The Meaning of Healing

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, "He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases."

Matthew 8:16-17

Throughout his ministry, Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons. Why? What was Jesus trying to accomplish by these mighty acts?

On one level, the healings and exorcisms of Jesus demonstrated his compassion for hurting people. He healed out of a loving and tender heart.

But on another level, the mighty acts of Jesus revealed the divine character of his mission. They showed that the kingdom of God was indeed present through him.

Yet that's not all. The healings of Jesus also associated him with the Suffering Servant of God in Isaiah. Matthew makes this connection clear by citing Isaiah 53:4: "He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases." By healing the sick, Jesus was revealing that he had come to fulfill the role of the Suffering Servant. His ultimate act in this regard was giving up his life for others by dying on the cross. Thus, ironically, the life-giving miracles of Jesus point, not only to the presence of the kingdom of God but also, to Jesus' own death.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever experienced God's healing in your life? Physical healing? Spiritual healing? Emotional healing? Relational healing? Do you expect Jesus to heal you in the future? Why or why not?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I praise you for being the healer, the one who out of love brought wholeness to broken bodies and souls. Thank you, dear Lord, for being our healer, my healer.

And how I thank and praise you for the ultimate act of healing, when you sacrificed your life as the Suffering Servant, being wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. Upon you, dear Lord Jesus, was the punishment that made us whole. All praise and honor be to you, our Savior, our Healer, our Lord. Amen.