The teachings of Jesus
Let us consider the teaching of Jesus concerning healing and health. What did Jesus say about healing? In Chapter 9, we already studied how Jesus instructed His disciples to heal all who were sick. We also examined the Great Commission, where Jesus declared that believers would lay hands on the sick, and they would recover. Furthermore, we looked at Jesus’ responses to the Pharisees’ criticism when He healed on the Sabbath. Therefore, we will not repeat these teachings in this chapter.
Reason 63: Both Jesus and the Father Healed
In Reason 54, we saw that healing is a work of God. It is also a work of Jesus. The whole Trinity desires for you to be healthy. When Jesus came to earth, He spent much time healing great multitudes. But why was Jesus doing this work? Did He consider it important by His understanding, or was He doing it at the direction of God the Father?
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)
Jesus healed the paralytic at Bethesda on a Sabbath. The Jews were angered by this and sought to kill Him because He performed a work on the Sabbath. Jesus responded with the verse above. He showed that He did not act on His initiative to heal on the Sabbath. He declared that He could do nothing of Himself but only what He saw the Father doing. Jesus healed because the Father was healing through Him.
It is very special to see that Jesus did the works He saw the Father doing. This means Jesus saw God the Father healing, and He healed in the same way. Healing was in the heart of God the Father. God had been healing even before the Gospels were written, and Jesus, seeing the Father, was able to imitate Him. Yet Jesus did more than imitate—God the Father was working through Him. In other words, God used the ministry of Jesus to heal the sick. Jesus did not heal by His own power; He trusted the Father, and the Father did the works through Him.
This is very important, because just as God the Father worked through Jesus, He can also work through you today, so that you may do the same works that Jesus did.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:10-12)
We can do the same works that Jesus did. This is because Jesus did not perform His works by His own power; He did them by the power of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we also may do the same works.
“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10:37-38)
Jesus was very clear about the importance of works. Of course, everything centers on the Person of Jesus. However, if people did not believe in Him based on His words—that He is the Son of God—Jesus encouraged them to believe because of the works themselves. He showed that works were a vital part of His ministry. Jesus not only preached the Word; He also demonstrated it through His works.
Reason 64: The Gospel is Confirmed by Miracles
Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:11)
This verse reveals something very powerful. Sometimes people say, “It is not about miracles and signs.” But the truth is that it does concern miracles and signs. How can we know that Jesus is the Christ? By the miracles and signs He performed.
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know. (Acts 2:22)
If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. (John 15:24)
When you separate miracles and signs from the gospel, you no longer have the full gospel. Everything God does is a miracle. God desires to reveal Himself to people through miracles and signs.
(…) for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36)
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2:4)
The writer of Hebrews referred not only to the miracles and signs that Jesus performed but also to the miracles and signs that took place—and continue to take place—in the Church. All these signs bear witness to the gospel.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:20)
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3)
Even when we read the Old Testament, we see many accounts of miracles. Consider the Exodus, the miracles of Elijah and Elisha, and how God repeatedly delivered Israel from their enemies in the books of Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. God is a God of miracles—both in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and continuing to the final chapters of Revelation. Why would God reveal Himself through miracles in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the early Church, and to the last generation in the last days in Revelation, but not to us? God is the God of miracles: yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change. God still desires to perform miracles and signs today. One form of miracles and signs is healing.
A healing is not only a great blessing for the person, but also a powerful miracle that can help others believe. Imagine a neighbor who has been in a wheelchair all his life and has no feeling in his legs—he cannot walk or stand. One day, he decides to attend a healing service and is miraculously healed. How will the people in his street react when they see him walking? Everyone will ask, “What happened to your legs?” He becomes a walking testimony, and no one can deny that a great miracle has taken place.
The point is this: when you speak with words alone, others may say, “I am sorry, but I do not believe the gospel.” But when you demonstrate the gospel by healing someone in the name of Jesus, it becomes much harder to deny. We need miracles and power to spread the gospel of God. When we display the power of God, people will be eager to hear the message of the gospel.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18-19)
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12)
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
Let us return to John 9, where the blind man was healed. Why was he healed?
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 beauty of this healing account was that no one could deny a great miracle had occurred. A great discussion followed between the healed man and the Pharisees. Can you picture it? The Pharisees could not deny that a miracle had taken place, yet they still refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah. So they said:
(…) “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” (John 9:24)
When we display the miracles and signs of God to people, there is no longer any debate about whether God exists or whether a miracle has occurred. People know that something extraordinary has happened, especially when it is their own healing. The only question they must then answer is, “Do I want to serve God?” They can no longer question, “Does God exist?” They know He exists, because a great miracle has taken place in their lives.
