What Does the Bible Say About Healing?

Man was originally created without sickness and death, but suffered this as a consequence of sin. In heaven, the saved person will be fully restored and made whole in spirit, soul and body. But thanks to Jesus coming to earth with the kingdom of God, one can already have a foretaste of heaven and be healed both spiritually and physically here and now, for example through prayer and the laying on of hands. Jesus healed all the people who came to him, often by challenging the person who was sick to do something that he could not do because of his illness. When the power of God interacts with the faith of man, the result is healing. However, weak, or non-existent faith does not necessarily lead to non-healing, but direct unbelief can lead to non-healing because people are unwilling to receive what God wants to give. Jesus has passed on the power to heal the sick to all of us believers, all of whom can generally pray for the sick and participate in healings. God has also equipped some with the gift of healing through his Spirit and they are therefore used by God more than normal. Medicine and health care are not in contrast to miraculous healings, so if you get sick you should seek help from both God and the health care system. Not all people are healed and sometimes you have to accept that God has a different plan and put your hope in God’s complete healing in heaven.

Bible Verses

“⁴Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Is 53:4–5)

“¹⁵But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.” (Lk 5:15)

“³²And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. ³⁴And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”” (Mk 7:32–37)

“⁵And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.” (Mk 6:5–6)

“¹And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” (Mt 10:1)

“¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”” (Mk 16:17–18)

“⁶But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (Ac 3:6–8)

“¹⁴Is 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.” (Jas 5:14)

“⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,” (1 Co 12:8–9)

“²³(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)” (1 Ti 5:23)

“¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Ro 8:18)

“⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”” (Re 21:4)

Study Questions

1. How do you pray for the sick?
2. Have you experienced healing?
3. What is the difference between faith, weak faith, and unbelief?
4. Why does Jesus touch the deaf and dumb man where he is sick and look up to heaven?
5. Would you rather be healed spiritually or physically if you could choose?
6. Why isn’t everyone healed?
7. How do you know if you have received the gift of Healing from the Holy Spirit?

Additional Bible Verses

Mark 2:12, Mark 3:1-6, Ps 103:2-3, Luke 4:18, Mark 9:14-29, 1 Cor 12:28-30, 1 John 5:14-15, Luke 10:34, Ex 15:26, Mark 10:52, John 6:2, 2 Cor 12:7-10