“And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick…” Matthew 8:16

Purpose in Healing

Healing is an enigmatic subject to me. I have prayed for healing and seen my prayers wonderfully answered. I have prayed for healing and wept tears of sorrow over saints who have died with no earthly remedy to rescue them. Same prayer, same God.

I certainly do not have the key to the sovereignty of God in these situations, but upon reading in Matthew 8, I did notice some things that helped me be more at peace with this business of healing. In the beginning of the chapter a leper comes and worships Jesus and requests healing. His faith declares that if Jesus is willing, he believes he can heal him even of this leprosy. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Jesus is a willing healer.

Jesus tells the man to go show himself to the priests and offer the gift that Moses commanded as a testimony to them. The purpose of this man’s healing was to be a testimony to the priests. It was a powerful and undeniable testimony.

Next a centurion, a Gentile, seeks healing for his servant. This centurion’s faith is strong. He believes Jesus can heal from near or far. Again, Jesus was a willing healer.

This man was healed as a testimony to Israel. This man was healed as a testimony to Gentiles. Jesus heals mankind regardless of race or religion.

Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. The purpose of her healing was to serve. She arose from her sickbed to serve those who labored in ministry and, in doing so, served Jesus.

In the evening a crowd gathered to be healed and Jesus healed them that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Isaiah 53:4). These were healed to fulfill scripture.

God has purpose in healing. The healing is not the main issue. The healing is a vehicle to accomplishing the purposes of the Father. So if He heals, there is purpose in it. And if He wills not to heal, there is purpose in it. I can trust Him with either outcome.

“Father, how good is Your goodness! We are fragile and failing, but You will sustain us in sickness, affliction, and suffering. And even in death we will find You faithful to do that which is glorious. We will pray for healing with confidence and we will receive Your sovereign answers in thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”