Parresia · Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace, Session 4, “Jesus, Our Healer”

Introduction

Welcome to session 4 of Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace. This session is entitled, “Jesus, Our Healer.”

A few weeks before I began this series, I heard an old hymn in my heart:

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here: Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

As I was singing this, I heard the Holy Spirit say in my heart: “Emmanuel is here because I am here.” The Holy Spirit is here in our midst and in our hearts. He is here to remind us of everything that Jesus did and said.

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation is here to open the scriptures to us so that they are not just words on a page, but the living voice of the resurrected Jesus. His Word will feed us, transform us, and heal us.

Today I am going to do something a little different. I’m going to simply read accounts of Jesus healing people without much commentary. I am just going to read to you like I used to read to my children when they were little.

Every story that we have of Jesus healing people is there for a reason.

John 20:30-31, NIV – Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I have prayed that this message would unveil Jesus to you as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord Our Healer, and that by believing you may have life – zōē, God-life – in His name.

Theology on Healing

I want to say something about the theology of healing. I believe that the study of Jesus is the best theology we can have – no matter what we are learning about God.  As I say in every one of these messages – 

Colossians 1:15 – He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God.

Hebrews 1:3 – And He [Jesus] is the radiance of His [God’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature.

If we want to know the will of God and what God is like, we look at Jesus.

John 14:1, 9 – [Jesus said – ] “you believe in God, believe also in Me… 9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

What does He look like?

Acts 10:38, NASB – You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Jesus, anointed by the Holy Spirit, demonstrated for us the glory of God. He operated in heavenly reality. He manifested the Father in heaven and revealed His nature. 

Review from last session:

In the last session I spoke about “Jesus, Our Completeness.” I talked about His “háptomai” – His impact touching. As I said, when He touches us or we touch Him, power always flows one way: from Him to us – Our weakness, lack, pain, sickness, uncleanness, sin, and unrighteousness are never transferred to Him because  that was done once and for all when Jesus bore all of our sin and our sickness on the cross

His power – His “dynamis” – His dynamite touching – flows towards us and makes us whole as we saw in Matthew 8 – 

Matthew 8:14-17, NASB – When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw [Peter’s] his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 15 He [Jesus] touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on [Jesus] Him. 16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” [That is a quote from Isaiah 53:4]

Isaiah 53:4 (YLT) [Here it is in the Young’s Literal Translation] – Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them.

The next verse says –

Isaiah 53:5 – by His stripes we are healed. [Jesus]

You never see Jesus making anyone sick. Ever. If there was just one case of Jesus touching someone to make him sick to teach him a lesson or punish him, I would highlight it for you here.

I would probably harp on it and bring it up every time I prayed for someone to be healed, just in case they hadn’t learned their lesson yet. But you can’t find it. 

As I said, in the last session, I believe that beholding Jesus is our “act” of faith. He is the divine persuasion of God. And when we behold JEsus, we are transformed!

So As I  read the stories of Jesus healing people, let’s just release all of our cares to Him – even our concern for our own faith.   Let’s stop trying to have faith. Let Jesus be our faith.

And as I read these accounts, remember that the Spirit of the living Christ dwells within us. Rivers of living, healing waters flow from within us to our bodies.

Romans 8:11 – If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

So let’s begin with the healings of Jesus.   for the most part these accounts are in chronological order. If there are stories that are recorded in multiple gospels, I will only share one of those accounts.  Starting with Matthew 4:23-25 – 

Matthew 4:23-25, NASB – Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. 24 The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Jesus Declares His Ministry to the Sick and Demonized

Luke 4:16-19 – So [Jesus] He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” [Jesus was reading from Isaiah 61, a prophecy of the Messiah]

Jesus Heals a Leper

Mark 1:40-42 – Now a leper came to [Jesus] Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He [Jesus] had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Jesus Heals the Nobleman’s son and the Centurion’s paralyzed servant

Mark 6:56, KJV – as many as touched him were made whole.

Jesus healed everyone who came to Him. But not everyone who was healed actually came to Jesus. Sometimes He healed them from afar because Jesus is the Lord over time and space.

John 4:46-54 – So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. [The FIRST miracle of Jesus was turning water into the finest, AGED wine. He condensed decades into a moment because He is the Lord over time. The SECOND miracle of Jesus was healing the nobleman’s son from afar – demonstrating that He is the Lord over space. Jesus doesn’t have to physically be here to heal someone. Back to verse 46 – ] And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him [Jesus] and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him [Jesus], “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Jesus Heals Paralyzed Man at the Pool of Bethesda

In the next chapter, John 5, we see the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda (which means “house of grace”)

John 5:5-8 – Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He [Jesus] said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” [The waters were thought to have healing properties] 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

Most of Jesus’ miracles were performed on the Sabbath. I think there is a message in that. It reminds me of Hebrews 4:9-10 – 

Hebrews 4:9-10 – There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. [rest – the Greek word sabbatismos means a perpetual sabbath rest. We have eternal rest through the finished work of Jesus.] 10 For he who has entered His [God’s] rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The message is: stop striving. Rest. Surrender to His grace. This isn’t inactivity. It’s simply Spirit-directed activity, which will accomplish much more the human effort.

