Jesus healed all the sick who came to Him, regardless of their condition. He restored sight to the blind, speech to the dumb, hearing to the deaf, raised the dead, freed the demon-possessed, and all left healthy after He ministered to them. In the Name of Jesus, we can pray to the Father and do the works just as Jesus did. To build our faith to receive healing or pray for other people who are sick, we need to study what the Bible says about it and consider the specific healings that Jesus did, as they appear in the Gospels. Some of them are recorded in more than one place so I chose to list the more detailed ones and those which bring the most pertinence.
1.Jesus Casts out an Unclean Spirit, (Luke 4:33-37, Mark 1:23-28).
Luke 4:33-37 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
The evil spirits knew very well who Jesus was. The demon that possessed the man in the synagogue called Jesus “the Holy One of God” and yet tried to intimidate Him. But it failed! Jesus rebuked the demon saying: “Be quiet and come out of him!” and the demon had to leave. Though it knocked him down, the man was unharmed and well after being delivered. All those present were amazed. Because the verse says, “with authority and power Jesus commands the unclean spirits, and they come out,” it means that all of us who have Jesus as Lord, can do the same in the Name of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus gave us authority in His Name (Luke 10:19) over all evil spirits and their powers. We make sure though, that we have clean hearts (no unconfessed sin) and are in right-standing with the Lord and then command the spirits of sickness to leave.
2. Jesus Cleanses a Leper (Matthew 8:2-4,Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16).
Mark 1:40-45 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
Luke 5:12-16 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
The leper believed that Jesus could heal him. He threw himself at the Lord's feet, admitting that he did not deserve His help. The leper knew he was a sinner and an outcast. It was a great risk for him to approach Jesus. According to the Law of Moses, lepers were “unclean” and had to stay away from other people. “Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.'” (Mark 1:41). The belief that Jesus could heal him, made this man whole again. We see that it is the Lord's will to heal, because He said to him, “'Yes, I will,'” and he was cleansed of his disease. Because Jesus came to do the will of His Father, these verses reaffirm that it is God's will to heal us. God's heart is sensitive to our pains and problems. The Lord took pity on the sick person and showed him that He did not consider him a danger, on the contrary, He laid hands on him, allowing the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was in Him, to transfer into the sick body and bring healing. Jesus was not afraid that He would get leprosy. He knew that the disease had no power over Him. He wants us to live in the same way, without fear of getting sick knowing that we have authority over all the power of the devil who wants to harm us. And because the devil is the author of sickness, we can resist any pains or symptoms of sickness trying to settle in our bodies, in Jesus’ Name. 3.Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:2-10).
Matthew 8:5-10,13 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! […] Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Luke 7:2-10 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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.” 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!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
It took a Roman centurion, who had a hundred soldiers under him, to confess his faith to show us how great the power of Jesus is. He is the only one of all those who asked the Lord to heal a loved one, or even themselves, recorded in the Gospels, who understood that Jesus has the power to command the spiritual world and the spirits must obey Him. The parallel that the centurion made between the submission to him of those he commanded, and the spirits of disease to Jesus, is very correct. Both apostles, Matthew and Luke showed that Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith. Jesus told all those who followed him, that even in Israel he did not find such great faith! And there is no record of the Lord making such a remark about anyone else.
It is interesting to note what a big heart this centurion had. There were not many in the army of occupation who were loved by the occupied. The apostle Luke also mentioned the detail that the centurion sent a group of Jewish elders to Jesus on his behalf, to ask Him to come and heal his seriously ill servant, whom he cared very much about. A master who loved his slave so much, must have had a big heart. We also learn that he built the synagogue and loved the Jewish people, so not only did he behave correctly, but he even proved His love by the way he treated the Jews. A believing heart, full of love, is the proper environment for a living, real, and firm faith, as this centurion had. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). If the ears of a person’s spirit are not receptive, we cannot hear the truth of Scripture. Only after we have received the truth of healing in our spirit do we have the faith that will bring about the physical manifestation of the healing we need. We must believe in both our mind and spirit in one accord, that Jesus has already accomplished our healing through His sacrifice on the cross. And the servant who was near death was healed by his master's faith, when Jesus told him through his friends that “‘as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’” So faith for healing someone else works too. The loving master received the healing of his servant, because he believed that it was enough for Jesus to just say a word. And so it was.