Reason 65: All Things are Possible by Faith
In the New Testament, we read that Jesus was transfigured on the mountain. Afterward, He descended from the mountain and saw a large crowd and some scribes disputing with the disciples. Jesus asked what the scribes were discussing. Then someone from the crowd spoke to Jesus:
Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” (Mark 9:17-18)
There was a boy who had not been healed. The disciples had failed to cast out the demon so that the boy might be made well. How was this possible?
He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. (Mark 9:19-20)
The reason they did not succeed was because of unbelief. It is important to understand that the disciples were not inexperienced in healing the sick and casting out demons. They had already healed many and cast out many demons earlier, as recorded in Mark 6. They had done this even without Jesus being physically present with them.
So how could it be that they could not cast the demon out now? The boy was convulsing, foaming at the mouth, and exhibiting many alarming symptoms. Likely, the disciples saw these natural circumstances and allowed unbelief to arise in their hearts. They were probably focused on what they saw, and no longer fully confident that the boy would be healed.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:19-20)
Unbelief had entered their hearts, and as a result, no miracle took place. Fortunately, Jesus was present on the earth and was able to intervene. Let us study the story further:
So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:21-23)
I find this response from Jesus very beautiful. Jesus helped this man return to faith. He did not say, “I notice unbelief, so I am going to walk away; figure it out for yourself.” No, Jesus helped the man by leading him back to faith.
This is still true today. The Holy Spirit helps us and gives us revelation, including concerning healing. The Holy Spirit desires to strengthen our faith and assist us in resisting all unbelief. Of course, it remains important that we make our own choices and refuse to give unbelief a place in our hearts. Yet the Holy Spirit is willing to help us remove every trace of unbelief.
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Worrying is a form of unbelief. We are invited to cast all our worries and troubles upon God. Once we have given them to Him, we must leave them with Him. We are not meant to take them back again. The Amplified Bible translates this verse as follows:
Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7, AMP)
We may throw all our worries upon Him. God desires to help us destroy all unbelief in our lives, just as Jesus helped the father of the boy.
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9:24-27)
What the disciples failed to do, Jesus accomplished. What was God's will for this boy? That he be healed. Did the disciples succeed? No. This shows us that when we do not immediately succeed in receiving healing or in ministering healing to someone else, it does not mean that it is God's will for the person to remain sick.
Let us take a closer look at Mark 9:23:
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
Jesus said that all things are possible to those who believe. When we look at the context of this verse, we see that Jesus spoke these words during a healing encounter. He was teaching that every disease and every affliction can be overcome by faith. Faith is a powerful force, and through faith, even the greatest problems can be solved. Let us briefly review what else Jesus says about faith:
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:22-24)
Faith is very powerful. Sometimes an illness or a problem may seem like a mountain—immovable and impossible to overcome. Yet faith can move even the greatest mountain. Faith without doubt ensures that any problem can be overcome.
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:6)
Moreover, we do not need to have great faith. Faith as small as a mustard seed is enough, as long as there is no unbelief or doubt in our hearts. Thus, Jesus taught that any disease or ailment can be overcome through faith.
Reason 66: Jesus Came to Save People
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known Psalms. Written by David, this Psalm teaches us that God is our Shepherd and that He cares for us as a faithful Shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3)
This Psalm from the Old Testament, is tremendously powerful. Once again, we see that God desires to bless us in all areas of life. He wants us to lie down in green pastures and to be led beside still waters. God does not desire us to live in a barren, dry land, facing one storm after another. It is true that storms can come into our lives, but even through those storms, God will lead us, and we will experience His blessing and His nearness.
Now let us look at Jesus, who reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd in the New Testament:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He delights in giving us good gifts. He is not like a hired hand who does not care if a sheep is lost. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who goes out to find and restore the lost sheep. He is good to us, and He desires to care for us and help us as a true Shepherd.
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)
The thief—this is the devil—comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. He seeks to rob people of life. But Jesus is different. Jesus came to give us life, and that more abundantly.
What does abundant life mean? It means that Jesus not only provides what is necessary but gives even more. He gives us life beyond mere survival. When someone is sick, it is difficult to speak of living an abundant life. Sickness affects a person's joy and well-being, and it belongs to the category of “steal, kill, and destroy.” Health, however, belongs to abundant life—and Jesus desires to give it to us. In this parable, Jesus clearly shows that He comes to give good things, while the enemy comes to take them away.
Moreover, Jesus came to give us life. The word “life” speaks not only of eternal life but also of life here on earth. A person lives because he breathes, and Jesus desires to give life in its fullness. Sickness and life do not go together, especially when someone suffers from an incurable disease. One cannot walk in the “fullness of life” while lying sick in bed day after day. That is not the abundant life Jesus promised. Jesus came to give us the fullness of life, which includes health and the removal of every trace of death and disease. The devil comes to bring death, but Jesus comes to bring life and health.
