A couple years ago, I posted an article titled “How to Heal in the Name of Jesus.”
Yesterday, a person named Dezi commented, asking, “The question that I have about this is: Is it biblical to heal someone in Jesus’ Name? Does it say anywhere in the Bible to do this?”
At first, I considered being really blunt and simply answering, “Yes.” But sometimes my sense of humor can get in the way of actually helping people. Today I want to back up that claim—not simply for Dezi’s sake, but also for those of you who might be faced with that question either from others or within your own mind.
I believe there are three underlying questions that each need to be answered:
Does the Bible support the idea of anyone other than Jesus ministering healing?
Does Jesus do the healing or do Christians do the healing?
Is the ministry of healing still valid and available today?
First, Does the Bible support the idea of anyone other than Jesus ministering healing?
Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will…place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (See Mark 16:17-18.) If you place your hands on sick people and they don’t get well, then you have reason to question what you’re believing and find out what needs to change.
Throughout the book of Acts, we see Christians ministering healing in the name of Jesus. Indeed, healing ministry is to be carried out by “those who believe.”
Second, does Jesus do the healing or do Christians?
If I sawed a block of wood in half, it would be acceptable for me to say that “I” sawed it in half. You and I both know the truth, however, that I did not saw the wood in half–the saw did it! If it weren’t for the saw, I could not have done the work. On the same token, if it weren’t for me, the saw could not have done its work!
Healing ministry is very similar. There is a partnership with the Spirit. Healing ministry was placed in the hands of the Church, and so God has made it both our privilege and our responsibility. Jesus never said to His disciples, “Pray, and ask My Father to heal the sick.” What He did say, however, was, “Heal the sick.” (See Matthew 10:8 and Luke 10:9.)
Technically, I can’t heal—just as I can’t saw wood in half. But Jesus placed the saw in my hand and said, “Go saw wood.” We have the Holy Spirit, and God has blessed us with the joy of “faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (See 1 Peter 4:10.)
Finally, Is the ministry of healing still valid and available today?
There is no Bible verse anywhere to suggest that healing ministry stopped. There are people who are convinced that spiritual gifts and divine revelation ceased with the first apostles and that the Bible is now all we need. What’s hilarious to me, however, is that these people who claim there is no revelation outside the Bible are basing their belief on an extra-biblical “revelation!” The Bible makes no such claim! I, however, base my belief on what the Bible actually says. So which of us actually loves the Bible more?
What the Bible does say is that, regarding Christ, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” (See Isaiah 9:7.) By the way, according to verse six, this never-ending, ever-increasing, peace-bringing authority started when Jesus was born. It is still increasing. Healing miracles are becoming more and more common with every day that passes.
If you want to actually see some miracles happen, watch the video “Uganda Healings” to see a deaf woman and some people with failing eyesight all receive healing. You might also enjoy seeing the recent healing of a man from Warsaw, Illinois, who was healed of crippling back problems.
So is it biblical to heal in Jesus’ name?
Yes.
God bless! –Art
