Do not hinder the people
It may come as a surprise, but many religious leaders in Jesus’ time were not pleased with Him. They were upset that Jesus healed people on the Sabbath—the Jewish day of rest. They often argued with Him about this, and eventually, they even sought to kill Him. It is remarkable to read that some leaders were not at all happy when someone in their synagogue was healed. They were offended—and jealous of Jesus. Can you imagine?
Sadly, we still see the same kind of reaction today. As we have already seen, healing is the will of God. He desires that all people be made whole. Yet those who minister healing often face criticism, especially from religious circles. Some even claim that healings are from the devil and that sickness comes from God. This is a distorted way of thinking. Why would the devil want to bless people and restore them? And why would God want to harm them physically?
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
God is the God of restoration. The devil is the source of destruction and suffering. We must not confuse their roles, as the Pharisees did.
Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” (Matthew 12:24)
In this chapter, we will look at healing stories in which Jesus faced criticism from religious leaders—and we will see how He responded to them.
Reason 49: Jesus Healed on the Sabbath
As we have already seen, the Pharisees and other religious leaders were deeply offended that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They considered it to be a violation. However, it is important to understand that neither God nor the Law of Moses forbade healing on the Sabbath. In reality, the Pharisees had created additional rules—man-made regulations known as the traditions of the elders—and they expected people to follow them.
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:1-3)
In this passage, we read of a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees. According to the tradition of the elders, one was required to wash their hands before eating. The Pharisees were offended when the disciples did not do this. But this was not a commandment of God—it was a tradition created by men. God does not hold people accountable for breaking human traditions. He holds people accountable for breaking His commandments and for not believing in Jesus Christ.
The problem was that the Pharisees gave too much authority to their traditions. In some cases, they even elevated these traditions above the Word of God. That is where things went wrong. The same was true regarding the Sabbath. According to their own rules, healing on the Sabbath was only permitted in life-threatening situations. But this was not found in the Law of Moses—it was a man-made regulation. Jesus did not follow these added rules, and rightly so, because they were not from God.
This is an important truth: Jesus never broke the Sabbath. He kept every commandment of the Law of Moses perfectly. What He did not follow were the religious laws and traditions added by the Pharisees and other leaders. And He was right not to keep them, because they were the commandments of men, not the commandments of God.
When it comes to healing, this is also very important: What do you hold to? What carries more weight in your life—the traditions and teachings of a specific denomination, or the Word of God? It is essential that we always believe the Word of God and place it above any human tradition. Let us now read how Jesus was opposed by the Pharisees because He healed on the Sabbath.
And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. (...) Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Matthew 12:10-14)
But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” (Luke 13:14)
Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. (Luke 14:2-4)
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” (...) For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. (John 5:8-16)
Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9:40-41)
Jesus knew everything. He knew that healing people on the Sabbath would anger the religious leaders and that they would seek to kill Him. But Jesus considered healing so important that He did not listen to the religious authorities. He healed people even though it would stir up problems and provoke opposition. This shows that healing was not a secondary matter for Jesus—it was central to His ministry. When Jesus saw someone who was sick, He was moved with compassion and desired to heal them, whether it was the Sabbath or any other day. Healing mattered deeply to Him.
It also makes perfect sense that Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day when the Israelites were commanded to rest and remember how God had delivered them from Egypt:
But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:14-15)
The Sabbath was about salvation and rest. Through His actions, Jesus revealed that God cares not only about our spiritual salvation and rest, but also about our physical well-being. God wants us to be whole—free from sickness, pain, and physical strain. He desires our bodies to be at rest and not weighed down with affliction. That is a powerful sign of what the Sabbath represents.
So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? (Luke 13:16)
Reason 50: People Matter
Let us now look at Jesus’ discussions with the Pharisees concerning healing on the Sabbath. The Pharisees rebuked Jesus, insisting that healing should not take place on the Sabbath. But Jesus responded with clear reasons why it was good to heal on the Sabbath. These reasons help us understand why healing is from God and why it is good and right to heal. This strengthens our faith, as we see that Jesus considered healing to be very important.