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

Luke 5:17-26, NASB – One day He [Jesus] was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him [Jesus] to perform healing. 18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him [Jesus]. 19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, He [Jesus] said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22 But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He [Jesus] said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” 25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant

Another account of Jesus healing from afar was the healing of the centurion’s servant in Luke chapter 7 – 

Luke 7:2-10 – And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. [Matthew’s gospel says the servant was “paralyzed, suffering terribly.” (NIV)] 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with [Jesus] Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He [Jesus] should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, [they said] and has built us a synagogue.” 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to [Jesus] Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

When I read this story, I think about how grace is the great leveler. Because of Jesus, we are all worthy to receive His healing. These men approached Jesus claiming that the Roman centurion was worthy because of the good things he had done, but in the end, the only thing that mattered was his simple faith in Jesus who has authority over sickness.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but because of Jesus we can all approach the throne of grace with boldness and without any hesitation.

In 1995, when we were praying for Mark to be healed, we listened to a cassette tape of a man reading healing scriptures, much like what I am doing today. One of the scriptures he read was Acts 10:34 that says

Acts 10:34, NASB – “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality.”

I clung to that verse and many others like it that assure us that God doesn’t show favoritism. We had to trust in God’s grace because otherwise we would have felt unworthy to receive His healing.

Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain; Jesus is the Coming One

Continuing in Luke 7 – 

Luke 7:11-23 – Now it happened, the day after, that He [Jesus] went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He [Jesus] came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He [Jesus] said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He [Jesus] presented him to his mother. 16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about [Jesus] Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. 18 Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] reported to him concerning all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 20 When the men had come to [Jesus] Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” 21 And that very hour [Jesus] He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Many Women Were Healed of Evil Spirits and Sicknesses

Luke 8:1-3, NIV – After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.  The Twelve were with [Jesus] him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Jesus Raises a Jairus’ Daughter from the Dead; Jesus Heals the woman with the issue of blood

Luke 8:40-56 – So it was, when Jesus returned, [in this case – from delivering the Gadarene demoniac] that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged [Jesus] Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as [Jesus] He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of [Jesus’s] His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before [Jesus] Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And [Jesus] He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” 49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him [Jairus], “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” [Jesus stopped to speak to the woman with the issue of blood even though Jairus’ daughter was dying. Jesus is never in a hurry, but He’s also never late.] 51 When [Jesus] He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Several times Jesus told those who had received miracles from Him not to tell anyone about it.  The simple reason is that it would have hindered His ability to move about freely and spread the gospel of the kingdom of God. 

Jesus healed two blind men

After leaving Jairus’ house and raising his daughter from the dead, we see from Matthew’s account – 

Matthew 9:27-35, NIV – As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he [Jesus] 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. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; [When Jesus said this, He was simply confirming that they believe He is able — Why is He able? Because He IS the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Our Healer!] 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. 32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” [Boy, these religious leaders were really against healing and deliverance, weren’t they?] 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Jesus Heals Crowds Who Had Followed Him

Shortly after that, reading from Luke’s account in Luke 9 – Jesus took His disciples to a deserted place – 

Luke 9:11-13 – But when the multitudes knew [that they had gone to a deserted place] it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” 13 But [Jesus] He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

All they had was two loaves and five fish for 5000 men (or about 20,000 if you include the whole families), but once Jesus broke the bread, there was more than enough to go around, with 12 basketfuls left over.

Jesus healed the man with the withered hand

Matthew 12:10-22 – And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they [Jesus] asked [Jesus] Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. 11 Then [Jesus] 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? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against [Jesus] Him, how they might destroy Him. [Jesus] 15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 [Why? Because -] A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.” 22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. [Jesus wasn’t trying to be the center attention. That’s why He wasn’t loud. He simply had compassion for the people, so He walked among them. You know, when we are sick, broken, bruised, worn out, rejected and hopeless, He comes to us in meekness, with peace and gentleness and comfort. He’s not pushy and loud and condemning like the Pharisees, or violent like the Roman soldiers, or pompous like the false prophets who only want to draw attention to themselves. His only goal is to heal, to strengthen, and to give life.]

Jesus Heals Crowds in the land of Gennesaret

In Matthew 14, after He walked on the water and calmed another storm, the disciples worshiped Him saying  – 

Matthew 14:33-36 – Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, [Jesus] they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized [Jesus] Him, they sent [the word] out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. [Please listen to “Jesus, Our Completeness” to learn why they touched the hem of His garment]

Jesus Heals Crowds of Lame, Blind, Mute, Maimed, and Other Conditions

In Matthew 15, after delivering the daughter of the SyroPhoenician woman, 

Matthew 15:29-31, NASB – Jesus departed from there, [speaking of the region of Tyre and Sidon] skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Continuing the story in Mark’s account – 

Mark 7:36-37, NLT – Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. 37 They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

After that in Mark 8, Jesus fed the 4000 because, once again, He had compassion on them. They had followed Him for three days and had no food. He’s our Healer, our Deliverer, and He’s also Provider!

