The Bibles view of Jesus and the apostles healing

“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, the lame

to walk, and the blind to see; and they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:30-31)

One cannot absolutely say all these people had personal faith. Does Scripture teach all are healed by faith? No, Jesus when he was present among them also healed people without faith.

Did the 10 lepers all have faith? Though they were all cleansed of the disease, only one returned and gave thanks. It was to this man Jesus said “Your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:19). This phrase is found only a few times through the gospels (Mt.9:22, 29; 15:28; Mk.5:4, 10:52; Lk.7:50,8:48,17:9,18:42.) Jesus healed all 10 but only one returned to the giver. It was not just about his body being healed.

Jesus also did miracles without faith. The Bible happens to record Jesus doing more miracles without anyone exercising faith then with faith. He fed the 5,000 when they could not believe. (Lk.9:13-14 Mt.14:17) even after they had seen his provision, they disbelieved again for the feeding of the 4,000 (Mt.15:33).

Our Lord miracles for His own sovereign purposes, He does not owe us an explanation for His actions. Some people want this whole matter packaged wrapped to distribute to the church.

Did Jesus only heal by faith?

 “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic,  I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go your way to your house."  (Mark 2:3-11

 Jesus had a paralyzed man before him and he saw the sin problem was more important than to heal him. After the religious leaders see him pronounce his sins are forgiven they react. To prove that he had this authority, he then pronounce the man as healed. Mk.2:5 Jesus healed the paralytic not because of his faith but of the four men who carried him.

Clearly he is telling them it is more important to forgive ones sin, to have sin forgiven than it is to have the person healed.

Unfortunately too many have this backwards today. They preach healing as the gospel when the gospel is to be preached and if God wills healing will follow.

Jesus did not heal everyone Jn.5:1-15 v.3 Multitudes were gathered at the pool of Bethsaida, but Jesus picked only one to be healed, a blind and lame man and he disregarded the rest. V.3.The blind man acted on Christ's invitation, having no faith. He didn't know it was Jesus who healed him until later v.12-13.

Matthew 14:13-14, Jesus saw a great throng of people. “. . . He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.”

Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25, a young girl was healed in response to the faith of a ruler (Luke 8:41 tells us his name was Jairus). He said to Jesus, “. . . come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

The daughter of Jairus was healed from the fathers faith in Jesus able to heal without being present. If we are to believe the faith healers message than everyone does not need faith they can have faith for the person to be healed,

Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 12:15 all speak of Jesus healing numbers of people where neither the faith of the sick people nor that of others on their behalf is mentioned. It is by God’s mercy and grace

Matthew 8:14-15, Jesus entered Peter’s house, saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever, and healed her.

The greatest healing is to remove death, this being the appointment to all have that live.

Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus did not exercise faith, no one else did. Everyone who is resurrected had no faith, God is the initiator of their healing.

Paul had great miracles produced, but he did not send a handkerchief to everyone who needed a miracle, especially to be healed, even his coworkers of the gospel.

Paul tells Timothy who was sick frequently, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy

stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” 1 Tim. 5:23

God did not heal Timothy supernaturally from his sickness. Paul did not pray for his healing. There were others.

Another of Paul’s coworkers, Trophimus, have I left behind in Miletum sick. (2 Tim. 4:20)

He was not supernaturally healed even though an apostle, Paul, was with him when he had to be left behind because of illness.

  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:7-10 

Apostle Paul was afflicted with some sort of infirmity in his body (in the flesh) throughout his ministry. Three times he asked God to take away this problem, but God refused to do so. He was told that this infirmity was something God wanted him to have for his attitude spiritual well-being through his ministry. Upon hearing this, Paul bowed his heart to God’s will and wisely embraced his will saying: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor.12:10).

Phil. 2:25-27 Epaphroditus, whom Paul called my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier was sick. V.27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”

Jesus mentioned “sick unto death,” implying that sometimes people get sick and die, not because they lack (enough) faith to be healed but until He returns, we are all subject to death (John 11:4). Many people have an illness immediately precedes that death.

The Bible is clear, it isn’t the amount of faith that is at issue, but in whom our faith is placed. Jesus spoke of faith as tiny as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). We do not need to have great faith in God but rather faith in God who is great. Faith means trust. The attitude, “I don’t know what God is going to do with my illness, but I trust Him with my life” does not deny faith but rather affirms it and has one submit to His will.

Your healing may come later, not now, not in this lifetime. With faith comes patience. If your trust is in God who heals, if your healing comes beyond death will you praise Him now for that?