First and foremost, Jesus valued and loved people. Human beings were more important to Him than traditions or regulations. Many of Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees were about what was considered lawful to do on the Sabbath. Let us read one of these healing accounts:
Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Matthew 12:9-14)
Suppose you have a dog, and one day it falls into a well and cannot get out on its own. What would you do? You would stop whatever you were doing, run to the well, and rescue your dog. Why? Because you love your dog, and you don’t want it to suffer in pain.
Now think about this: if we already care so much for an animal, how much more does God care for His sons and daughters? A human being is far more valuable than an animal.
Sometimes I hear people say, “It’s not about healings and miracles.” But if I may speak honestly—it is about healings and miracles. Every person who is sick longs to be well. They are willing to do almost anything to be healed—whether undergoing major surgery or even taking out a second mortgage to pay for medical treatment. Everyone desires health. And if we are honest, what kind of Father would God be if He didn’t care about the pain and suffering of His children?
Imagine being seriously ill as a teenager, and your father has the exact medicine that could make you well in just one week. But then he says to you, “I have the medicine, but I won’t give it to you. Life isn’t about healing. I want you to stay sick so you can learn to endure it. I’ll give you strength to bear the suffering, but I won’t heal you.” That would be unthinkable. If the authorities found out, such a father would likely be arrested.
But I have good news: God is not like that. God wants you to be healthy—because you are precious to Him. You are far more valuable than all the riches of the world combined. God loves you, and out of that love, He desires to heal you. If people are willing to help an animal in need, how much more will God help His children when they are suffering? You are not insignificant to Him. You are worthy of healing—not because of what you’ve done, but because you are His child, and you love Him.
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. (Psalm 91:14)
Jesus also used this same reasoning in other healings He performed on the Sabbath.
The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:15-16)
And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 14:3-5)
Through these examples, Jesus made it clear that human beings are far more valuable than the religious traditions of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were not concerned if someone remained unhealed; they cared only about preserving their religious rules. In doing so, they missed the heart of God—mercy and love for people.
Let this be a powerful and important lesson for us today. Do we truly care about the people around us, or are we more focused on religion and our own reputation? Are we moved with compassion to help those in need, or do we walk past them without concern?
When Jesus walked the earth, He was continually moved with compassion. He longed to help people and to set them free from the bondage that the devil had placed upon them. Jesus came to break those chains and lead people into true freedom. In the same way, Jesus wants to break every chain in your life today—including the chains of sickness—and lead you into His freedom.
Reason 51: Healing is Good
In addition to everything we've seen, it is important to understand that healing is good—not wrong. Let us look again at the healing of the man with the withered hand, as recorded in the other two Gospels:
And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. (Mark 3:3-5)
Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. (Luke 6:9-10)
Jesus asked the Pharisees a profound question: Is it lawful to do good or to do evil? Everyone agrees—it is right to do good and wrong to do evil. But what does it mean to “do good?” In this context, doing good is healing a person. Doing evil would be to keep someone in their sickness and allow them to perish. In other words, Jesus clearly called healing good.
Sadly, this truth is often reversed today. When a healing service is held, some may say, “This is from the devil.” And when someone is sick, they say, “This sickness is from God—it brings Him glory.” But that is simply not true. Healing and healing services are good. They are the will of God. Sickness does not come from God; it is not His will.
Could it be that healing is good and sickness is evil—and yet God sometimes chooses to give us what is evil? Let us look at what the apostle John said. John had walked with Jesus for more than three years, heard His teachings, and witnessed His miracles. What was John’s conclusion about the character of Jesus and God?
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
And what did James say about God and Jesus?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
Sickness is evil in God's eyes. It is not part of His will, because God only gives good and perfect gifts. Healing and health are good gifts. God is completely good—there is no darkness in Him, no hidden motives, and He does not change. It is never God's will to make anyone sick, and He takes no pleasure in suffering. His desire is for all His children to be healthy and to enjoy His goodness. This truth applied not just to a few, but to all whom Jesus healed.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)
Jesus went about doing good—and how did He do that? By healing people. Healing, therefore, is good. It reflects the very goodness of God.
