Acts [B 3 of 5] – healings in the Gospel…

Personal Bible Study

Instances of Healing in the Gospels

For completeness’ sake, let’s take a look at the healing ministry of Jesus in the Gospels. First, a listing of all the instances of healing by Jesus in the Gospels for reference:

Jesus’ Healing Ministry – Mass Healing
Mass healing in Galilee	Matthew 4:23-24; Matthew 8:16; Mark 1:39; Mark 1:45; Mark 3:7-12
Mass healing in Gennesaret	Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56
Mass healing in the temple of God	Matthew 21:14
Mass healing in Capernaum	Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40-41
Mass healing in unknown locations	Matthew 9:35; Matthew 12:15; Matthew 14:13-14 / Luke 9:11; Matthew 15:30-31; Luke 5:15; Luke 6:17-19
Limited healing in Nazareth	Mark 6:5
Jesus’ Healing Ministry – Specific Healing
A leper	Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-44; Luke 5:12-14
The centurion’s servant in Capernaum	Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10
Peter’s mother-in-law	Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39
Two demon-possessed men in Gergesenes / Gadarenes; A demon-possessed man in Gadarenes	Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39
A forgiven paralytic	Matthew 9:1-7; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-25
The daughter of Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue	Matthew 9:18-25; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56
A woman with a flow of blood for twelve years	Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48
Two blind men	Matthew 9:27-31
A mute and demon-possessed man	Matthew 9:32-33; Luke 11:14
A man with a withered hand in the synagogue (Sabbath healing)	Matthew 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-10
A blind and mute demon-possessed man	Matthew 12:22
A Canaanite woman’s severely demon-possessed daughter	Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
An deaf, mute and epileptic demon-possessed boy	Matthew 17:14-18; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 9:38-42
Two blind men in Jericho; Blind Bartimaeus in Jericho	Matthew 20:29-33; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43
A man with an unclean spirit in a synagogue in Capernaum	Mark 1:23-26; Luke 4:33-35
A deaf and mute man	Mark 7:31-37
A blind man at Bethsaida	Mark 8:22-26
The son of the widow of Nain	Luke 7:11-15
A woman with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Sabbath healing)	Luke 13:10-13
A man with dropsy (Sabbath healing)	Luke 14:1-4
Ten lepers	Luke 17:11-17
The right ear of the servant of the high priest in Gethsemane	Luke 22:50-51
A nobleman’s dying son in Capernaum	John 4:45-53
A man with an infirmity for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda (Sabbath healing)	John 5:5-15
A man born blind from birth (Sabbath healing)	John 9:1-38
Lazarus	John 11:1-44

Some Observations

(1) Jesus healed “all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people” and “all sick people” (Matthew 4:23-24).

• This means He has authority over all physical, emotional and spiritual conditions – blindness, deafness, muteness, handicaps, epilepsy, paralysis, leprosy, skin conditions, heart conditions, mental conditions, psychological conditions, emotional conditions, congenital conditions, fever, cancers, tumours, growths, demonic possession – EVERYTHING.

(2) Jesus was willing to heal.

• The leper who came and worshipped Jesus said to Him, “Lord if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And Jesus replied him, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Matthew 8:2-4 / Mark 1:40-41 / Luke 5:13).

(3) Jesus’ healing ministry was driven by His heart of compassion.

• When Jesus saw the multitude, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
• [Feeding of the Five Thousand] When Jesus saw the great multitude, He was “moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14 / Mark 6:34).
• [Feeding of the Four Thousand] When Jesus saw the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, He had “compassion on the multitude” (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2).
• When the two blind men in Jericho asked of Jesus to open their eyes, “Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight” (Matthew 20:33-34).
• When the leper implored Jesus, kneeling down to Him and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean”. And Jesus, “moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him”, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mark 1:40-41).
• To the man possessed by Legion in the country of Gadarenes, Jesus told him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mark 5:19).
• To the widow of Nain whose only son had died, Jesus saw her and “had compassion on her” (Luke 7:13)

(4) It only took a word and/or a touch for Jesus to heal.

• A word – healing of the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:7); casting out demonic spirits “with a word” (Matthew 8:16); healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9:6-7 / Mark 2:10-12 / Luke 5:25); healing of the man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:13 / Mark 3:5 / Luke 6:10); healing the severely demon-possessed daughter of the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28 / Mark 7:29); healing the man with an unclean spirit in a synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:25 / Luke 4:35); healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho (Mark 10:52: Luke 18:42); resurrecting the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14); healing of ten lepers (Luke 17:14); healing of a nobleman’s dying son (John 4:51); healing of a man with an infirmity for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:8); resurrecting Lazarus (John 11:43).

