Jesus' Healing Ministry

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At current times, some people say that we have sickness among faithful children of God because of gaps in faith. So, shall we start with checking whether Jesus healed all sick people when he lived on this earth?

Bible verses you can verify:

Where the Gospels say he healed “all” in a given setting

  1. Matthew 8:16: that evening he “healed all the sick.”
  2. Matthew 12:15: after withdrawing, “healed all who were ill.”
  3. Luke 4:40: they brought “all who had various kinds of sickness,” and he laid hands on each and healed them.
  4. Matthew 14:14, 15:30-31, 19:2, 21:14, Luke 6:19, 7:21: scenes of wide, sometimes comprehensive healing in the crowd before him.

Where the Gospels say “many” (not “all”), or show limits in a place

  1. Mark 1:34: “Jesus healed many who had various diseases.”
  2. Mark 6:5, Matthew 13:58: in Nazareth he did only a few healings “because of their lack of faith.”
  3. John 5:1-15: at the pool of Bethesda, “a great number” were sick, but Jesus healed one man and then “slipped away” (v. 13).

Places he withdrew or hid despite crowds seeking healing

  1. Luke 5:15-16: even though crowds came to be healed, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
  2. Mark 1:35-38: he left Capernaum while “everyone” was looking for him, saying he must preach in other towns - his mission wasn’t to stay and heal indefinitely.
  3. Mark 3:7-10: he “withdrew” to the lake. Large crowds still came and he healed many, but he managed contact due to pressure.
  4. John 5:13: after healing the Bethesda man, Jesus “had slipped away into the crowd.”
  5. John 8:59: “Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”
  6. John 12:36: “Jesus left and hid himself from them.”

What these texts together teach about Jesus’ healings?

  • Authority and compassion: He consistently heals sicknesses and casts out demons, moved by compassion (e.g., Matt 14:14), fulfilling Scripture (Matt 8:17).
  • Sign of the kingdom and of his identity: His works authenticate his message (Luke 7:22, John 10:25) and are recorded “that you may believe” (John 20:30-31).
  • Not a blanket promise or program to heal every person on earth during his ministry: Sometimes “all” in a scene are healed; other times “many,” a “few,” or one among many. He sometimes withdraws, moves on, or hides.
  • Mission priority: He explicitly prioritizes preaching the good news of the kingdom (Mark 1:38, Luke 4:43), not remaining in one place to heal every case.
  • Role of faith: Faith is often highlighted (e.g. Mark 5:34), yet he also heals without any prior faith (e.g. John 5; Luke 7:11-17).

In summary, it is accurate to say Jesus healed everyone who came to him in certain moments and places, but it is not accurate to claim he healed every sick person everywhere during his earthly ministry. The Gospels show both massive, sometimes comprehensive episodes of healing and clear instances where he healed a few, one, or withdrew/“hid himself.” His healings functioned as signs of the kingdom and his identity, not as a blanket eradication of illness in his days on this earth.

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