Reason 67: Jesus Seeks the Lost
In addition to the previous example, there is another parable in the Bible that speaks of Jesus as the Shepherd and we as the sheep. Let us read it:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:4-7)
This passage speaks about someone coming to faith. Jesus seeks the lost and desires that they repent and be added to His spiritual flock. At the same time, this parable reveals the deep love Jesus has for every individual. Even if He had already reached all people and only one person remained lost, Jesus would still do everything possible to reach that one person. His love extends to every single soul.
This is a wonderful truth. Jesus is interested in you and desires that it goes well with you. He loves you deeply. What Jesus has done for those He has already healed, He desires to do for you as well. You are not an exception, and you are not less loved. Jesus wants to reach you too, and His loving hand desires to change your situation.
We see the same image in the parable of the prodigal son. The prodigal son asked for his inheritance early and spent it living a life of sin. Eventually, he repented and returned to his father. He thought, “Maybe I can serve my father as a hired servant, but I will never be his son again.” However, nothing was further from the truth. Read with me:
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:20-24)
Do you see the unimaginable grace of the father, which is a picture of the grace of our heavenly Father? God is pleased when someone repents and returns home to Him. He is moved with deep compassion and immediately welcomes him into His family. After the son repented, he did not have to prove himself to his father over some time. Immediately, he received back his position as a son. Likewise, the moment we come to faith, we become sons and daughters of God.
But what exactly was the father pleased about? That:
- The son was dead and is alive again.
- The son was lost and is found.
- The son returned safe and sound.
The father—and our heavenly Father—is glad when His son or daughter returns healthy. The brother of the prodigal son heard that a great feast was taking place in the house. He asked a servant what was happening. The servant answered:
And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ (Luke 15:27)
The father rejoiced that his son had returned safe and sound. Sometimes people think that although God has forgiven them, they must continue to suffer from an illness or affliction caused by their past sins—as if God gives them a scar to remember their former life. But this story shows that God is not pleased when we carry scars of sickness. God is not pleased with disease; He is pleased when we live in health and fellowship with Him.
I am so thankful for the grace of God. He does not desire for us to pay for our past sins through sickness. Instead, He desires that we live with Him in health. Even if we have lived in a pigsty, we may repent and be welcomed directly into His house.
Reason 68: It is Finished
As you read earlier in Reason 34, Isaiah 53 tells us that our diseases and ailments were borne by Jesus on the cross of Calvary. But when exactly was the price for our healing paid? Has this already taken place, or is it something that will happen in the future? When Jesus hung on the cross and breathed His last, the following happened:
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
The Greek word translated as “finished” is teleĊ. It means to accomplish, to fulfill, or to pay. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” He was declaring that the price had been paid in full. He had brought His earthly ministry to completion. Jesus fulfilled the price required to restore, forgive, redeem, and heal mankind. He does not need to pay or accomplish anything further. The price was fully paid two thousand years ago. Everything that was necessary has already been done. Jesus does not need to do something new when someone needs healing.
Imagine you order a coffee at Starbucks. You give your name and pay at the counter. You have not yet received the coffee because the barista is still preparing it. But you are confident that the coffee will come, and you know there is nothing more you need to do. Why? Because you already paid the price.
It is the same with the sacrifice of Jesus. He has already paid the price. We may now receive, by faith, our healing, redemption, and forgiveness. Jesus has already completed His work. It is waiting for us. All we have to do is receive it in faith.
Just like your coffee order, it may seem as if you haven’t received anything yet. The barista hasn’t handed you the cup. Yet you are completely certain that you are entitled to it— and if the barista forgets, you will boldly claim it. After all, you paid for it.
In the same way, we must understand that our healing has already been paid for. We are entitled to it—not because of what we’ve done, but because of the grace and goodness of Jesus. Healing has been given to us as a gift. We ought to walk in it, because Jesus has already paid the full price.
Summary
Jesus taught and demonstrated healing and health throughout His ministry. He healed people in the same way the Father did—because He saw the Father healing, and because the Father worked through Him. Jesus did not act on His initiative, but in agreement with the Father. He was not able to heal the sick apart from the help and power of God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus also taught that all things are possible to those who believe. Faith is a powerful force that moves mountains. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can make the impossible possible—so long as there is no doubt in the heart.
Jesus came to give life and to give it more abundantly. He is the good Shepherd who cares for His sheep. The thief—the devil—comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy, but Jesus came to give life in abundance.
Moreover, Jesus cares about everyone and desires that all be in good health. He rejoices when a sinner repents and returns to Him. God is moved with compassion and immediately welcomes us into His family. He delights in seeing His children healthy and living in fullness with Him.
Finally, Jesus has already paid the full price for healing and health on the cross. When He cried “It is finished!” He declared that everything necessary for restoration, forgiveness, redemption, and healing was accomplished. We do not need to earn our healing; we may receive it by faith.