Reason 52: Healing is Saving a Human Being
When it comes to healing, Jesus used powerful language—He spoke of “saving a life” or “destroying it.” This reveals how seriously Jesus viewed healing. Let us study the story:
Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. (Luke 6:6-10)
It must have been very difficult to live with a withered or deformed hand. Yet this condition was likely not life-threatening. The man would have still been alive the next day when the Sabbath was over. Jesus could have said, “Come back tomorrow, and I’ll heal you then.” But He didn’t. Healing was so important to Jesus that it had to happen immediately.
When Jesus looks at someone who is sick, He does not see illness as a minor issue or something people must simply learn to live with. He did not say, “I give you eternal life, but your physical body does not matter.” No—the body mattered to Jesus, and He wanted it to be healed and even to be blameless.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Of course, the most important thing is that our spirit is saved and that we spend eternity with God in heaven. But Jesus did not come to earth only to save our spirit—He also came to save our body from sickness.
Let us look at the word save. The word “save” comes from the Greek word “sōzō”, which means: “to save, rescue from danger or destruction, make whole, and heal”. When this word is used in the Bible, it refers to rescuing someone from danger—whether from hell, sin, sickness, or any other harmful situation. This powerful word is used in the following verses:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15)
Do you see how powerful the word “sōzō” is? Jesus used this same word not only for salvation from sin or death but also for healing the sick. The context of the passage shows what people were saved from—whether from sin, sickness, eternal death, or other suffering. Jesus came to save people from sickness— both from deadly illnesses and from symptoms that cause discomfort or distress.
For Jesus, healing is not a bonus that He occasionally gives. For Him, the body matters, and He came to save not only the soul, but also the sick and “lost” body. Jesus wants to give you a healthy and whole body.
Reason 53: Healing Glorifies God
How can we know if something is from God? One clear way is this: it glorifies God and produces good fruit. Let us read a few Scriptures that show it is our calling to glorify God in all that we do:
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:8)
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
It is clear that we are to live in a way that honors and glorifies God. One way we do this is through the good works we do in His name. Now imagine that you lead a healing service, and people who have been sick for years come and are healed by God. What would their reaction be? Most of them would respond with deep gratitude, giving glory to God. They would rejoice and praise Him for what He has done. This shows that the fruit of healing is good fruit, because healing leads people to glorify God. We see this again and again in the healing accounts in Scripture:
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. (Luke 13:11-13)
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God. (Luke 17:15)
(…) then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. (Matthew 9:6-8)
The fruit of healing is undeniably good. Healings glorify God, stir gratitude, cause people to marvel, and serve as powerful testimonies of God's goodness. Many people have come to faith in Christ because they were healed—or because they witnessed the healing of someone they love.
Reason 54: Healing is God's work
In the following healing story, we read about a man who was blind from birth. This is a powerful account, and it contains important keys to understanding healing. We learn, for example, that not every sickness is the result of sin—and that healing the sick is a work of God. Let us look at the passage:
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (John 9:1-3)
The works of God, the work of the Father, were to be made visible in this man. What exactly was that work? Was God’s work to heal the man, or merely to give him strength to endure?
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So, he went and washed, and came back seeing. (John 9:6-7)
Clearly, the work of God was healing. Jesus did not dwell on why the man was born blind. He simply made it clear that it was not the result of sin—and He did not focus on the cause, but on the outcome: the healing that would display God's power. This is also a key for us. We do not need to spend months fasting and praying to find the cause of an illness. Instead, we may focus on God’s will to heal and the salvation He provides.
If the Holy Spirit specifically reveals a cause—whether spiritual, physical, or behavioral—we may pray accordingly or make needed changes. But if the Holy Spirit is silent on the cause, we do not need to worry about it. We can still stand in faith for the outcome: healing.
In some translations, such as the NASB or AMP, John 9:3 may appear to suggest that the man was born blind so that God’s works could be revealed in him:
Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3, NASB)
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him.” (John 9:3, AMP)
However, the words “It was so” do not appear in the original Greek text. In the NASB, they are italicized, indicating that these words were added by translators to help with readability. In contrast, the NKJV does not include those words—staying closer to the Greek. This distinction is important. The Greek text does not say that the man was born blind in order that God could heal him later. Instead, it points us to the reality that God's healing work would now be revealed in his situation.