4. The Healing of Peter’s Mother-In-Law (Matthew 8:14-15,Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39).
Mark 1:29-31 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
There are at least four situations in the Gospels where the sick did not come to Jesus to ask for healing, but the Lord initiated it. And these are: Peter's mother-in-law, the man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years, the crippled woman of eighteen years, and the man who was born blind to whom Jesus put “clay” on his eyes. Jesus found out that Simon Peter's mother-in-law was sick, after entering his house. Jesus rebuked the fever and she was healed. She immediately felt good and served them, which most likely means that she prepared a meal. The woman was not only cured of the symptoms of trembling, fever, and pain, but also of the weakness that kept her in bed. Because she was completely refreshed, she was able to get up immediately and serve them. It is quite possible that Peter invited them to eat after they had been to the synagogue, where Jesus amazed the crowd with His teaching and freed the possessed man. The fact that the woman had the strength to immediately get out of bed and attend to the guests is the second miracle, after the miracle of healing.
5.Two Demon-Possessed Men Healed (Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-30).
Matthew 8:28-34 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.
Mark 5:1-20 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, “Come out of the man,unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Luke 8:26-30 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.
The account in Matthew is the only one who reports that there were two possessed men. It is very likely that Matthew was present at the meeting between Jesus and the two. Perhaps only one of the two freed possessed men was grateful to Jesus, and by the fact that he went and told many of what God had done for Him, it was easy for the apostles Mark and Luke to learn about him from those in the city, and the other not to be mentioned. In the end, it is not so important how many were delivered. The message of these accounts is that demons torment those in their possession, and when Jesus commanded them, even though they were a legion (meaning thousands), they had to obey. If there were so many demons in these people alone, how many are there in this world? But we need not fear them, if Jesus is the Lord of our lives. In the Name of Jesus, no matter how many demons there are, they all must leave. It is up to us to keep clean hearts, and when we sin to ask for forgiveness, so that we can use the authority we have in the Name of Jesus against any demonic attack. For those of us who have Jesus as Lord, demons can only harm us if we believe their lies and do what they tempt us to do instead of obeying God.
6. Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26).
Mark 2:1-12 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Luke 5:17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
The apostle Luke recorded a great truth: “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Jesus was always full of the Holy Spirit, which means that He had the power to heal within Him. But for this power to be of use, it must be accessed by faith. The house where the Lord lived was crowded with people who came to listen to the Lord's teachings, but none of them were healed. Why? Because none had come with the purpose of receiving healing, until the four appeared who brought their “paralytic” friend on a mat. They refused to accept the idea of not being able to reach Jesus through the crowded house. So, they carried their paralyzed friend up on the roof and made a hole big enough to lower him down to where the Lord was. In Mark 2:5, we read, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’” All five of them were probably shocked. This was not what they expected to hear, they came for healing and not for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus knew that the Pharisees and teachers of the Law thought that what He was saying was blasphemy, so the Lord said: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?” (vs. 9). So, both forgiveness of sins and healing were easy. For the legalistic Jews, healing was okay but not the forgiveness of sins. For the religious Christians of our day, it is the other way around. All agree that Jesus forgave everyone's sins, but when it comes to healing, opinions are divided. Through this, Jesus has shown us that believers can just as easily receive both.
