HEALING - a bible study using Strong's (Part 2: New Testament)

Yesterday, I studied the topic of HEALING using Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Keyword of "heal" was used. In the Old Testament, "heal" was seen in the context of healing of sickness/illness, healing of wound, healing of land, healing of nation, healing of people. Old Testament books that have "heal" are Numbers, Deuteronomy, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Hosea, and Zechariah. Today, I am studying the "heal" as found in the New Testament.

Ref 3)  http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=heal&t=kjv&s=Bibles&p=3

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 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. 9 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.”

10 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! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 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. (Matthew 8:5-13) (NKJV)

Passage of Matthew chapter 8 verses 5-13 is about Jesus healing the Centurion's servant. Here, we can see the strong faith of the Centurion. The Centurion had such a high faith in Jesus that he believed that if Jesus commanded the healing, his servant would be healed; not necessary for Jesus to lay hands on the servant.

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was[a] Thaddaeus;4 Simon the Cananite,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[c] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. (Matthew 10:1-10) (NKJV)
Passage of Matthew chapter 10 verses 1-15 is about Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles to heal the sick and cast out demons. Healing ministry is the earliest ministry in my opinion. Ministry of healing by the believers was started during the lifetime of Jesus Christ.

Ministry of healing is a good service to the public, and a good testimony to the goodness of Jesus Christ, and the power of our God. Casting out evil spirits is part of the healing ministry.

9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 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.

11 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? 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.  (Matthew 12:9-13) (NKJV)

Passage of Matthew chapter 12 verses 9-14 is about Jesus healing on Sabbath day. Healing is an urgent matter. Healing should be done on any day of the week. There should be no restriction that healing is done during the weekly prayer meeting, for instance. If there is sickness and hence urgent need of healing, this ought to be done right away.

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should[a] heal them.’[b]

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:10-16) (NKJV)

Passage of Matthew chapter 10 verses 10-16 is about Jesus explaining to his disciples about why He spoke in parables. God's healing will be for those could see and hear the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven", understand and turn their hearts to God.

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4 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. 5 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.[a]  (Mark 3:1-5) (NKJV)

Passage of Mark chapter 3 verses 1-6 is about Jesus healing a man with withered hand on a Sabbath day in the synagogue. Jesus healed on a Sabbath, which was something offensive to the Pharisees. The Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the teachers of law at that time were pious and very religious people that observed and obeyed the laws and commands of God which were handed by Moses. They were so religious and so compliant that they believed that totally no work including healing should be done on Sabbath day. They were hence very offended to see Jesus healing on Sabbath day, which they deemed as not observing the rule on Sabbath day as a rest day.

To Jesus, healing was an urgent need/work which had to be done when the need arose. From this example, for those involved in the ministry of healing, they must be willing to do the Healing for the sick when the need arises...not only during special Healing Service, not only during Prayer Meeting. Believers who are in conventional healing/health industry, such as physicians, medical specialists, therapists, nurses, must also remember this principle: Heal and administer health treatment/diagnosis when the need arises; be empathetic.

13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve,[b] that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and[c] to cast out demons: 16 Simon,[d] to whom He gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house. (Mark 3:13-19)(NKJV)

Passage of Mark chapter 3 verses 13-19 is about Jesus appointing the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples) and sending the out on a mission to heal the sick and cast out demons.

Duties of apostleship include the ministry of preaching to outside the church, and the ministry of healing - healing the sick, casting out evil spirits. Just TALK is not enough. Preaching of the gospel and the knowledge of Christ should also be accompanied with service/ministry of healing.

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,[j]
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (Luke 4:18) (NKJV)

Passage of Luke chapter 4 verses 16-30 is about Jesus being rejected at his hometown of Nazareth, the place where he grew up. Jesus read a passage in Isaiah, which was a prophesy about Jesus Christ. He was belittled, and not accepted by those in Nazareth. A prophet is often not respected in his own place; this is universal. A preacher is normally appreciated more when he preaches overseas, or in other churches, as compared to preaching in his own church. A layperson who could be a good teacher or preacher but he is as well regarded in his own home church.

