The precious Gospel also includes healing of the body. We can therefore grasp the promises with faith and expect God’s sovereign work.
The Foundation
Isaiah, the herald of the age of salvation, was able to proclaim the suffering Servant of God: “Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering … and by His wounds we are healed” (53:4–5). These words are not only comfort for inner pain of the soul, but also for suffering that afflicts the entire body.
Matthew reports how Jesus healed and sees this as the fulfillment of the prophetic Word (Matthew 8:16–17). As David already describes in Psalm 103:3, healing encompasses the body as well as the soul. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the entire burden of sin, its guilt, and consequences. On Easter morning, the life and power of God triumphed. If Christ died for our needs according to the Word, we as a church today can ask for healing from Him, and He will answer in accordance with His will. Divine healing of the body is therefore not a side issue alongside “actual” salvation, but the effect of redemption, which seeks to free us humans from the bondage of sin.
The Gospel in Word and Power – The Ministry of Jesus
Right from the first pages of the Gospels, we read about the Messiah who went about teaching and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23). No matter what illness, disease, or torment, whether it was physical distress or even possession of the soul, “He healed them all” (verse 24 NLT).
He was a preacher and a physician in one person—the Savior of the world. In Nazareth, He explained His mission with the prophetic words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, … He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted” (Luke 4:18). Jesus answered every cry for help from the people with leprosy, the blind, people with disabilities, and many other sick people without hesitation: “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mark 1:40-42). When Jesus touched the sick woman, her fever left her (Luke 4:38). How powerful must have been the experience of the woman who had suffered from bleeding for years. Jesus not only healed her but also gave us an account that can strengthen our faith: “Daughter, your faith has saved you” (Mark 5:34 NIV).
Peter looked back on Jesus’ ministry and reported: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Jesus lets people experience the effects of the kingdom of God: sins are forgiven, the bound are set free, and the sick are healed. Jesus triumphed over the destructive power of Satan and gave healing to the soul and the body.
Sent to Heal
Jesus healed—and gave this mission to His disciples as well. When he sent out the Twelve, He did not speak only of “preaching” but also “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Matthew 10:8). Later, it was also the authentication of the preaching of the gospel (Luke 10:9).
Before His ascension, Jesus said to His disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). Jesus wanted the disciples to bear witness to the glorious Gospel and to proclaim it with authority through accompanying deeds. God still wants to confirm His Word today. Even today, people should experience the power of God in both soul and body.
The Book of Acts reports on the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. The leading figures, Peter and John, were not extraordinary people. Yet they allowed themselves to be used by the Spirit of God and were powerful witnesses of what the risen Christ was doing in the church through the Spirit. They stopped by the beggar at the temple gate. He spoke to them and asked for financial help. They had something far better to offer him: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). The man jumped up, the miracle became known, and a door opened for the Gospel. Luke continues in Acts 5:12-16: “Many signs and wonders were done among the people … they brought the sick … and they were all healed.” When Philip was ministering in Samaria, God performed many signs and wonders through him. The people listened to the gospel, saw the healings of the sick, “and there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:5-8).
Many other healings through divine power are reported to us in the Book of Acts (e.g., 9:32-42; 19:11-12; 28:8-9). If we read carefully, we see that repeatedly the Word of grace was testified to, and God then confirmed the Word with healings (Acts 14:3). Over and over again, it was a means of powerfully bringing the message of salvation to the people. They were to see Christ: He lives and acts—even today.
Healings in Church Life
Immediately after leaving Egypt, Israel heard the powerful words: “I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). This applies even more to the church of the Most High, which is His body. As human beings in a fallen and broken world, God’s children are also susceptible to illness and are not always protected from accidents. That is why God has given us instructions for such cases: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14–15).
The instruction is quite simple. No extraordinary “specialists” are required, only the Shepherds of the church. This is not about a special ritual or process, but simply an act of obedience in the name of Jesus. Anointing with oil may have been linked to the ministry of Jesus (Mark 6:13), but above all it is a strengthening of faith. The sick person should come forward, and the elders will come to him, pray with him, and anoint him. The Lord sees and hears, and if it is His will, raises up the sick person.
God desires healing—not only for the body, but above all for the soul. Therefore, the distress of the soul must first be addressed, then God can intervene and provide healing. However, what happens when our faith is tested, when despite earnest prayer, no visible healing occurs? Although the Bible does not remain silent about such cases, God has not weakened or relativized His powerful promises. His promises are eternal truth. We may claim them for ourselves and trust in God’s faithfulness, even if the response to our prayers differs from what we imagine, even if time passes without any noticeable changes. God has heard—and He will act according to His divine purpose.
Divine healing of the body is an important part of the work of redemption until the Lord’s return. We may believe this and ask it for ourselves today. Thus, the word is fulfilled: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Hermann Vogt
Gifhorn, Germany
Be the first to comment