying body merely for the purpose of allowing us a few more years of selfish living. Simply because we fear death, a fear that no mature Christian should ever entertain. Simply because we long to accomplish some personal goal or experience some earthly pleasure
- So when we ask God to heal us, we must understand that sooner or later, the answer must be no. If we hear teachings that tries to tell us that God will heal us anytime we ask so long we are faithful enough or believing enough, that kind of teaching is self evidently wrong
- We can never use a litmus test to measure God’s willingness to heal us. For example if someone teaches that God will heal us upon request as long as our faith is strong enough. And assuming that person asks for healing and receives it, what would that same teaching say when the same person eventually succumbs to some kind of illness and dies, as they must one day do? What do we say then? Do we say their faith ran out? Too bad they didn’t keep their faith up or God would have healed them again? It’s pure nonsense. You can’t say that God’s willingness to heal us has anything to do with whether we deserve it or earn it in any sense.
- The only measure of whether God will heal us is His will and purpose in the healing. And it is true that long life is often spoken in scripture as a blessing from God, and that it is. But it is not the chief measure of God’s pleasure in us nor his blessing upon us
- And there is no greater proof of this fact that Jesus life on earth was barely more than 30 years. Yet we know how very pleased the Father was with His son. So a short earthly life is not necessarily a life with less blessing nor offering less pleasure to God. Our days are numbered according to His will. For that matter, neither is a life free of illness or hardship a measure of God’s happiness in us. The apostles, the martyrs’ are testimony to the fact that God may bring hardship to his children, even as they seek to do His will
6 comparisons with Jesus healing miracles and medicine
1 Jesus healing were miracles powered by the Holy Spirit. Medicine uses God’s natural laws embedded in creation. Both Jesus and medicine rely on God for the power to heal. Jesus had it easy. Doctoring is hard work. I think if doctors had the power of miracles, both doctor and patient will become lazy and sickness which is the product of sin would not have a profound impact in our lives. Genesis 3:17 tells that after man sin God had purposefully made all work difficult but not impossible. So doctoring is hard work
2 Jesus healing were 100% successful. Principles of medicine principles are cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always (Hippocrates). Medicine is undertaken by sinful practitioners so it is not prefect.
3 Jesus healings were simple, personal and comes with words of encouragement, comfort and spiritual advice. Medicine is complicated, fragmented and usually spiritually empty. It takes effort on the part of the healer to be holistic, caring and to share the gospel
4 In both Jesus healing and medicine, it is important for the patient to desire to be healed, to seek healing and to have faith / trust in God / medical science that healing will occur. I using the bible definition of faith here to mean faith with deeds
James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
In medicine, we call this faith - compliance. Most medical problems can be alleviated if only patient have a similar faith with deeds type of trust in medicine. That is to see a qualified medical practitioner, take medicine (including getting the necessary surgical procedures and investigations) faithfully and follow the lifestyle changes prescribed.
5 Jesus’ patients all died in the end including the 3 people he resurrected. But they will be born again if they had faith in him. All patients treated by medicine die in the end , no matter if they have faith in medicine or not. Only the Word of God brings life.
Resources
1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Jesus
2. http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/miracles.htm
3. http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/the-flaming-herald/46667-jesus-never-told-us-to-pray-for-the-sick
1 Jesus healing were miracles powered by the Holy Spirit. Medicine uses God’s natural laws embedded in creation. Both Jesus and medicine rely on God for the power to heal. Jesus had it easy. Doctoring is hard work. I think if doctors had the power of miracles, both doctor and patient will become lazy and sickness which is the product of sin would not have a profound impact in our lives. Genesis 3:17 tells that after man sin God had purposefully made all work difficult but not impossible. So doctoring is hard work
2 Jesus healing were 100% successful. Principles of medicine principles are cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always (Hippocrates). Medicine is undertaken by sinful practitioners so it is not prefect.
3 Jesus healings were simple, personal and comes with words of encouragement, comfort and spiritual advice. Medicine is complicated, fragmented and usually spiritually empty. It takes effort on the part of the healer to be holistic, caring and to share the gospel
4 In both Jesus healing and medicine, it is important for the patient to desire to be healed, to seek healing and to have faith / trust in God / medical science that healing will occur. I using the bible definition of faith here to mean faith with deeds
James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
In medicine, we call this faith - compliance. Most medical problems can be alleviated if only patient have a similar faith with deeds type of trust in medicine. That is to see a qualified medical practitioner, take medicine (including getting the necessary surgical procedures and investigations) faithfully and follow the lifestyle changes prescribed.
5 Jesus’ patients all died in the end including the 3 people he resurrected. But they will be born again if they had faith in him. All patients treated by medicine die in the end , no matter if they have faith in medicine or not. Only the Word of God brings life.
Resources
1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Jesus
2. http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/miracles.htm
3. http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/the-flaming-herald/46667-jesus-never-told-us-to-pray-for-the-sick
Article 1st published on 22 Nov 15
by Benjamin Cheah