Among Jesus Christ's missions are healing the broken-hearted, setting free the captives of sin, and recovery of sight to physically blind, and "opening the eyes" of the spiritually blind. Healing the emotionally troubled and healing the depressed are also part of the Healing ministry.

23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,[l] do also here in Your country.’” 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,[m] in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”  (Luke 4:23-27) (NKJV)

Based on the examples in this passage, Jesus, Elijah and Elisha, many people who will be serving the Lord full-time will be sent far away from their respective hometown/neighbourhood. Maybe that's why the concept of missionary. A missionary is often sent to a faraway land to evangelize, set up churches, teach, preach, educate, and service of healing and deliverance.

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.[a] 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!” (Luke 5:17-25) (NKJV)

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. (Luke 5:17) (NIV)

Passage of Luke chapter 5 verses 17-25 is about Jesus forgiving and healing a paralyzed man. Sometimes an infirmity could be caused by an earlier sin by himself (or sometimes, by his parent, grandparent, or ancestor). Before prayer for healing, an ill person shall pray for forgiveness of sins. Faith of the ill person and his family/friends/relatives are also important. In this passage, we could see the faith of that paralyzed man and his friends/relatives who carried him on the bed/stretcher.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=heal&t=kjv&s=Bibles&p=4 

6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[b] 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[c] “Stretch out your hand.”And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[d] (Luke 6:6-10) (NKJV)

Passage of Luke chapter 6 verses 6-11 is about Jesus healing a man with withered hand on a Sabbath day in the synagogue. This story is also in the book of Matthew, and the book of Mark.

For healing to happen, it is important to have faith, and to obey and do the actions as instructed. Jesus instructed the man with withered hand to arise and stand up. The man arose and stood up. Jesus instructed man to stretch his withered hand. Although the man knew his withered hand had too little strength to stretch out, he had faith, he believed; without hesitation, he stretched out his hand. "Faith with action" is important for healing to occur.

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with 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 should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, 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 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.[a]  (Luke 7:1-10) (NKJV)

Passage of Luke chapter 7 verses 1-10 is about Jesus healing the Centurion's servant. Bear in mind that this Centurion is not a Jew nor an Israelite; he was a Gentile. Faith of the Centurion had played a part in the healing of the Centurion's servant.

For those who pray for healing of a sick person, they must really have faith and truly believe that God is able to heal. If a parent brings a sick child to be prayed over for healing, that parent must have the faith and truly believe that God could heal.

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6) (NKJV)

Passage of Luke chapter 9 verses 1-6 is about Jesus sending out the Twelve Disciples on a Mission to preach the gospel and heal the sick. We learn from this passage that a mission trip should comprise two major elements: (1) preaching the gospel, (2) healing. Ministry of healing should include healing the sick, and driving out evil spirits.

In contemporary context, in addition to prayer for healing, the ministry of healing could include provision of general physicians to treat the sick, dentists to examine the health of teeth, pharmacists to dispense medicine and vitamin, masseurs and chiropracters for massage therapy, chinese physicians for acupuncture and traditional medicine, psychologists and counsellors for emotionally depressed, motivational speakers for emotionally depressed and the stressed-out persons.

We should restrict the ministry of healing to miraculous healing and prayers for healing and deliverance only. Ministry of healing should also include western medical practices as well as traditional/complementary medical practices. Bottom line, is that the people with sickness and infirmities, whether physical or emotional/mental, could be healed and cured.

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also,[a] and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’  (Luke 10:1-9) (NKJV)

Passage of Luke chapter 10 verses 1-12 is about Jesus sending out the Seventy on a Mission to heal the sick and proclaim/share the gospel. This event happened after Jesus sent out the Twelve Disciples.

First batch of missionaries was the Twelve Disciples. Second batch of missionaries were these Seventy; buddy system (two persons per team) was employed. For this reason, missionaries are at best two-persons team, rationally a husband and wife team. With two persons in a team, they can encourage each other when one is feeling down. They can also help each other. They can complement each other with differing skills (musical instrument, song leading, preaching, teaching, prayer for healing, bible study, counselling, casting out evil spirits).