Jesus connected healing with forgiveness of sins and paid for both on the cross. Sin is the basis of all evil and sickness is something evil, meant to destroy the affected person. Because Jesus removed the root of the problem, by forgiving their sin, He also resolved its effect, that is, the paralysis. In the account above, Jesus said that He forgave the paralytic’s sins, which meant that from that moment he was healed. We do not know what the “paralytic” felt, but he certainly realized that he could move as the Holy Spirit restored the normal functioning of his entire body. Things happened quickly and in the next moment, when Jesus said to him: “‘Arise, take up your bed and walk,’” the one who a few moments earlier was carried in by his friends on a mat, arose “immediately,” took up his bed and went home. The man left there praising God and we can be sure, he was very happy! The impact of the healing miracle on those present must have been tremendous! Yet, there is no mention of anyone else being healed in that meeting.
7. The Healing of the Woman with an Issue of Blood (Matthew 9:20-22,Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48).
Mark 5:25-34 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Luke 8:43-48 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, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 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?’” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
By comparing the accounts of the three synoptic Gospels we can better understand how the woman with the issue of blood was healed. Her faith was based on what she had heard about Jesus, and all she needed to do was touch the Lord's garment to be healed. And her faith was fruitful. At the moment she touched Jesus’ garment, she was healed by the power of the Holy Spirit that was transferred from the Lord to her. She felt the miracle of healing while the power of the Holy Spirit was restoring her body. Because she believed and acted on her faith, she received healing at the time of her choosing, regardless of what Jesus was thinking about at the time. Even with the crowd pressing in all around Him, the Lord knew somebody had touched Him. Jesus didn't acknowledge meeting and hearing her case and then decide to heal her, but as the woman believed that if she touched Jesus she would receive her healing, she did. Jesus sensed that out of all those who touched Him in the crowd, there was one who did it with a specific purpose, and He persisted in asking who it was, until she came forth. The woman hoped that she would go unnoticed, that no one would find out about the miracle that took place in her body, because she risked being stoned to death based on the Mosaic Law. Because she was bleeding, she was not allowed to touch anyone, and she should have shouted “unclean” so that no one would touch her. But because it was the exact touch she needed for her faith, she thought it was worth the risk of not doing as the Law required, and she got what she needed. If she had known that Jesus could feel when the healing power would come out of Him, perhaps she would not have dared to touch Him and would have resorted to seeking another method. The Lord was so impressed by her faith and the fact that she risked her life to be healed that she is the only person we read of whom He called “daughter.” Jesus said to her: “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” The word “sozo” used here for “has made well” as shown previously means to save and also heal. To comfort her and for her not to fear repercussions, Jesus assured her that she could leave in peace and that she was without sin before Him. After the news spread about how this woman had been healed, crowds came to Jesus and “begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” (Mark 6:56).
8. Two Blind Men Healed (Matthew 9:27-31).
Matthew 9:27-31 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
These two blind men believed that Jesus was the Messiah, therefore they called Him the Son of David. They did not give up on their demand, and even though Jesus entered the house, they followed Him. Perhaps the Lord was testing their perseverance by entering the house and when they followed Him, He asked them if they believed. What did the two ask for? They did not ask to see, they asked for Him to have mercy upon them, and when the Lord asked if they thought He could do that, they answered “Yes, Lord!” Whether they just believed that He might have mercy on them, or that He would restore their sight, the important thing is that “their eyes were opened” based on their faith. Though the Lord asked them to keep the healing a secret, they could not keep it quiet. As they left the house, they went everywhere telling of what Jesus had done for them. Let’s be honest, how could they be silent when they were known as blind, and now they could see, they were beggars, and now they could live normal lives? 9. A Mute Man Speaks (Matthew 9:32-34, Luke 11:14).
Matthew 9:32-34 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
Luke 11:14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
Miracles were common in the life of Jesus and those we read about in the Gospels are only a fraction of all the miracles that the Lord did. Jesus had mercy for the sick and He was never tired of healing and forgiving. The two former blind men had barely left, when someone possessed by a demon of muteness was brought to the Lord. We are not told how Jesus freed the mute, but hearing the mute man speaking, marveled the crowds. Even after this miracle, the Pharisees continued to deny the divinity of Jesus and attribute the miracles done through the Holy Spirit, to the devil. They could not stand the idea that demons obeyed the Lord. No wonder the Lord had to tell them the truth to their faces so many times.
