THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS - I


A drowning man does not need swimming lessons. Throw him a rope or a life belt, rescue him, and then teach him to swim. Many a preacher has tried to teach the principles of repentance, faith and the way of salvation to a terribly suffering, dying man. A person whose body and head is exploding with pain needs immediate physical attention. A miracle here is worth a thousands words. A starving, sickly, unfortunate one with long, matted hair and filthy rags on him, needs more than the power of the Holy Spirit. Here soup, soap and salvation go together. Love in deeds and not words only. Works must go with faith or faith will surely die.

There is a longing in every heart for a miracle. Man though born in sin was nevertheless first made in the image and likeness of God. Man is a spirit with a soul and a body. God often touches the body before touching the spirit of man. Jesus revealed the heart of the Father. The healing of the body has an impact on the spirit of man. Let us follow Jesus in the gospels where healing and the preaching of eternal life are definitely connected.


Multitudes From Many Cities Following Jesus

Turn with me to Mathew Chapter 4, beginning from verse 5. Notice that Jesus went about teaching in the synagogues of Galilee, preaching and healing all manner of sickness among the people. Non-jews also lived in Galilee (v.15). Verse 24 says, "And His fame went throughout all Syria (a gentile nation), and the Syrians brought people with sickness, different diseases, torments, paralysis, demon possessed and even the lunatic and Jesus healed them".

Now great multitudes of people followed Him from

  • Galilee
  • Decopolis or ten Greek cities of gentiles
  • Jerusalem
  • Judea
  • beyond Jordan (v.25)
Notice the connection between healing and the bread of life now. His very presence brought Light to regions of darkness (v. 15, 16). His message was calling people to turn around and enter the kingdom of heaven on earth (v.17). When the healings brought multitudes, did the Master just heal the people silently and let them go? Surely, He would have preached or taught the people, for that was His method - Teaching, Preaching, Healing, Teaching Preaching, Healing, …. (see also Matt. 9: 35). The time was right and seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up the mountain and His disciples came to Him, he opened His mouth and taught them what we know as the beautiful Sermon on the Mount! (Matt 5:1- 7:27).

Even today, healings attract attention. Preaching is not in idle or useless nun effective words only but in power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost and in the effective ministration of the GOSPEL which is the Power of God.

The Question Of John The Baptist: Mathew 11:1-6

John the Baptist who had introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world is now in prison. Here, he hears of the WORKS of Christ. Wanting to reassure himself that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was the Messiah or whether another was going to come.

Jesus does not ask John to remember the baptism service at Jordan, but briefly tells them, "Go and describe to John AGAIN, the things which you hear and see - the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life again, the poor have the good news preached to them. Blessed is the man who will not be offended in me". That, today is still an answer enough as to whether Jesus is the Messiah! Oh! How blessed is the man or woman who will not be offended by the WORKS of Jesus!


Judgement That Brings Justice, Victory And Trust In Jesus To Gentiles: Mathew 12:18 - 21

Activity in the realm of the spirit has physical manifestations. Let us see how justice brings victory that causes gentiles to trust in the name of Jesus for salvation. The above text is a fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1-4. Look at the events leading to this fulfillment. In v.13, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. The pharisees then plan to eliminate Him. Jesus knowing this withdrew Himself form that place and great multitudes followed Him. Jesus healed them all. The Lord then charges the people who were healed not to make Him known. At this stage of His ministry, Jesus did not want publicity among His own people, the Jews. Thus the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4 was fulfilled.

Let us take a closer look at Mathew 12:15-22 in sequential order:

  • The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled after great healings, and Jesus request to keep the news from spreading.


  • The prophecy has been fulfilled because judgement has been shown to the Gentiles (v.15-18) by mass healings. The Gentiles were getting a taste of God’s love. Truth was being revealed that God loved them. Judgement of satan, as the deceiver, the cause of sin and sickness was being revealed.


  • The prophecy was fulfilled because Jesus did not strive or cry, and neither did any man hear His voice on the streets (V.19). This act was also at only one stage of His work.


  • He did not break the frailest sign of faith neither did He quench a spark of faith TILL victory was got by judgement. Later on He often rebuked His disciples for their lack of active faith.


  • This victory caused the Gentiles to trust in Him as the Saviour (v.21).


  • This fulfilled of prophecy again causes a blind and dumb man to be brought to Him for healing. (v.22).


  • The connection between healing and the goodness for the soul is thus clear. Healing is the judgement of God on sickness and diseases. This judgement brings victory that causes even the gentiles to trust in Him. Oh! Bless the Lord all ye nations of the world.

Binding The Strongman

The deliverance of a man from demons of blindness and dumbness in Matt. 12:22, causes such amazement that the pharisees to protect their prestigious positions declare that this miracle is done by the power of the prince of devils. Satan causes lying signs and wonders (2 Thes. 2:9). But oh! be careful in distinguishing between the works of God and the works of the devil! The reply of the Lord silences His critics. Our interest is now in

  • casting out devils
  • binding the strongman
  • the kingdom of God
  • blasphemy
Jesus said that He cast out devils by the Spirit of God (see also Luke 4: 18,19 & Acts 10:38). He said this after the blind and dumb devils had been cast out. He said that this casting out of devils brought the kingdom of God to them. How can a man see the kingdom of God until the strong evil power that blinds and binds him be cast out (v.28)? Those extending the good kingdom of God, which is righteousness peace, joy and love, invariably find themselves opposed by demons of darkness and strange yet powerful evil forces. Spiritual warfare interests and involves every child of God. This spiritual warfare is in every city, town and village in the world. The kingdom of God is revealed and offered to the people to receive when the strong man is bound (v. 28,29).

This is the only place in the scripture where the phrase "Bind the strong man" is used! Is it not noteworthy and enlightening to know, that this phrase was used by Jesus, in the context of healing? The strong man is bound when devils are cast out and the sick healed. There cannot be any talk about binding the strong man without the casting out of devils and the healing of the sick. Bear in mind that death is an enemy of man and all sickness is incipient death.

The Holy Spirit guides us into truth. By the power of the Holy Ghost mighty works of God are done. Jesus said that all sins, blasphemies and words against Himself would be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world or the next. (v.31,32). What an awful warning! How sacred, holy and precious must be the Spirit of God! Woe to the man who blasphemies the Holy Ghost. What a caution to the man, woman or child who has the Holy Spirit.


The New Doctrine Of Authority: Mark 1:21- 32

The people were astonished at the doctrines or teachings of Jesus, for it was not as that of the scribes which lacked authority (v22). Jesus taught as a man of authority. Demons trembled and screamed in His presence. Recognizing His authority, demons fled when rebuked by the Master. The people wondered and discussed among themselves this new doctrine - the doctrine of authority and power over evil spirits (v27). Yes! The acts of God will cause men to think about Him. This gives an opening for the Word of God to be received. Immediately His fame spread through all the region round about Galilee (v.28). The result of this was the city was gathered at His door" and mass healings again (v.32, 33). Oh! the blessed doctrine of authority! Bless God who forgives all our sins and heals all diseases.

Be encouraged oh sick and diseased for the Great Physician with all authority is not sleeping. Look up to Him this very hour and taste of His good power.