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. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”[a]

4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey[b] or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things. (Luke 14:1-6) (NKJV)

Passage of Luke chapter 14 verses 1-6 is about Jesus healing a man with dropsy on Sabbath day. Jesus dared to be different. The Pharisees strictly observed the rest day of Sabbath, to the extent that they would not do healing on Sabbath. Jesus showed to be different.

Although Sabbath day was to be sacred and reserved for rest, certain urgent work such as healing need to be done on any day of the week, including Sabbath. Sabbath as rest day was meant to be a good practices for people to take a rest after six days of work. However, we should not be so extreme in implementation, to the extent that even urgent work such as healing is not done on Sabbath day.

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. 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 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, “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. (John 4:46-53) (NKJV)

Passage of John chapter 4 verses 46-54 is about Jesus healing the nobleman's son. Miraculous healing of the sick is a very good testimony for Jesus Christ. Because of the healing of his son who was so sick nearing death, the nobleman believed in Jesus Christ, and his entire family (maybe including his servants and workers).

In order for us to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, the healing ministry plays a vital role. When the sick recovers, the healed person and his family will be somehow feel the conviction, and have faith in God Almighty.

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[f]

39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”[g]

41 These things Isaiah said when[h] he saw His glory and spoke of Him. (John 12:37-41) (NKJV)

Passage of John chapter 12 verses 37-41 is about the Isaiah's prophesy about Jesus Christ being fulfilled. If the Jews/Israelites were to see and hear Jesus, they would be healed and delivered. For God's healing upon us, let us pray that our eyes could see clearly and our ears could listen carefully to God's words.

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:27-31) (NKJV)

Passage of Acts chapter 4 verses 23-31 is about Prayer For Boldness. The believers in the early church were persecuted, and prayed for boldness in preaching the gospel. Healing, sings and wonders were accompanying the preaching of the gospel.

For the Healing Service, it is not the preacher who does the healing but God's Hand that does the healing. The preacher is merely an instrument of God praying for the sick person and laying hands on the sick person. Glory be to God!

All believers who are given the gift of healing (being one of the gifts of Holy Spirit) must remember that ultimately the healing comes from the Lord God. Those with gift of healing must avoid becoming proud and haughty for being used God to deliver healing to the sick, the those with infirmities, but must glorify God and acknowledge God's Hand in all healings.

Another important point is that Healing and Miracles are to be done in the name of Jesus Christ. Emphasize that when doing the healing prayer....IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our[b] fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”’[c]

28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.[d]

30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 28:23-31) (NKJV)

Passage of Acts chapter 28 verses 17-31 is about Paul speaking to leaders of the Jews in Rome. Among others, Paul also spoke about Isaiah's prophesy about Jesus Christ, which Jesus had earlier read aloud in the synagogue.

Those who believed would be healed by God. Those who believed were those who saw the truth, who heard and understood.

Saturday, Jan 25, 2014.
Michael Yeap.

Earlier references for Old Testament:
Ref 1) http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=heal&t=kjv&s=Bibles&p=1
Ref 2) http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=heal&t=kjv&s=Bibles&p=2

HEALING - a topical bible study using Baker's

Just now, I dreamed...
In my dream, I wanted to do a topical bible study on Healing. This was due to the fact that my whole family (my wife, my son and I) fell sick over the last 3 days.
So when I woke up, first thing I did is to study about Healing.


Baker's Evangelical Dictionary

Heal, Health.

With characteristic realism the Bible accepts the prevalence in God's world of ill-health and affliction, although originally it had no place in God's plan, and declares that God who made us is our only healer. The fact the Lord is our healer echoes through patriarchs, law history, psalms, and prophecy. Psalm 103:1-5 traces among God's "benefits" the separate stages of convalescence.