10. The Healing the Man with the Withered Hand (Matthew 12:10-13, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11).
Matthew 12:10-13 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.
Mark 3:1-6 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 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. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Similar account in Luke 6:6-11.)
The spirit of religiosity, legalism, and obedience to the letter of the Law, and not to the One who gave the Law, hardened the hearts of the Pharisees. They should have known God and recognized that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but they chose to harden their hearts so much, that they sought to kill the Savior of the world. Their hearts were so devoid of mercy and love that they could not rejoice that those healed on the Sabbath days were freed from incurable diseases and could return to normal lives. They did not understand that the Law was made for man and not man for the Law. In other words, the Law was meant to help man and its effects to be for his good. Jesus reminded them that the Law actually had certain exemptions for situations when saving life and doing good were more important. But when the purpose of the one who quotes the Law is to find reasons to incriminate, there is no love and mercy left. In fact, even the Jewish legalists would not have let their animal die in a pit just because it was the Sabbath. And even if the Lord quoted this example to them, they still did not want to admit that Jesus did nothing wrong in telling the man with the paralyzed hand: “'Stretch out your hand!' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Luke 6:10). But for the legalists it did not matter what the real truth was, not even that the man was now healed. For them, the “truth” was that they had something to accuse Jesus of.
11. The Healing of the Demon-possessed Man, Blind and Mute (Matthew 12:22-24).
Matthew 12:22-24 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. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
In the times of the New Testament, there were many demon-possessed, deaf, blind and mute people, and we can only imagine how many Jesus healed in His ministry. There are four instances presented in the Gospels, where the cause of muteness was not a physical problem of the larynx, the vocal cords themselves, but of an evil spirit. In the verses above, we read that the person was demon-possessed, and was blind and dumb. Even though we read that Jesus healed him, if we look closer at the original language, we see that Jesus actually freed him from the demon that was controlling him and preventing him from seeing and speaking. This original word used for “healing” was “therapeúō,” which we already know means “properly heal, reversing a physical condition to restore a person having an illness (disease, infirmity).” The word is the root of the word “therapy” or “therapeutic” and usually involves natural elements in the process of healing (According to “HELPS Word-studies”). We cannot know for sure whether both the dumbness and the blindness were caused by a demon, but we do know that the demon was present, and Jesus certainly cast it out of that man. Regardless of how the Lord healed him, the man walked away from Jesus seeing and speaking. Hallelujah!
When people began to question whether Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of David, the Pharisees continued to deny the truth and even said that Jesus' power came from Satan, not God. Some believed them, because they did not know God enough to recognize His power and way of operating and did not realize that the devil's purpose is to destroy man, not to do him good. Why would Satan cast out the demons who did their job tormenting that man? He wouldn’t. The devil never does anything good, on the contrary “he was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44b).
12. The Faith of the Canaanite Woman with a Demon-possessed Daughter (Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30).
Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 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.”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.” 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.
Mark 7:24-30 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, but He could not be hidden. For awoman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 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.” And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.
Jesus, though fully God was also fully human and like us, He got tired and needed rest too (Mark 2:24). But His mercy and love for the afflicted was greater than His need for physical restoration. Even though the mother of the demon-possessed girl was not Jewish, she believed that Jesus was the Messiah and asked Him to have mercy on her and her daughter. Matthew wrote that the woman would not accept a refusal, she kept shouting, and the disciples begged Him to tell her to go away. For sure they were tired too and wanted some quiet time. But Jesus is love itself, and He tested the woman's faith. Jesus' answer actually meant: “Let me heal the Jews first, they are my Father's children, and they have priority.” But the woman was wise, and her faith was firm. Her answer meant that she knew for sure that just one crumb of Jesus' power was enough for her daughter to be freed from the demon that was tormenting her so much. “Jesus said to her: 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done to you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed in that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28). The little girl received healing through the firm faith of her mother, who did not give up or get discouraged, on the contrary, she persisted until she got what she needed. When Jesus told her that because of her words, which expressed her firm faith, she could go because her daughter was set free, the woman believed and hurried home, where she found her daughter set free and sleeping peacefully.
