Why did Jesus Heal? Most people think it is to prove He is God. Jesus has all that makes God God in heaven. But while incarnate as a man, He must limit His power to that of a human.
Jesus empties Himself of Godly attrubutes
Philippians 2:5-75 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,
7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
Jesus reveals the source of his power.
He did not heal to prove that He was God, because Jesus did not heal by virtue or power Jesus possesses as God prior to incarnation. Jesus told us many times that He came to do the will of His Father, God. To enable Jesus to do what He wanted Him to do, God provided His own power by which to do it.
John 14:1010 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power).
Jesus has the spirit of God in Him, without measure. He commands healing and deliverance by the Holy Spirit of God.
Jesus corrects Hypocritic critics
The religious leaders suggested that Jesus used the power of demonic spirits to heal people and cast out demonic spirits. Jesus is never more furious with His critics than when they say the Holy Spirit in Him is actually a demonic spirit. Jesus denies the accusation. His replies also begin to reveal an answer to the question, “Why does Jesus heal?”
Matthew 12:29 “Or how can a person go into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”
1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
The devil is the enemy of God and man. He beguiles Adam to unleash pain, suffering, and calamity on the human race. Jesus came as the Last Adam to make a new and better covenant available. The New Covenant completely undoes all of the harm that arose from the First Adam’s sin.
1 Corinthians 15:45 (AMPC) 45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].
So why did Jesus Heal?
Healing is the first step in doing the work of the Father that Jesus sends Him to do. Which is, announcing and proving that He is the Messiah. Because of the love and compassion the Father has, He sends Jesus. Jesus sets humankind free from the oppression, pain suffering, and even physical and spiritual death the enemy sows.
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
Jesus comes to do the will of the Father who sent Him.
Luke 4:18-19 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, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Why are we also to be healing the sick?
Satan is still attempting to kill, steal, and destroy humanity. We who know Jesus Christ are to heal the sick for the same reasons He did. We are to complete the work Jesus started. This includes to proclaim the Gospel and destroy the works of the devil. We heal to show the love and compassion of the Father. We heal to prove healing is still available through the Messiah Jesus. .
Photo by Shoeib Abolhassani on Unsplash
Enjoyed reading this. So true that the depth of God’s love and compassion is often left out of His motivation to heal. And yes, we are to be about our Father’s business. What an honor it is to carry on His work here!