Jesus’ ministry was marked by His deep compassion and miraculous healings. Divine healing was a central theme, reflecting God’s will to heal and restore.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, and delivering those oppressed by evil. This powerful aspect of His ministry not only brought physical restoration but also strengthened faith and revealed God’s love and mercy.
Jesus: The Anointed Healer
The Anointing of the Spirit
LUKE 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel and heal the sick. His mission included healing the brokenhearted and setting the captives free. This passage in Luke encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ ministry: to bring wholeness and restoration to humanity.
Teaching and Preaching with Power
Jesus’ teaching ministry was foundational to His healing ministry. As He taught, faith was ignited in the hearts of the listeners, enabling them to receive their healing.
Matthew 4:23 illustrates this beautifully: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
Jesus’ teachings were not mere words; they were accompanied by powerful demonstrations of God’s healing power.
The Power of the Word
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. As people listened to Jesus, their faith grew, making them receptive to God’s healing power. Jesus’ ministry was marked by signs and wonders, confirming the message He preached. His ability to heal every disease and sickness demonstrated the kingdom of God’s power and authority.
Miraculous Signs and Wonders
Healing the Multitudes
Everywhere Jesus went, He healed the sick. The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus performing miracles.
For instance, in Matthew 9:35 we read, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
Jesus’ compassion drove Him to heal, demonstrating God’s love and power.
Raising the Dead
One of the most profound miracles Jesus performed was raising the dead.
In John 11:43-44, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. With a loud voice, He cried, “Lazarus, come forth!”
And Lazarus emerged from the tomb, alive. This miracle not only displayed Jesus’ power over death but also strengthened the faith of those who witnessed it.
Healing the Paralytic
In Mark 2:1-12, we find the story of a paralytic man being lowered through a roof to reach Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Then, He commanded the man to rise, take up his bed, and walk. The man was immediately healed. This miracle highlights the importance of faith and the authority of Jesus to forgive sins and heal.
Faith: The Key to Receiving Divine Healing
Believing Without Doubt
To receive healing, one must have unwavering faith. James 1:6-7 teaches, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” Doubt and unbelief hinder the flow of God’s healing power.
Examples of Great Faith
The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who received healing through their great faith. The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) believed that if she could just touch Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Her faith was rewarded as she was instantly made whole. Jesus commended her, saying, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
Encouraging Faith in Others
Even John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, needed encouragement in his faith. When he sent disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah, Jesus responded by highlighting the miracles being performed:
“The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:4-5).
These signs served as evidence of Jesus’ divine mission and helped strengthen John’s faith.
The Apostles and Disciples: Continuing the Healing Ministry
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles continued His healing ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4 describes the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This empowerment enabled them to perform miracles in Jesus’ name. Peter and John, for example, healed a lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful (Acts 3:1-8).
Healing in Jesus’ Name
The apostles healed the sick and performed miracles by invoking the name of Jesus.
Acts 3:6 recounts Peter saying to the lame man, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The man was immediately healed and began walking, leaping, and praising God.
The Great Commission
Jesus commissioned His followers to continue His work. In Mark 16:15-18, He instructed them to preach the gospel and heal the sick. “These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” This commission extends to all believers, empowering us to bring healing and hope to a hurting world.
Divine Healing Ministry in the Early Church
Signs and Wonders
The early church was characterized by signs and wonders. Acts 5:12 states, “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.” The apostles’ ministry was marked by miraculous healings, demonstrating the power of the gospel and drawing people to faith in Jesus.
The Healing of Paul
The Apostle Paul experienced and ministered healing. In Acts 28:8-9, Paul heals the father of Publius, who was suffering from fever and dysentery. After this healing, many others on the island came and were cured. Paul’s ministry was marked by numerous miracles and healings, affirming the truth of the gospel.
Healing as a Distinct Characteristic
From the Book of Acts through the Epistles and throughout church history, healing has been a distinct characteristic of the Church. Jesus promised that His followers would do greater works than He did (John 14:12). This promise includes healing the sick, casting out demons, and performing miracles, all through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion: Embracing the Ministry of Healing
Healing for Today
Healing is not just a relic of the past; it is for today. The same Jesus who healed in Galilee is alive and working through His followers. As believers, we are called to continue His ministry of healing, bringing hope and restoration to those in need.
Building Unshakable Faith
To be effective in healing ministry, we must build unshakable faith in God’s Word. Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” By immersing ourselves in Scripture and believing in God’s promises, we can develop the faith needed to see healing manifest in our lives and the lives of others.
A Call to Action
Let us embrace the call to minister healing in Jesus’ name. By stepping out in faith, praying for the sick, and proclaiming the gospel, we can witness the power of God at work. Healing is part of the Great Commission, and as we obey Jesus’ command, we will see lives transformed and faith renewed.
Recommended Bible Study Verses
To deepen your understanding of divine healing and strengthen your faith, here are five recommended Bible study verses:
- Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
- James 5:14-15 (ASV) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
- Matthew 8:17 (NKJV) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
- 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB) and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
- Psalm 103:2-3 (KJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.
