Healing In The Ministry of Jesus

When Jesus walked here on earth he didn’t just preach about the kingdom of God, he revealed it in action. Everywhere he went, the sick were healed, the broken were restored, and the hopeless found hope. Healing was not a side activity in Jesus’ ministry, it was central to showing the heart of God.

Healing was central to Jesus’ mission. Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news for the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

Healing wasn’t just about physical recovery, but it was about demonstrating the arrival of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ miracles confirmed His authority and revealed His compassion.

When Jesus healed, He wasn’t proving His divinity, He was showing God’s heart for mankind. Jesus reached out to the untouchable leper, he listened to the desperate cry of a blind beggar and even wept before raising Lazarus from the dead.

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow”. While the methods may vary the same God who healed in the gospels is still able to bring healing today.

After Jesus returned to the Father, His disciples continued his healing work. In Acts we can see the disciples continuing Jesus’ work.

• Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3:6-8
  • ” Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk.”
• Paul laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover in Acts 28:8-9
  • “His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.”
• The apostles anointing and praying for many who were healed in Act 5:15-16
  • “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”

This shows us that healing was not meant to die out after Jesus’ earthly ministry.

” Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father, and I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:12-13 NIV

Jesus states in John 14 that we will be able to do the same miracles he did during his earthly ministry and that we will do even greater miracles than he did. Healing is still happening today through His spirit-filled followers.

The New Testament gives us instructions to continue walking in this ministry.

” Is anyone sick, let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in prayer offered in faith will heal the sick.” James 5:14-15

” These signs will accompany those who believe in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues. They will place their hands on sick people and they will get well”. Mark 16:17-18 NIV

There are really signs that follow real men and women of God. When they pray for those that are sick they get well. It takes faith on your part and also on the part of the one that is sick. When we pray for those that are sick we have to believe that God is going to heal them.

Casting out demons takes a whole other level of prayer. This takes a lot of prayer and fasting and searching scriptures and learning about what Jesus taught and the scriptures teach on casting out demons.

“This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29 KJV

Jesus’ healing ministry continues today with you and I. Things haven’t changed, His spirit is alive in his people and his kingdom is still advancing. Not every one will be healed in this life. Every act of restoration points us right to the greater promise of eternal wholeness in Christ.

Jesus’ healings aren’t locked somewhere in history. They are living and active today through his believers when we pray for healing, extend forgiveness, and speak hope. We are continuing the ministry of Jesus in our present day world.