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalms 103:1-5) (NIV)

That God alone heals remains true even though human and traditional means are used. "Physicians" embalmed Isaac ( Gen 50:2 ), and apparently practiced in early Israel ( Exod 21:19 ); later both doctors and healing balm were associated with Gilead ( Jer 8:22 ; cf. Luke 4:23, ; and probablyMark 2:17, ; for familiar proverbs ). Sirach 38:1-15 praises highly, if defensively, the physician's skill and prayerfulness when making diagnosis (contrast 2 Chron 16:12 ). Priests, too, as God's representatives bore medical responsibilities ( Lev 13:2-45 ), while prophets were consulted for medical advice and action ( 1 Kings 14:1-3 ; 17:17-24 ; 2 Kings 4:18-37 ; note 2 Kings 5:1-3 ; note2 Kings 20:1-11 ). Naaman the Syrian vividly describes how a prophet was popularly expected to proceed ( 2 Kings 5:11 ). In New Testament times, Jewish exorcists practiced, evidently with some success ( Luke 11:19 ; Acts 19:13 ), and Luke became Paul's "beloved physician" ( Col 4:14 ).

2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. (Genesis 50:2-4) (NIV)

Is there no balm in Gilead?
    Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing    for the wound of my people? (Jeremiah 8:22) (NIV)

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”  (Luke 4:23) (NIV)

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  (Mark 2:17) (NIV)

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. (2 Chronicles 16:12) (NIV)

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased spot on the skin of his body; and if the hair in the diseased spot has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous disease; when the priest has examined him he shall pronounce him unclean. 4 But if the spot is white in the skin of his body, and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days; 5 and the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more; 6 and the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased spot is dim and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest; 8 and the priest shall make an examination, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy.

9 “When a man is afflicted with leprosy, he shall be brought to the priest; 10 and the priest shall make an examination, and if there is a white swelling in the skin, which has turned the hair white, and there is quick raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if the leprosy breaks out in the skin, so that the leprosy covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see, 13 then the priest shall make an examination, and if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean; raw flesh is unclean, for it is leprosy. 16 But if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest, 17 and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean.

18 “And when there is in the skin of one’s body a boil that has healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest; 20 and the priest shall make an examination, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is the disease of leprosy, it has broken out in the boil.21 But if the priest examines it, and the hair on it is not white and it is not deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall shut him up seven days; 22 and if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is diseased.23 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24 “Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, 25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is leprosy; it has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease. 26 But if the priest examines it, and the hair in the spot is not white and it is no deeper than the skin, but is dim, the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 and the priest shall examine him the seventh day; if it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease. 28 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but is dim, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the burn.

29 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard, 30 the priest shall examine the disease; and if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an itch, a leprosy of the head or the beard. 31 And if the priest examines the itching disease, and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days, 32 and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease; and if the itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave; and the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days more;34 and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is checked, and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 “When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots,39 the priest shall make an examination, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is tetter that has broken out in the skin; he is clean.

40 “If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald but he is clean. 41 And if a man’s hair has fallen from his forehead and temples, he has baldness of the forehead but he is clean. 42 But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased spot, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head. (Leviticus 13:1-44) (RSV)

At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, 2 and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people. 3 Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.”  (1 Kings 14:1-3)(NIV)

The story of Elijah
17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Eli′jah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her bosom, and carried him up into the upper chamber, where he lodged, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, hast thou brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s soul come into him again.” 22 And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Eli′jah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Eli′jah took the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Eli′jah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Eli′jah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”  (1 Kings 17:17-24) (RSV)

The story of Elisha
18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 And when he had lifted him, and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the asses, that I may quickly go to the man of God, and come back again.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath.” She said, “It will be well.” 24 Then she saddled the ass, and she said to her servant, “Urge the beast on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Geha′zi his servant, “Look, yonder is the Shu′nammite; 26 run at once to meet her, and say to her, Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?” And she answered, “It is well.” 27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Geha′zi came to thrust her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?” 29 He said to Geha′zi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet any one, do not salute him; and if any one salutes you, do not reply; and lay my staff upon the face of the child.”30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Geha′zi went on ahead and laid the staff upon the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, “The child has not awaked.”
32 When Eli′sha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.33 So he went in and shut the door upon the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.34 Then he went up and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again, and walked once to and fro in the house, and went up, and stretched himself upon him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Geha′zi and said, “Call this Shu′nammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Take up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took up her son and went out. (2 Kings 4:18-37) (RSV)

The story of Elisha and Naaman

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lordhad given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a]

2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”  (2 Kings 5:1-3) (NIV)

9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. (2 Kings 5:9-14) (NIV)

The story of Isaiah and King Hezekiah

In those days Hezeki′ah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says theLord, ‘Set your house in order; for you shall die, you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezeki′ah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,3 “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight.” And Hezeki′ah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezeki′ah the prince of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” 7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”

8 And Hezeki′ah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” 9 And Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?”10 And Hezeki′ah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps; rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” 11 And Isaiah the prophet cried to the Lord; and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which the sun[a] had declined on the dial of Ahaz. (2 Kings 20:1-11) (RSV)

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”  (Acts 19:13) (NIV)

14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.  (Colossians 4:14) (RSV)

Ordinary means of healing were of most diverse kinds. Balm ( Gen 37:25 ) is thought to have been an aromatic resin (or juice) with healing properties; oil was the universal emollient ( Isa 1:6 ), and was sometimes used for wounds with cleansing wine ( Luke 10:34 ). Isaiah recommended a fig poultice for a boil ( 38:21 ); healing springs and saliva were thought effectual ( Mark 8:23 ; John 5 ;9:6-7 ). Medicine is mentioned ( Prov 17:22 ) and defended as "sensible" ( Sirach 38:4). Wine mixed with myrrh was considered sedative ( Mark 15:23 ); mint, dill, and cummin assisted digestion (Matt 23:23 ); other herbs were recommended for particular disorders. Most food rules had both ritual and dietary purposes, while raisins, pomegranates, milk, and honey were believed to assist restoration.

One extraordinary means of healing is recorded in 2 Kings 4:25-37: Elisha first ordered that his staff be laid on the inert body of a child, and when that failed, he lay face to face upon the child until warmth and life returned. Nevertheless, ordinary or exceptional, agent and method were but channels of divine healing, which could operate efficiently without either ( 2 Kings 5:10-14 ).

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. (Genesis 37:25) (NIV)

6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
    there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
    and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged    or soothed with olive oil. (Isaiah 1:6) (NIV)

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion,34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:33-34) (RSV)

23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:23) (NIV)

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:23-25) (RSV)

5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, (John 5:5-9) (NIV)

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
    but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) (RSV)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) (NIV)

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[b]
But a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) (NKJV)

23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. (Mark 15:23) (NIV)

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23) (RSV)

The Healing Messiah. With this background, the prevalence of sickness in the ancient world, it was natural that hearts should hope for a better future, when sorrow and sighing would flee away ( Isa 29:17-19 ; 35:10 ). There is rabbinic evidence that some were looking for a Messiah who would heal the world's sickness. The Talmud later preserves among "signs of the Messiah" the portrait of "one in the midst of the suffering poor tending their wounds." This may look back for scriptural warrant to Isaiah's picture of the Servant of the Lord who would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. That such a hope was current much earlier is shown by Matthew's quoting these words (in a variant version, 8:17 ) to "explain" the healing mission of Jesus. 

17 Is it not yet a very little while
    until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear
    the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
    the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,    and the poor among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:17-19) (RSV)

10     and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 35:10) (NIV)

17 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”  (Matthew 8:17) (RSV)

For Matthew understands "he took up our infirmities and carried our diseases" to mean, not that Jesus was sick, but that he was concerned about the sick. 

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read;17 and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  (Luke 4:16-21) (RSV)

Luke shows Jesus announcing in similar terms the arrival of God's kingdom"freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed" (the healing of society, Luke 4:18 ). And when the Baptist, hearing in prison of Jesus' ministry, sent someone to ask Jesus if he was indeed the Messiah, Jesus sent back the message, "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me" ( Matt 11:4-6 ). Christ's healing ministry was sufficient evidence that the king had come, and that the kingdom of God was gracious and kind, not as John had foretold, a realm of axe and flail, of fire and judgment, but of healing and liberation.So concern for suffering and the impulse to heal became vital elements in Christianity. On the disciples' first mission they were charged to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons" ( Matt 10:8 ); visitation of the sick (always an obligation in Jewish piety, Sirach 7:35) was made an issue in the last judgment in Christ's last parable ( Matthew 25:36 ; Matthew 25:44 ).

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”  (Matthew 11:2-6) (NIV)

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.  (Matthew 10:5-10) (RSV)

31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. 34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  (Matthew 25:31-46) (RSV)

  Luke, especially, emphasizes that Christ's healing ministry was far wider than the few miracles described ( 4:40 ; 5:15 ; 6:17-19 ; 9:11 ; cf. Matt 15:30-31 ; Mark 1:38 ). Among Jesus' motives, simple compassion is mentioned nine timesan attitude rare when most sickness was ascribed to sin. Jesus never recoiled from disease or mental illness, but touched lepers, allowed the "unclean" to touch him, conversed with the deranged, spoke gently to those in distress who challenged him, and sprang to the defense of the maimed or diseased who intruded into synagogues or wealthy houses. He took great pains with a deaf-mute to establish communication; for a blind man, whose wild excitement at cure could cause ridicule, he provided privacy; a young girl was raised from death without knowing it ( Mark 7:32-35 ; 8:22-26 ; 5:35-43 ). To Jesus' mind, the cure of suffering took precedence, repeatedly, over the Sabbath rules ( Luke 13:14-17 ; 14:1-6 ).

40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. (Luke 4:40) (NIV)

15 But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. (Luke 4:15) (RSV)

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. (Luke 6:17-19) (NIV)

11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing.  (Luke 9:11) (RSV)

29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:29-31) (NIV)

38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:38-39) (RSV)

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[h] 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. (Mark 7:31-35) (NIV)

22 And they came to Beth-sa′ida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:22-25) (RSV)

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing[c] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”40 But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. (Mark 5:35-42) (NIV)

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leadersaid to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13:10-17) (NIV)

One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?” 4 But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son[a] or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?” 6 And they could not reply to this. (Luke 14:1-6) (RSV)

Besides demonstrating the nature of God's kingdom as health-giving, down-to-earth, and relevant to the daily problems of the whole person, and the compassion of Jesus toward ordinary, undervalued individuals, the healing miracles left no doubt that a new power was at work in the world, and available through Christ ( Luke 4:36 ; 5:17 ; 6:19 ). To those who watched, the miracles declared that "God was with him" ( Luke 7:16 ; Acts 2:22 ; 10:38 ). Jesus' presence proclaimed and achieved victory already over all demonic forces that degraded and tormented humankind; the frontiers of God's kingdom were being advanced, and God's will was being done.

31 And he went down to Caper′na-um, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath; 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ah![a] What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”  (Luke 4:31-36) (RSV)

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”  (Luke 7:11-16) (NIV)

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  (Acts 10"38) (RSV)

The forms of Christ's healing, moreover, illustrated his redemptive mission, as bringing light to the blind soul, a kindling word to the deaf mind, sanity to the deranged personality, a lighter step to the lame spirit, a song to the dumb heart, calmness to the fevered life, and use again to the paralyzed will.

There is no doubt that the healings were miraculous. The resurrection of Jesus makes all lesser miracles credible but not every Christian credulous: quality, motive, evidence, still demand consideration. The Gospel writers would assume that the God who made the world is not fettered by it, but free to act in any way consistent with his character and purpose.

Yet Jesus continually "played down" his spectacular deeds. No theatrical flourish, no fixed pattern of action or words added drama to the healing (except, for special reasons, in John 9). A simple touch, a quiet word, a command (to an evil spirit), a "morning call" to a "sleeping" girl, a touch from behind himself, even an assurance from a distance was enough. All is done naturally, informally, simply.

And Jesus set limits to his miracle-ministry. He did not allow it to distract him from the preaching of the kingdom. Sometimes he withdrew to other places ( Luke 4:42-43 ; 5:16 ), or checked enthusiasm with warning of approaching death ( Luke 9:43-45 ). Power over spirits is no true basis of Christian joy ( Luke 10:20 ). God's kingdom cannot be built on signs and wonders ( Luke 4:3-4; Luke 4:9-12 ); a generation that demanded "signs" was "evil"incapable of discerning God wherever and however he spoke and acted. The need was not for visual evidence to gape at, but for inward light ( Luke 11:29-30 Luke 11:32-36 ; 20:1-8 ). 

Nothing resembling a campaign inviting all comers to attend and be healed is recorded of Jesus. Even with Jesus himself visibly present, no healing was possible except "according to your faith" ( Matt 9:29 ); without faith, even Jesus "could not do any miracles" ( Mark 6:5-6 ). To discourage the wonder-seeking excitement in Galilee, he often warned the cured to be silent, and to maintain reserve. Yet, in spite of all Jesus' avoidance of display, "the healing Messiah" left everywhere a deep and lasting impression, still plainly visible in the Gospel records, kindling new hope for the afflicted and a strong motive of active compassion in the church.

The Healing Church. For, as the disciples shared the healing work in the earlier years, so the church continued to do so through the apostolic age. Although our information is confined to Acts and a few allusions in the Epistles, we know of the healing of a lame man at the temple, of the sick in the streets ( Acts 5:12-16 ), of the spirit-possessed in Samaria ( 8:7 ), of Aneas' paralysis ( 9:33-35 ); of the raising of Dorcas, the healing of a cripple at Lystra, and the slave girl at Philippi. We read of "extraordinary miracles" at Ephesus ( 19:11 ), the restoration of Eutychus at Troas ( 20:9-12), and the healing of Publius's father on Malta.
Indirectly we learn of signs and wonders during Paul's missions ( Rom 15:18-19 ; cf. 2 Col 12:12 ;Gal 3:5 ). It is evident that the gift of healing was by no means limited to apostles, but bestowed "as the Spirit wills" ( 1 Corinthians 12:9 1 Corinthians 12:11 ). Although the picture so presented is incomplete and unsystematic, it is clear that the power to heal was neither universal nor constant, but spasmodic and occasional. An impression of surprise and wonder, of something "extraordinary" indeed, shows that healing never became common- place or automatic.
Dorcas died. Epaphroditus was close to death for some time. Timothy, for years Paul's constant attendant, was troubled with "frequent illnesses" ( 1 Tim 5:23 ). Trophimus had to be left at Miletus, sick ( 2 Tim 4:20 ). There was repeated and serious illness in the churches at Corinth and Thessalonica ( 1 Cor 11:30 ; 1 Thess 4:13-18 ). Paul himself prayed, repeatedly and "unsuccessfully, " for release from his physical affliction ( 2 Col 12:7-9 ; Gal 4:13-15 ). The apostolic church had its invalids, gifts of healing notwithstanding.
Luke's constant care of Paul reminds us that nonmiraculous means of healing were not neglected in that apostolic circle. Wine is recommended for Timothy's weak stomach, eye-salve for the Thyatiran church's blindness (metaphorical, but significant). James offers pastoral counsel for the sick: Send for elders of the church, who will encourage, advise, and intercede for the patient; if sin truly underlies the sickness, let the sick confess and receive forgiveness; let soothing oil, the universal panacea for all discomforts, be applied. (No brother gifted with healing is here mentioned: James 5:14-16. )
Paul offers his own example. Of course he prayed concerning his affliction, but like all truly Christian prayer, that petition was subject to God's will. When the trouble was not removed, he sought instead the meaning of his "thorn"and discovered it. In his case it was to keep him, despite his great privileges, humble and usable in God's hands. Thereafter he accepted the experience, although "a messenger of Satan" in some respects, as permitted for a purpose. And he accepted with it the grace God promised to be "sufficient" for endurance without resentment or self-pity, and the divine strength most plainly manifest through human weakness ( 2 Cor 12:1-10 ).
Behind that courageous attitude lay the profound conviction that God makes all things work together to make us Christ-like; and therefore nothing, nothing at all, neither tribulation, nor distress, nor peril, nor things present or to come, will separate us from God's love ( Romans 8:28-2;  Romans 8:35-39).
Between them James and Paul describe what has become (for whatever reason) the "normal" Christian attitude toward sickness, and it obviously finds justification in the New Testament. But so does the expectation that, when God so wills, miracles will sometimes occur.

Ref: Baker: http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/heal-health.html

Gift of Healing.Holy Spirit, Gifts of.

Four New Testament passages delineate specific gifts that God's Spirit gives to his people ( Rom 12:3-8 ; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 4:7-13 ; 1 Peter 4:10-11 ). The terminology varies from ordinary words for gift (dorea, doma Eph 4:7-8 ) to a cognate of grace (charisma Rom 12:6 ; 1 Corinthians 12:4 1 Corinthians 12:9 1 Corinthians 12:28 1 Corinthians 12:30-31 ; 1 Peter 4:10 ), to a substantive formed from the adjective "spiritual" (pneumatika 1 Cor 12:1 ; 1 Corinthians 14:1 1 Corinthians 14:37 ). But the concept remains the same: distinctive, divinely originated endowments to serve the Triune God for the common benefit of his people, the church ( Rom 12:4-5 ; 1 Cor 12:7 ; Eph 4:12-13 ; 1 Peter 4:10 ). No text enables us to determine the relation of spiritual gifts to "natural" talents or abilities; scriptural examples suggest that some are given entirely de novo (e.g., the prophets and tongues-speakers in Acts 19:6 ), while others build on a lifetime of divinely superintended preparation (as with Paul's apostleship, prepared for by his unique blend of Jewish, Greek, and Roman backgrounds). The Spirit must be given freedom to give his gifts any way he desires.

One may distinguish between gifts that require miraculous intervention or divine revelation (e.g., prophecy, healings, miracles, tongues and their interpretation) from other less "supernatural" gifts, although one suspects that first-century Christians may have considered all of them supernatural to some extent. One may separate gifts of leadership (apostles, administrators, teachers, pastors, and evangelists) from the rest, although one must be careful not to confuse gifts with offices (humanly appointed positions of ecclesial authority). One may identify a number of gifts that apparently involve an extra measure of virtue or responsibility commanded of all Christians (e.g., faith, service, giving, mercy, or evangelizing) as over or against those for which some believers have no ability or responsibility (e.g., miracles, tongues, or administration).

Healings and miracles are the other two more "supernatural" charisms. The plural nouns ( 1 Corinthians 12:10 1 Corinthians 12:28 ) in each instance suggest that there may be different kinds of miraculous gifts or that these gifts are not the permanent possession of an individual but repeatedly given for the specific occasions in which they are to be used. The terminology (iamata and dunameis,respectively) harks back to the various miracles worked by Jesus in the four Gospels and by his followers in Acts, miracles that were by no means limited to the apostles (cf. esp. Stephen and PhilipActs 6-8). "Healings" would involve the restoration of physical health to the sick or injured while "miracles" would embrace a wider variety of supernatural phenomena. A spiritual gift of healing should be distinguished from both a miraculous healing that God works in answer to prayer (as inJames 5:13-18 ) and the ordinary therapeutic work of physicians. Rather, gifts of healing will be exercised in the ministry of a particular person possessing those charisms. Such a person need not expect a 100 percent success rate any more than do teachers or evangelists or those with various other gifts. On the other hand, ministries that only rarely experience the miraculous phenomena that they advertise prove more suspect.


Ref: Baker: http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/holy-spirit-gifts-of.html 

Thursday, Jan 23, 2014.
Michael Yeap.

First update:  Friday, Jan 24, 2014.