Jesus and Healing Sick

Medieval book illustration of Christ Exorcising the Gerasenes demonic (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was just curious about this thought. If Jesus were to be born 30 years ago, what do you think would he probably do today? What places would he go to? I believe, he would never forget to visit the hospitals where sick people are. The sick people are among the priorities of Jesus. I have here a short list of biblical texts to help you believe that Jesus cares for the sick. 

Today and even since time immemorial, the most miserable person is a sick person, especially those who have chronic and painful diseases. These people with cancer and deadly diseases are usually the object of our pity and love. But during the time of Jesus, it was a totally different and difficult scenario for the sick people because there is an added pain aside from the physical pain they experience. What is it? It's the social and psycho-spiritual burden they get because of

Now you may ask, where is Jesus? Is he gone? Why are there too many sick people nowadays? Why are diseases increasing? Is Jesus blind and dumb about all our sufferings? These are classic questions already especially for people who do not fully know Jesus and if you do not fully understand our roles as Christians, and if you have not fully analyzed what on earth are people doing to produce all these diseases. 

I will give good answer/s to these questions on my next blog. But for now, I would like to ponder on these biblical texts that say about Jesus and healing the sick.

Jesus did not only heal the sick but also gave us the power to heal the sick. As matter of fact, he wanted us to be healers too like him. Luke says: "And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." ( Luke 9,2). The act of sending them to proclaim God's kingdom and to heal the sick only tells us how great is his passion for the sick because he is extending his personal mission to others so that many hands will now be able to take care of the sick. It also shows his sincere concern for the sick because he shares to his disciples his power and heart for the sick. He is unlike ordinary teachers who simply take the credit for having done a great performance and never generously sharing his/her own skills and mission.

Another proof of his love for the sick is the number of people he healed and the places he visited where he performed healing. "The news about him spread through the whole of Syria, and the people brought all their sick to him, and all those who suffered: the possessed, the deranged, the paralyzed, and he healed them all." (Matthew 4,24)

"Towards evening they brought to Jesus many possessed by evil spirits, and with a word he drove out the spirits. He also healed all who were sick."
- Matthew 8,16

"When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?"
When Jesus heard this he said, "Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do."
- Matthew 9,11-12

"Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness."
- Matthew 10,1

"Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift."
- Matthew 10,8

"When Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd gathered there and he had compassion on them. And he healed their sick."
- Matthew 14,14

"A great crowd was with him and there, too, he healed their sick."
- Matthew 19,2

"Jesus heard them and answered, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.""
- Mark 2,17

"And he could work no miracles there, but only healed a few sick people by laying his hands on them."
- Mark 6,5

"They drove out many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them."
- Mark 6,13

"At sunset, people suffering from many kinds of sickness were brought to Jesus. Laying his hands on each one, he healed them."
- Luke 4,40

"But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and large crowds came to him to listen and be healed of their sickness."
- Luke 5,15

"One day Jesus was teaching and many Pharisees and teachers of the Law had come from every part of Galilee and Judea and even from Jerusalem. They were sitting there while the power of the Lord was at work to heal the sick."
- Luke 5,17

"At that time Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses or diseases; he freed them from evil spirits and he gave sight to the blind."
- Luke 7,21

"And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."
- Luke 9,2

"Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'"
- Luke 10,9

"and large crowds followed him because of the miraculous signs they saw when he healed the sick."
- John 6,2