God is in the business of healing—not in the business of sickness. He delights in making His children whole. This account shows God’s desire and willingness to heal—no matter the sickness or its cause.
Reason 55: Healing—The Children’s Bread
In the previous reasons, we saw that the Pharisees did not permit Jesus to heal on the Sabbath, yet Jesus chose to heal anyway. For this reason, we will look at a unique story in the Bible—one in which someone came to Jesus for healing and was, at first, refused. But in the end, Jesus performed a miracle. Let us study this story and discover how we, too, can receive our healing.
From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, (…) (Mark 7:24)
Jesus had a very demanding ministry. He often ministered late into the night, healing the sick and preaching the Word. There were moments when Jesus desired rest and time alone with His disciples and His Heavenly Father. This appears to be one of those times. He withdrew from the crowds in Israel and traveled to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He didn’t go there to preach or perform miracles—He simply wanted to be alone.
(…) but He could not be hidden. For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. (Mark 7:24-25)
Even though Jesus intended to stay hidden, a woman discovered His presence and came to Him. She was desperate for her daughter to be delivered from an unclean spirit. Although we are not told the exact nature of the illness, it is clear that the girl suffered greatly under the influence of this spirit.
The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. (Mark 7:26)
This is an important detail. The woman was Greek—a Syro-Phoenician by birth. At that time, Jesus was sent only to the house of Israel. His earthly ministry was directed specifically toward the Jews. It was after Pentecost that the Gospel was extended to the Gentiles.
But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:23-24)
This was a very difficult situation. The woman had hope that Jesus could heal her daughter, but at first, He ignored her completely. Then, when He finally responded, He said that she was not eligible for a healing miracle because He had been sent to the house of Israel. All hope seemed lost—but the woman did not give up. She refused to be turned away.
Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:25-26)
Once again, she was rejected. What a painful moment this must have been. She had tried twice. She had pleaded. And still, Jesus had done nothing—yet. Jesus repeated that the “bread” (healing) was for the children, not for the Gentiles.
And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matthew 15:27)
At this point, something powerful rose inside her: faith. In the beginning, she had come to Jesus only with her need and nothing happened. But now she came to Him with faith. She believed that even a crumb from Jesus was enough for her miracle. She no longer asked based on her need, but based on her faith. And Jesus always responds to faith.
Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:28)
The woman’s faith moved Jesus to act. Because of her faith, her daughter was healed. She had no covenant right to healing. She had been turned away—twice. And yet, she still received her miracle. How did she receive it? By faith.
Let us now study a few more lessons from this story:
1. Jesus said that healing is the children’s bread: Jesus was referring to the Israelites, the children of the covenant. Because they were descendants of Abraham, they were entitled to the covenant promises—including the promise of healing. But what about the Gentiles? Are they not entitled to healing?
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:11-18)
In the past, the Gentiles had no part in the promises God gave through His covenants with Israel. They were outside of God's family. But through Jesus’ sacrifice, they were welcomed in and became part of God’s people. Because of His finished work, Gentiles can now partake in the promises of God—including the promise of healing. Once, we were lost and excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, but through Jesus’ sacrifice, we have been reconciled to God. Through Christ, both Jew and Gentile are now children of God.
But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Mark 7:27)
Jesus said the children must be filled first with the bread, and only then the dogs. But now, through faith in Jesus, we are no longer outsiders—we are children. That means you are entitled to the children’s bread. You may sit at God’s table and receive the bread of healing. And God is pleased to give it to you.
If you have children, then you know how it sometimes goes at the table. You want your children to eat, but sometimes they refuse. Still, you do everything you can to make sure they eat—because you know it’s important. In the same way, God is our Father, and He greatly desires that we partake of the bread of healing. He wants us to receive the right revelation, so we will take and eat—and be healed.
God does not withhold healing from us. He wants to give it—joyfully and freely. Just as you long to see your child eat what is good, God longs for you to eat His “healing bread.”
