Biblical Foundations of the Healing Ministry: Jesus as the Great Healer - Lesson 2
- Pr Enos Mwakalindile
- Aug 19
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 21
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matthew 9:35)
If you were sent to pray for a sick person today, how would you start? Would you follow Jesus’ example, or would you wait for an unusual power?
Introduction
The church’s healing ministry today stands on the foundation of Jesus’ teachings and actions, along with the testimony of the early church. Seeing this history teaches us that healing is not a temporary miracle, but rather an integral part of the Gospel itself (Luke 4:18–19). This lesson guides us to see the source of healing, its methods, the role of every believer in participating, and how this ministry has manifested throughout the centuries.
1. Jesus is the Source and Example of Healing.
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages… and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matthew 9:35)
Here Matthew shows us Jesus traveling through all areas, preaching the good news and touching people’s pain. In Matthew 4:23 and Mark 1:41, we see His compassion leading Him to touch a leper, which was contrary to Jewish purity laws. In John 11:43–44, Jesus raises Lazarus, confirming that He is the life and the resurrection. This context shows that the Gospel is both word and deed, a call for the church to spread the good news while touching people’s pain with the love of Christ.
2. Healing is a Manifestation of God's Kingdom.
“But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20)
Luke records an event where Jesus casts out demons, and by doing so, He declares that the Kingdom of God has arrived. This means that spiritual and physical healing is a sign of the Kingdom's presence here and now, showing us a glimpse of the new world in Revelation 21:4—without tears, pain, or death. Every healing is an invitation to enter into the reality of this life-changing Kingdom.
3. The Early Church Participated in the Healing Ministry.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church…” (James 5:14–16)
James gives practical guidance: the sick should be prayed for, and the elders should lay hands on them and anoint them. In Acts 3:1–10, Peter and John lifted up a lame man entering the temple, giving him not money but the life-giving name of Jesus. Acts 5:15–16 shows how even Peter’s shadow was used as a sign of the community’s faith. This collaboration teaches that healing is the responsibility of the entire community of believers, not just a select few.
4. The Holy Spirit is the Source of Gifts of Healing.
“to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:9)
In this chapter, Paul explains the diversity of gifts but the singular source of the Spirit. Gifts of healing, as given by the Spirit, are not for boasting but for building up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7). The context of the Corinthian church reminds us of the importance of humility and unity. This teaches us to rely on the Holy Spirit and not on human methods or abilities.
5. Testimonies of Healing Strengthen and Advance Faith.
“And these signs will follow those who believe…” (Mark 16:17–18)
Here Jesus promises that signs will follow believers, including healing. In Acts 28:7–9, Paul heals many sick people on the island of Malta, which strengthened the faith of the locals and opened doors for the Gospel. John 20:31 states that all these things were written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life through His name. Testimonies today make the church appear alive and strengthen the hopes of both believers and non-believers.
6. Healing Involves Body, Soul, and Spirit.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Paul prays for the entire church—body, spirit, and soul—to be kept blameless. Psalm 147:3 describes God healing the brokenhearted, and Luke 8:48 shows Jesus telling the woman with the flow of blood: “Your faith has made you well; go in peace.” This shows that healing is not just physical but also mental, emotional, and spiritual, restoring fellowship with God and the community.
7. Healing is Not a Substitute for Medicine, But a Complement to God's Grace.
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” (Luke 5:31)
Jesus affirms the importance of medicine using the example of a sick person and a physician. In 2 Kings 20:7, Isaiah instructs Hezekiah to apply a lump of figs to his boil, and in 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul advises Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach. These scriptures show that the healing ministry and medical treatments work together, operating under God's grace.
8. The Church is a Center for Community Healing.
“They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:18)
In the book of Acts, the church was known for acts of compassion and the ministry of healing (Acts 5:15–16). When the church becomes a place of prayer and help, it becomes a hospital for soul and body, serving as a visible example of the Gospel touching the community spiritually and socially.
9. Healing is a Ministry for the Entire Community of Believers.
“Bear one another’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)
Paul encourages believers to bear each other’s burdens as fulfilling the law of Christ. This means cooperating in prayer, financial support, spiritual counseling, and friendship. When the healing ministry becomes the responsibility of all, the body of Christ is built up and strengthened in unity and love.
10. Healing Testifies to God's Presence and Glory.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Healing is not for human praise but for glorifying God. In Luke 17:15–16, the one leper who was healed returned to thank God with a loud voice, giving testimony to God's glory before all. Similarly, Acts 4:21 shows people glorifying God after seeing the healing of the lame man. This teaches us that the goal of every healing is to turn people's eyes toward God, the source of mercy and life.
Discussion Questions
Why did Jesus associate healing with His gospel? Should we do the same today?
What challenges do you see in following the example of James 5:14–16 in your church?
How would you explain to someone that the gifts of healing are still active today?
How can your church practically become a center for community healing?
Why do you think healing involves the body, soul, and spirit, not just recovery from physical illness?
Homework Assignment
Read Acts 3:1–10 and write down the steps Peter and John took before and after healing the lame man.
Arrange to pray together with another person for someone who is sick, committing them to the Lord in faith.
Find a story of healing in church history and share it with your group.
Write a healing prayer for a sick person you know, reflecting Jesus' compassion.
Summary
Biblical foundations show that Jesus and the early church set an example of healing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The healing ministry is part of the Gospel, and it remains the calling of every believer today to continue Jesus’ work of healing and comforting the wounded.
Next lesson: Preparation of the Healing Minister – Humility and Holiness.
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