When we pray for healing, if we are discouraged by pain, symptoms, and what we see with our physical eyes, then we do not have the firm faith in our spirit yet. We need the revelation of the Holy Spirit to receive it and attain our healing. To get there, we need to continue to study the Bible about healing and to pray for the revelation that will transform the written Word of God, “logos,” into the revealed Word, “rhema,” and activate it for a specific situation.
13. Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute (Mark 7:31-37).
Mark 7:31-37 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
This man was deaf and also had a speech impediment. He could not speak well, precisely because he could not hear well. Jesus not only touched his ears, but also his tongue. The fact that Jesus sighed before he healed him, shows how much He cared for this man and his suffering. The healing was instantaneous, the man could hear and speak clearly. Those that Jesus healed were so happy to be back to normal life, that they told everybody about the miracle that Jesus had done for them.
14. A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26).
Mark 8:22-26 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”
The Lord was going to do something different, and He preferred to remove the blind man from the environment that could negatively influence his faith. The negative comments, after first laying hands on him, could cause him to lose the faith that he would see clearly. Sometimes the Lord gives us a gradual healing and it takes faith and firm desire to the end to be fully healed. This is a progressive healing, like that of the ten lepers who were cleansed of their leprosy, as they went to present themselves to the priest, and helps us understand what happens when we do not receive healing immediately, showing us that we must continue to believe until the end. In fact, any process that involves patience and exercising faith by fighting doubt, helps us to mature spiritually and have faith for greater things and miracles.
15. The Healing of the Demonized Boy, (Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:38-43).
Mark 9:14-29 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” 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.” 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. 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.” 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. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 17:19-21 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. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Luke 9:38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.”
We have much to learn from the above verses. Notice what happened before the disciples failed in their attempt to deliver the demon-possessed boy. Some scribes, who collaborated closely with the Pharisees, took advantage of the absence of Jesus, Peter, James, and John while they were up on the mountain of transfiguration. These scribes and Pharisees began to attack the remaining disciples with difficult questions. They did not ask the disciples questions because they wanted clarification, their goal was to denigrate them, to put them in difficulty and the crowd to lose faith in them and especially to lose faith in Jesus. If the disciples were already disturbed by the verbal attack and also by the manifestations of the demon possessed boy, they probably began to doubt that they would be able to set him free. This event took place after Jesus sent the disciples out two by two and gave them power over the unclean spirits (Mark 6:7). And in Mark 6:13, we read that the disciples “cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them” so based on their experience, they already knew that they could cast out demons from those they were praying for. But they probably had not learned yet how important it is not to be troubled when praying, in order to keep a firm faith to be able to receive the desired result. What could disturb them? The adversarial discussions with the scholars, the shame that they did not know as much as they thought they knew, and perhaps more than all of this, the fact that in looking at the manifestations of the demon that were tormenting the child, doubt began to make its way into their hearts. And after their failure, we can only imagine how much the scribes had to comment, perhaps even claiming that there were also demons who disobeyed Jesus and His disciples. But their joy was short-lived. Jesus returned when they least expected it and asked them what the subject of their discussion was. The scribes who were full of fervor before the arrival of the Lord had nothing left to say, but the child's father answered saying why he had come to the disciples and that they had been unable to cast the demon out.
