“And he (Jesus) came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”
Luke 6:17-19
Most Christians have no problem acknowledging that Jesus can and did heal. However, there are some that have a tough time believing that we can operate as Christians in that same healing power today. In fact, there are some Christians who don’t believe that it’s God’s will to heal everyone. Yet, we can see in the scriptures clearly that everyone that asked Jesus to be healed, was healed. There is not one example in scripture where Jesus said no, it’s not God’s will to heal you. It was just the opposite. Whenever someone asked Him for healing, He always healed them. Mathew 14:14 : “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
Mathew 15:30: “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”
These are just a few scriptures detailing Jesus and the healings that were done through Him. The bible is full of examples of God’s heart to heal. Therefore, we can clearly see that God’s will is to heal. In fact, one of the names of God: “Jehovah Rapha” means, “The LORD who heals.” (see Exodus 15:26)
However, there are some that can believe that yes Jesus healed then, but the power to do that ended with Him and or his original disciples. That couldn’t be further from the truth. When we look at more scriptures, we can see that the believers today have access to that same authority and power that Jesus had. We can operate in the same anointing in which Jesus operated. In John 14:11-14 Jesus clearly and unequivocally declares: “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also: and greater works than these shall he do: because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus continues on to explain: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27
We can clearly see that the power to heal and do miracles did not end when Jesus left the earth and returned to the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Instead, he decreed that the same power and authority He operated in on this earth, we too would operate in. He is the head, we are the body of Christ. We are to operate in the same anointing and power that He did to carry on His work in this earth.
In Luke 4:18-19 & 21b Jesus stood in the temple and found the place in Isaiah where it was written and read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the Acceptable year of the Lord…This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Jesus was anointed by God to do these things. This anointing to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit came on him after he was baptized by John the Baptist. Luke 3:21-22 “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying , the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
Since Jesus was operating as the Son of Man in the earth, the Lord had to anoint Him with the Holy Ghost and power, just as he does us. This is also what happened on the day of Pentecost when Jesus commanded them in Acts 1:4,5&8: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence…But Ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Therefore, in order to operate in the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit they needed to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then they could fulfill what Jesus told them in John 14. Because they believe in Him, they will do the works that He did. In 1 John 2:20 & 27 the scripture declares: “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things…But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth , and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at this coming.”
We are Christians. That in essence means little anointed ones. We need to have faith to operate in that same anointing that was on Jesus and do what Jesus told us to do in Mark 16:15-18: “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents: and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” We can see, it is our job to lay hands on the sick and believe with them that God will heal them! When Jesus is telling us about taking up serpents or drinking deadly things, it does not mean we go out and test God by grabbing snakes. NO! But it does mean that we have authority over the works of the devil and can use that authority when needed. Whether we were to accidentally encounter an actual venomous snake or simply a spiritual attack from the enemy, we have authority of it and do not need to fear. We have the power of the Holy Spirit operating in and through us. Let us in these last days, arise and take the authority that Jesus gave to us and do the great commission like never before! Receive your healing, and go out and lay hands on others, share the gospel and pray with them for their healing. Then watch as God does great things through you!
Further reading: Mathew 8, Isaiah 61