• A touch – healing of a woman with a flow of blood for twelve years (Matthew 9:21 / Mark 5:28-29 / Luke 8:43-44); healing of multitude at Gennesaret by a touch of the hem of Jesus’ garment (Matthew 14:34-36 / Mark 6:56); healing of two blind men in Jericho (Matthew 20:34); healing of multitudes in Galilee (Mark 3:10); healing of a great multitude (Luke 6:19).

• Both – healing of the leper (Matthew 8:3 / Mark 1:41-42); healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15 / Mark 1:30-31 / Luke 4:39); resurrecting the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue (Matthew 9:25 / Mark 5:41 / Luke 8:54); healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:29); healing of a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:33-34); the healing of the deaf, mute and epileptic demon-possessed boy (Mark 9:25-27); healing of a woman with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:12-13); the right ear of the servant of the high priest in Gethsemane (Luke 22:50-51).

• Special/interesting approach –
  • deaf and mute man: Jesus “took him aside from the multitude, and  put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,”that is, “Be opened”” (Mark 7:33).
  • blind man at Bethsaida: Jesus “took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. ²⁴ And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” ²⁵ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly” (Mark 8:23-25).
  • blind man: Jesus “spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. ⁷ And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing” (John 9:6-7).

(5) Faith is a critical key to move the hand of God to heal.

• Faith of the sick person – the woman with a flow of blood for twelve years (Matthew 9:22 / Mark 5:34 / Luke 8:48); healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:29); healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho (Mark 10:52; Luke 18:42); healing of one of ten lepers (Luke 17:19).

• Faith of the associates of the sick person – the centurion (Matthew 8:13 / Luke 7:9); those who brought the paralytic (Matthew 9:2 / Mark 2:5 / Luke 5:20); the Canaanite woman whose daughter was severely demon-possessed (Matthew 15:28 / Mark 7:28).

• Unbelief limited the hand of Jesus – “He did not do many mighty works there [Nazareth] because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58 / Mark 6:5-6); the failure of the disciples to cast out the demon in the deaf, mute and epileptic boy (Matthew 17:19-20).

(6) For some cases of healing, it may require dealing with:

• Demonic possession – healing of the one or two demon-possessed men in Gergesenes / Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28-33 / Mark 5:1-20 / Luke 8:35); healing of the mute and demon-possessed man (Matthew 9:33 / Luke 11:14); the healing of the deaf, mute and epileptic demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:14-18 / Mark 9:17-29 / Luke 9:38-42).

• Sin – healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9:2 / Mark 2:5 / Luke 5:20); healing of a man with an infirmity for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:14).

(7) Healing can happen:

• Immediately – healing of the leper (Matthew 8:3 / Mark 1:41-42 / Luke 5:13); healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15 / Mark 1:30-31 / Luke 4:39); healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9:6-7 / Mark 2:10-12 / Luke 5:25); healing of a woman with a flow of blood for twelve years (Matthew 9:22 / Mark 5:28-29 / Luke 8:44); resurrecting the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue (Matthew 9:25 / Mark 5:42 / Luke 8:55); healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:29-30); healing of the man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:13 / Mark 3:5 / Luke 6:10); the healing of the deaf, mute and epileptic demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:14-18 / Mark 9:25-26); healing of two blind men / blind Bartimaeus in Jericho (Matthew 20:34 / Mark 10:52 / Luke 18:43); healing the man with an unclean spirit in a synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:25-26 / Luke 4:35); healing of a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:35); healing of a woman with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:13); healing of a man with an infirmity for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:9); resurrecting Lazarus (John 11:43).

• Within the same hour – healing of the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:13); healing of the Canaanite woman’s daughter who was severely demon-possessed (Matthew 15:28); healing of a nobleman’s dying son (John 4:52-53).

• After more than one try – healing of the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:23-25).

• With some passage of time – healing of ten lepers (Luke 17:14); healing of the man born blind from birth (John 9:6-7).

(8) Jesus directed attention away from Himself after performing the healing.

• To the leper (Matthew 8:4 / Mark 1:44 / Luke 5:14) – “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
• To the two blind men (Matthew 9:30) – “See that no one knows it.”
• To the great multitudes (Matthew 12:15) – “He warned them not to make Him known”.
• To the witnesses of the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus “commanded them strictly that no one should know it” (Mark 5:43 / Luke 8:56)
• To those who brought the deaf and mute man to Jesus for healing, Jesus “commanded them that they should tell no one” (Mark 7:36).
• To the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:26) – Jesus “sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town”.
• The man with an infirmity for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda did not know who healed Him, “for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place” (John 5:13).