Jesus' answer, “O faithless generation,” is interpreted differently by theologians. Some say it refers only to the disciples, some only to the scribes, some say it refers to both, and some say it refers to the entire Jewish nation, and I tend to agree with the latter. When Jesus called them a “faithless generation,” that's exactly what He meant. The original Greek word translated “faithless,” is “ápistos” and means “without faith, unconvinced” and does not always refer to unbelievers. In John 20:27, Jesus uses the same word when He tells Thomas, “do not be unbelieving, but believing.” The word also describes “someone who rejects or refuses God’s birthing of faith” (According to “HELP Word-studies”).
In those days there were frequent festivals dedicated to the moon and many of the Jews participated in them with their children, and some became possessed by demons. We don't know how this boy became possessed, but the father said he had been that way since childhood. Unfortunately, the great majority of the Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and their hearts were turned more quickly toward evil than good. Jesus went on to say, “‘how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.’” The Lord was actually telling them that they needed to change their attitude and start believing the truth, because He would not be with them much longer, and they needed to firmly believe that He was the Messiah in order to pray for healings and deliverances in His Name.
After the failure of the disciples, when the demon caused the boy to have another seizure, the father most likely began to seriously doubt that he would see his son well. The father said to the Lord, “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.” Immediately, the father of the child said with tears: “Lord I believe! Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22b-24). The father's despair was accentuated by the fact that this was his only child, as we learn from Luke 9:38. Jesus' answer is meant to strengthen the faith of anyone who truly hears it. The father's response might seem to be a contradiction of terms, but it isn’t. When it takes a while to receive an answer we are praying for, we all tend to have doubtful thoughts like the father did. We must oppose them as quickly as possible and stand upon the applicable Bible verses.
The child was probably still lying on the ground when Jesus 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 9:25b-27). The Lord commanded the deaf and mute demon with authority, to not only come out of the child but also to never return. It is possible that the evil spirit only possessed him at various times, which we can also conclude from what his father's said.
When the disciples privately asked Jesus why they could not cast the demon out, the apostle Matthew described the conversation as follows, “‘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. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting’” (Matthew 17:20-21). So, is the Lord saying that they did not have enough faith or that they doubted that the boy could be delivered? Jesus said on another occasion that the mustard seed is the smallest of all the seeds. This means that just a little faith is enough to move mountains, and nothing would be impossible. This seems to mean that the disciples had no faith at all that they could cast out that demon. Or perhaps their faith was counterbalanced by doubt. The original Greek word translated “little faith” is the compound word “oligópistos,” made up of “olígos,” meaning “small in number, poor in quality,” and “pistis,” meaning “faith.” Most often the term “little faith” is used as “a description of those who do not hear the Lord's voice (John 10:3-4,27), or who are not interested in a close relationship with the Lord” (According to “HELP Word-studies”). It is possible that the demon in the boy threw him down and tormented him just as it did when the father was going to bring him before Jesus, because he did not want to be cast out. When the disciples saw how powerful the demon was, they might have begun to doubt that they could help the child. Later when Jesus said that “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting,” He probably meant that demons of that rank do not come out easily, and that it is not enough to say to them, “Come out.” Jesus did just that, but the disciples were not Jesus. Let us remember that at that time they were not baptized with the Holy Spirit because Jesus had not yet ascended. Through prayer we ask God for help, we ask Him to do what we need, and through fasting and the study of Scripture, we get closer to God, learn to discipline our body, and strengthen our faith. Because the disciples had previously cast out demons without issue, just by commanding them in the authority they received from Jesus, the disciples were confident that the same would happen with this demon-possessed boy. None of us are on the same spiritual level all the time, and neither were the disciples. Let us remember that shortly after this, it occurred to them to find out which one of them was the greatest (Luke 9:46). Even though they were with Jesus night and day, their hearts were not always where they should be, and when they prayed for the boy, the failure showed their spiritual level. We must spend time with the Lord daily in prayer, praise and worship, thanksgiving, and study of the Word, if we want to be healthy and blessed and to have our thoughts constantly upon Him, no matter what we do. The enemy uses any open door from unforgiven sins, and will not obey when we command him to leave in the Name of Jesus. Let's keep our hearts clean and saturated with the truth of Scripture so that we can use the authority we have in the Name of Jesus and for our prayers to be effective.
16. Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight (Matthew 20:39-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43).
Matthew 20:39-34 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
Mark 10:46-52 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Matthew mentions that there were two blind men healed and Mark reveals that one of them was called Bartimaeus. The second man was not included in the accounts of Mark and Luke. It is also possible that they were different people, healed on different occasions. What is important is how the healing occurred. In this case too, faith was the key to healing. But to understand how Bartimaeus showed that he had faith, we must know that in those times, beggars had to wear a certain type of garment, which gave them the status of beggars recognized by the authorities, based on the handicap they suffered from and because of which they could not work for a living. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'” and no matter how much those around him tried to silence him, he just cried out louder. The beggar knew that Jesus was the Son of God and could heal him. He was not intimidated by the opposition of those around him, he continued to cry out until he got what he wanted, showing that he had a firm belief in his spirit that Jesus was the Son of God and would heal him. When Jesus heard him and called him, he knew that he would no longer need the beggar's clothes, because he would see and be able to work and have a better life. When Jesus asked him: “’What do you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man answered, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road’” (Mark 10:51-52a). Bartimaeus knew exactly what he wanted from the Lord. He believed, he asked, and he received “immediately.”
17. The Deliverance from a Spirit of Infirmity (Luke 13:10–17).
Luke 13:10–17 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 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. 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.” 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?” And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.
Perhaps Jesus chose to teach in the synagogues on the Sabbath in order to reach some of the sick people that He would not meet elsewhere. Jesus healed many on the Sabbath, even with the religious leaders watching, as they were looking for reasons to accuse Him.
When Jesus saw the woman that Satan had bound by the spirit of infirmity, “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 13:12b-13). Perhaps this woman had adapted to her infirmity, as many choose to do, instead of hating the disease and fighting it from the moment it tries to set in. But Jesus cared about her suffering and called her to Himself so that she could be healed. The woman had been unable to straighten her back for eighteen years, but for the leader of the synagogue, legalism was more important than the joy of this woman being healed after so many years of torment. In His love, Jesus chose to heal those who needed healing without delay, even though He knew that the Jews were looking for reasons to accuse and harm Him. None of us have any reason to believe that Jesus does not care about our suffering and that He does not want to touch us with His healing power.
18. A Man with Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6).
Luke 14:1-6 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. 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?” And they could not answer Him regarding these things.
Because Jesus knew the Pharisees were watching Him closely, He asked if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath day. The law forbade working on the Sabbath but did allow certain exceptions. No one answered the Lord’s question. There was a sick man sitting nearby who probably hoped that Jesus would heal him. And when Jesus touched him, all the swelling in his body disappeared. After healing the man, Jesus asked the religious ruler and his guests, which of them would not save their donkey or ox having fallen into a pit, on a Sabath day. In His wisdom, Jesus was showing that it was permissible to free a man on the Sabbath from the captivity of a disease that tormented him. They could no longer comment on anything, and the man healed from dropsy returned to a normal life. Thank God!
19. A Nobleman’s Son Healed (John 4:47-53).
John 4:47-53 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 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. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 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.” 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.
The nobleman traveled about 20 miles over mountainous terrain, and most likely on foot, to get from Capernaum to Cana, where Jesus was. He was a desperate father, and no effort was too much to save his son. It is possible that Jesus was addressing the crowd and not the father when He said, “'Unless you see signs and wonders, you do not believe!'” because he believed Jesus when He told him to go home that his son was alive, and the father acted on faith and headed home. Wherever Jesus was, there were also many common people, scribes, and Pharisees, who were attracted to Him for different reasons. The Lord knew they did not believe He was the Messiah, and it is probable He addressed these words to them, as He did in Judea. Because the noble man had a very long way to go, his servants left home the moment the child got well to meet him on the road and give him the great news as soon as possible. The child was healed at the very hour when Jesus told the father that his son lives, and he and his household believed that Jesus was the Son of God. The miracle of healing led to their faith for salvation!
20. The Healing of the Man Paralyzed for 38 Years (John 5:3-14).
John 5:3-14 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 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.” 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.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
It is interesting that even though there were sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people waiting for the water to be stirred up to be healed, none of them recognized Jesus, and the Lord went to only one, and even after he was healed, we do not read that the others asked Jesus to heal them. It is a special case, in which Jesus asks the sick man “Do you want to get well?” I think the Lord had mercy on him because he had been suffering for 38 years. He was probably used to his infirmity, to the routine of having food brought to him and his life might not have been much more than talking to those who lay sick like himself. Even after Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, he did not answer: “Yes Lord, please heal me!” On the contrary, he looked for excuses. And even though he knew he couldn't get to the water that could heal him in time, he still did not ask Jesus to heal him. His healing definitely did not occur based on his faith; it was just the mercy of the Lord. His part was only that he got up when the Lord said to him: “Rise, take up your bed and walk.' And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.” (John 5:8-9). If he had continued to believe that he could not get up and had not made the effort to do what Jesus told him to do, he would not have received the healing. Faith without works is dead, that is, it produces nothing, it has no results. From what Jesus said later to the healed man, we can see that his sin must have been connected to his sickness. His warning was serious: “sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Sin is the basis of sickness, and we cannot expect to live abundant, healthy lives if we choose to live in sin.
21. The Healing of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19).
Luke 17:11-19 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 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. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
One of the ten lepers was a Samaritan, and even though the Jews and the Samaritans had nothing to do with each other, and while lepers were kept away from the community, these seem to have gotten over their differences of origin and stayed together. We don't know if they had all heard about Jesus and the miracles He was doing, but it is certain that they believed He could heal them and cried out for mercy. We do not know if they believed He was the Messiah, but they did call Him Master. This is another record of gradual healing. Jesus tested their faith, and because they acted on what they believed, they came into possession of their healing. On their way to seeing the priests, they must have seen their skin being cleansed and their tissues being restored as the leprosy left their bodies. The priests had to certify that they were cleansed, perform the sacrifices required by the Law and give them the right to return to the community. If the lepers would not have acted on what Jesus told them to do, they would have remained sick. Only the Samaritan “when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” (Luke 17:15-16). In the beginning, they had all cried out for the mercy of Jesus. It seems that the faith of the nine Jews was limited to receiving healing but was not deep enough to receive more. Because the Samaritan was thankful and believed in the Lord, his faith led him to more than the healing of his body. The original Greek word translated “made you well” is “sesōken,” which is the past tense for “sozo.” We already know that “sozo” means to heal and save, and it refers to physical and spiritual healing which Jesus won for us on the cross. The thankful and faithful Samaritan not only had his body made well, but his spirit also. For him this was the beginning of a new and blessed life!
22. A Man Born Blind Receives Sight (John 9:1-11).
John 9:1-11 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. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 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. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
In this case, Jesus also initiated the healing. Why did the Lord mix dirt with saliva to anoint the blind man's eyes? Jesus saw the blind man and touched him without him asking to be healed. He must have put mud over his eyes so that he would have to act on the belief that he would be able to see when he went to wash his face on the other side of town. It was an effort for him to get there and he could have said that any water would help him, that it was absurd to walk so far through crowded streets when he could not see. But the blind man did as the Lord directed, he didn't let anything stop him, and even though he didn't ask for healing, he came back seeing for the first time in his life, because he obeyed the Lord. The fact that he could see now changed his countenance, and even those who knew him were no longer sure that it was really him. Let's note that even if he did not know who Jesus was at the time, because he did what the Lord asked of him, he received his healing.