Jesus Heals a Blind Man in Bethsaida

Mark 8:22-26 – Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged [Jesus] Him to touch him. 23 So [Jesus] He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. [Just imagine Jesus taking you by the hand. So precious and tender and intimate. Imagine feeling your hand in His] And when He [Jesus] had spit on [the blind man’s] his eyes and put His hands on him, [Jesus] He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He [Jesus] put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. [Where did Jesus make him look? Up!] And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. [Including Jesus]

Jesus heals the boy possessed by a spirit

In Mark 9, After Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, and we read in Mark, chapter 9, verse 14 –  

Mark 9:14-27, NASB – When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw [Jesus] Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16 And [Jesus] He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” 19 And [Jesus] He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw [Jesus] Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And [Jesus] He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

Jesus Heals Great Multitudes in Judea

Matthew 19:1-2, NLT – When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea, east of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.

Jesus heals a woman with a spirit of infirmity

Luke 13:10-13 – Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 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. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Jesus Heals a Man with abnormal swelling

Luke 14:1-6, NIV – One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, [Jesus] he healed him and sent him on his way. 5 Then [Jesus] 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?” 6 And they had nothing to say. [Because they do not want to admit to the truth, and thus lose control over the people.]

Jesus Heals Ten Lepers

Luke 17:11-19 – Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. [at that time, the Jews did not go through Samaria because they detested the Samaritans. They would take the long way around to get where they were going. But not Jesus] 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at [Jesus’s] His feet – giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-52, NASB – And as [Jesus] he was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! [Jesus] he is calling for you.” 50 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” [Was it not obvious that the man was blind? Did Jesus not already know what Bartimaeus wanted? Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” But He also said in the SAME sermon in Matthew 7:7-8 – “Ask, and it will be given to you;…8 For everyone who asks receives,” Everything Jesus does is for a reason. He wanted the Bartimaeus to ask. There’s something in the asking. ..Back to verse 51 – ] And the blind man said to [Jesus] Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following [Jesus] Him on the road.

Jesus heals the soldier’s ear

In Luke 22, in the Garden of Gethsemane, as Judas and the chief priests and elders, along with a multitude,  approached Jesus, and Judas betrayed Him with a kiss –

Luke 22:48-51, NASB – But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those who were around [Jesus] Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. [John’s gospel tells us that it was Peter who cut off the slave’s ear] 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

In John 9 when Jesus and His disciples encountered the man born blind, the disciples asked Jesus –

John 9:2-7, 25 – “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. [“While it is day” was a literary expression that simply means so long as He was alive on the earth.] 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” [In Matthew 5:14, He said, “You are the light of the world.” As long as we are in the world, we work the works of Him who sent us!] 6 When [Jesus] 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. 7 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.… 25 [Later the man said – ] “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” [Have you ever noticed that no one asked for Jesus to heal the man? JESUS Himself took the initiative.]

Jesus raises Lazarus

John 11:1-4, 39-44 – Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to [Jesus] Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” [Skipping to verse 39, 4 days later when Lazarus is dead in the tomb, and Jesus has finally arrived – ]… 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to [Jesus] Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” [Every step they all resisted the impossible. But Jesus still raised Lazarus and showed them the glory of God.]

Connection between John 9 and John 11

In both John 9 and John 11, Jesus drew their attention away from sickness and sin – and to His purpose for coming – so that the works and glory of God would be revealed in impossible situations, and so that Jesus Himself would be glorified in the miracles.  

Jesus demonstrated that every earthly problem is simply an opportunity for Him to demonstrate His power and love and glory and grace with His heavenly answer – sometimes in ways that we weren’t even expecting.

Conclusion: God Will Make A Way, Don Moen 

I hope these stories of Jesus have made your soul prosper today – 

3 John 1:2, NASB – [The apostle John wrote – ] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [It’s very important for you soul to prosper]

Jesus doesn’t want us giving in to fear or giving up on God – He said in Luke 18 – “You should always pray and never give up.”  We need to know that whatever we are facing, nothing is impossible with Him.

There is an old song called “God Will Make a Way.” It was a theme song of our lives in 1995 when we were praying for Mark’s healing of an incurable disease. 

God Will Make a Way by Don Moen:

“God will make a way Where there seems to be no way; He works in ways we cannot see; He will make a way for me; He will be my guide, Hold me closely to His side; With love and strength For each new day; He will make a way; He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness; He’ll lead me; And rivers in the desert will I see; Heaven and earth will fade, But His Word will still remain; He will do something new today.”

(© Copyright 1990 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (ASCAP)(c/o Integrity Media, Inc. 1000 Cody Road, Mobile, AL 36695.)

Let’s end by praising the Lord Jesus, Our Healer with one more passage – and let’s read it together –

Psalm 103:1-5 – Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Amen!

Copyright info: All scriptures in the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

• (NKJV) New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
• (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
• (NLT) Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
• (NASB) Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
• (YLT) Young’s Literal Translation by Public Domain
• (KJV) King James Version. Public Domain
• (WUEST) The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest © copyright Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1961. All rights reserved. 
• The Message, Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson