Jesus our Healer

By Dr. Emmanuel James

Read: Matt. 4:23-25

The healing ministry of Jesus was a personal part of His work. Jesus taught great crowds in public but healed the sick individually. Except in the case of healing the ten lepers, He always healed people one by one. Many people came to Jesus to be healed.  “Many followed him, and he healed all the sick” (Matt 12:15). He healed people to fulfill the Scriptures, to prove His divinity and divine power and at the same time manifested His love and compassion for them. Jesus was deeply moved when He saw the people suffering with sickness and pain. Jesus not only healed them but comforted them and sustained them.

Jesus is willing to heal those of us who are sick.  Sometimes when we are not healed, it does not mean that Jesus is indifferent toward us and to our distresses. He gives us the grace we need to endure the pain and suffering. Remember that the Lord himself had used Paul to heal many people during his ministry. We read that when Paul was sick and he prayed three times for healing. The Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9). How did Paul’s respond to this assurance from the Lord Jesus? “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:9-10). Paul had great faith and commitment.

There is a great deal here that we need to learn from Paul. Sometimes the Lord allows sufferings and sicknesses for our spiritual growth and development so that we will learn to be patient and submissive. Who knows that when the Lord’s purpose is accomplished He might still heal us miraculously? We can always be assured of His love, grace, mercy sympathy and help when we are sick. During His lifetime on this earth, whenever and wherever a sick person needed His help and requested for healing, He was always ready to heal and deliver. Sickness and pain should draw us closer to Jesus and He will draw near to us. His presence comforts us and His power is sufficient for our healing.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, whenever I am sick please teach me to trust you to heal me and sustain me. Help me to examine myself to see whether you are teaching me to be patient and believing in my suffering. Lord, I humbly submit myself to you. Let it be unto me according to your will, your plan and purpose for me and my life. Thank you Lord, in Jesus’ dear name, Amen.