2. Bread is something you eat every day: Jesus specifically spoke about bread. He did not refer to steak, lobster, salmon, caviar, or other expensive foods that are eaten only on special occasions—perhaps once a year at Christmas. No, Jesus spoke of bread, something simple and essential, something most people eat daily. Bread represents a necessity of life.
In the same way, healing is not a luxury or a rare experience. Jesus did not treat healing as a one-time blessing or as something available only to a select few. He saw healing as something needed every day—just like bread. Healing is part of our daily inheritance as children of God. Just as we are meant to eat physical bread each day, we are also invited to partake daily of Jesus’ healing and health.
3. Come with faith: At first, this woman came to Jesus in deep distress.
(…) “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. (...) Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:22-26)
The woman cried out in desperation, but Jesus did not respond. In fact, His response seemed harsh and dismissive. Instead of helping her, He initially turned her away. Distress alone did not move Jesus to act. Desperation did not produce the miracle. So what did?
And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:27-28)
Faith brought about the miracle. The woman stepped out of her distress and chose to believe. She no longer approached Jesus based only on her pain—she came in faith. And when Jesus saw her faith, He responded. Her daughter was healed.
Of course, we may pour out our hearts to God. We are free to cry before Him and share our sorrow. But we must also understand that God responds to faith. It is faith that activates the miracle. After we have poured out our hearts, we can choose to walk in faith. We may say: “Lord, this illness is painful. It breaks my heart. But I trust in You. You are my Healer. You provide all I need. By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed. You care for me.”
We see this often in the book of Psalms. Many psalms begin with deep sorrow, but they end with declarations of faith and hope. The psalmist may start by describing his suffering, but he finishes by expressing trust in God's power to deliver. So, turn your distress into faith. Don’t focus on the need—focus on the solution that God has already provided in His Word.
4. One crumb is enough for healing: Did you notice that this woman asked for crumbs? She didn’t ask for a full meal. She knew that even a small portion of Jesus’ power and authority was enough to meet her great need. When we look at our problems, we may think, “This is overwhelming. The doctors can’t help me, the psychologists can’t help me, and no one else has a solution. Maybe Jesus can help—but it must take Him a lot of time, effort, and power to do so.” But that is not true. Nothing is too difficult for God. In six days, He created the heavens and the earth. If God created all things so effortlessly, then surely He can solve your problems in just one moment.
We serve a great God, who performs great miracles. But even the greatest miracles that amaze the world do not require great effort from Him. In God’s eyes, even the most astounding miracle can be compared to just a crumb of His power. One crumb is enough. That’s why it’s so important to view your situation from God’s perspective. When you look at your problem through His eyes, it becomes small. But when you look at it through your natural eyes, it may seem like an immovable mountain.
Summary
In this chapter, we explored the response of the religious leaders to Jesus’ healings on the Sabbath. These leaders were not pleased that Jesus healed the sick—even to the point of wanting to kill Him. Sadly, we still see similar reactions today. Some people claim that healing is from the devil, while sickness is from God. But this is not true. The devil does not bless, and God does not afflict His children with sickness.
We saw that the Pharisees and religious leaders placed more value on their traditions and rules than on the commandments of God. Jesus did not break the Sabbath. He only violated the man-made traditions that the religious leaders had added. It is essential for us to place the Word of God above human traditions.
In the various healing accounts, we saw how the religious leaders criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They believed it was not appropriate to heal on that day. But Jesus saw healing as a priority—regardless of the day. He showed that the Sabbath is not only about spiritual rest and salvation, but also about physical healing and restoration. God is concerned with our entire well-being—spirit, soul, and body.
We also saw that healing is good and that it glorifies God. When people are healed and respond with thanksgiving, it brings glory to the Lord. Healing is a work of God, and it is His desire that all His children walk in health and enjoy His goodness. Jesus even described healing as an act of saving a person.
Lastly, we looked at the account of the Greek woman who pleaded with Jesus to heal her daughter. Although Jesus initially seemed to reject her request, He ultimately granted her miracle because of her faith. This story clearly highlights the importance of faith in receiving healing.