God Wants You Well
The Nature, Character, and Will of God
Jesus showed us the true nature, character, and will of God. He showed us the Father perfectly. The fullness of God dwelt in Jesus.
Colossians 1:19
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
Hebrews 1:3
who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, …
John 14:9
… He who has seen Me has seen the Father; …
Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
John 5:19
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
John 14:10
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
To hammer this truth home, let us zero in on Hebrews 1:3. Investigating the original Greek behind this verse reveals that the phrase “express image” means that Jesus is the perfect and visible expression of God’s exact nature and essence.
This truth is further reinforced by the Amplified Classic version:
Hebrews 1:3 (AMPC)
He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, …
Jesus never put sickness on anyone. He never refused to heal anyone. He never told someone that they needed to suffer a little longer in order to learn a lesson. He never said to anyone that they first needed to remove a sin from their life before He would heal them. In fact, Jesus first healed and only then said, “sin no more” (John 5:14, John 8:11).
Jesus freed people from the oppression of sickness, disease, infirmity, and pain. He demonstrated that it is God’s nature and will to heal and make whole—He is the Healer.
Exodus 15:26
… For I am the Lord who heals you.”
Within the Gospel of Matthew alone, there are several accounts of Jesus healing multitudes of people.
Matthew 4:23-24
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Matthew 8:16
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
Matthew 9:35
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 12:15
But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.
Matthew 14:14
And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
Matthew 15:30
Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.
Typically, no one really questions God’s ability to heal. They doubt His willingness to heal. In Mark 1:40-42, when the willingness of God to heal came up specifically, Jesus replied with the words, “I am willing”:
Mark 1:40-42
Jesus Cleanses a Leper:
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
Question: Why was this exchange included in the Gospels?
There are many examples of Jesus healing people, so why was this particular interaction with the leper recorded? It reveals something vital: God, through Jesus Christ, is not only able, but also willing to heal all who come to Him.
Matthew 8:5-8
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant:
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
Notice how Jesus said He would come heal the servant before the centurion could even really ask Jesus to do so. It seems Jesus even interrupted the centurion as he had clearly not finished saying what he wanted to say to Jesus. This further illustrates Jesus’ willingness, even eagerness, to heal.
Jesus shows no partiality. He is the same past, present, and forever. If He had compassion on one, He has compassion on all. If He was willing to heal one person, He is willing to heal everyone.
Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
Romans 2:11
For there is no partiality with God.
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
We don’t have to beg God to heal us. He has already revealed His will through Jesus. It is God’s will for us to walk in wholeness in every area of life.
3 John 2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
The life of Jesus shows us that it is always God’s will for His children to be healed and healthy, regardless of the cause behind the sickness, disease, or infirmity.
God is love (1 John 4:8), He loves us beyond measure (Ephesians 3:19), and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He is kind (Titus 3:4-5) and compassionate (Matthew 20:34) towards us. If He was willing to give us His Son, how would He not be willing to give us anything else we need, including healing (Romans 8:32)?
For parents, imagine how you would feel if your child questioned your willingness to heal them and take away their pain and suffering? It would break your heart! No one wishes for their loved ones to suffer—not even for a single moment. Where does this deep desire come from? It certainly doesn’t come from the devil. He only comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The desire to see our loved ones whole and free from pain comes from our loving Father in Heaven—the very One who created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).
Mark 10:14-16
Jesus Blesses Little Children
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
This is a revealing passage of Scripture. It shows the strong desire of Jesus to bless children. There are several examples in the Bible of Jesus healing children:
Matthew 15:21-28 (A Gentile woman’s daughter is healed)
Mark 5:21-43 (Jairus’ daughter is raised from the dead)
Mark 9:14-29 (A boy who suffered seizures caused by a demon is healed)
Luke 7:11-17 (A dead boy is raised to life)
John 4:46-54 (A nobleman’s son is healed)
There is no record of Jesus ever putting sickness or disease on a child in order to bless them, teach them, or for any other reason. In fact, this idea is quite unfathomable and contradicts everything the Gospels reveal about His character.
As born-again believers, we are the children of God!
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Firstly, Jesus’ command was for us as His disciples to go and “make disciples of all the nations”. Why would He then give us crippling sickness and disease and prevent us from fulfilling His instructions? That doesn’t make sense.
Furthermore, He said that His disciples are to teach the new disciples to keep all of His commandments. What were His commandments? For one, Jesus said to do to others as you want them to do to you (Luke 6:31). If you were sick, you would want to be well. Therefore, as a disciple of Christ, when you see someone sick, minister healing to them in the Name of Jesus.
When Jesus earlier sent out the twelve (Matthew 10:5-15) and then later the seventy (Luke 10:1-12), He instructed both groups to heal the sick.
Matthew 10:7-8
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Luke 10:8-9
Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Jesus expects His followers—born-again believers—to be able to minister healing to the oppressed. In Matthew 17:14-21, a father brought his son to Jesus after the disciples had failed to heal him. Jesus did not commend them for trying; instead, He was greatly displeased with their unbelief and failure to set the boy free. He expected them, and expects us, to be able to minster liberty and healing to those in need.
Matthew 17:15-18
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless [unbelieving] and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Through both word and deed (by the example He set) Jesus commanded His disciples to heal the sick. This is further clarified in Mark’s version of the Great Commission:
Mark 16:14-18
Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Jesus’ words and commandments in the Great Commission align with what He said in John 14:12. Everything Jesus said was true. He would therefore only have begun this statement with the words, “Most assuredly”, if He knew that some people would struggle to believe what He was about to say.
John 14:12
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Jesus commanded His disciples to go out and “make disciples of all the nations”, and that these new disciples are also to keep all His commandments. Among other things, these commandments included to make new disciples and to heal the sick. Therefore, right up until this present day, these commandments are still relevant. Today, we as the disciples of Jesus, are to continue to keep His commandments, which include to make new disciples and heal the sick.
Conclusion
In the ministry of Jesus and the early Church, healing and miracles were essential demonstrations that confirmed the truth of their message. If visible demonstrations of power were necessary then, they are certainly necessary now. While not all signs point to truth (Matthew 24:24), true Gospel ministry is still marked by the power of God in action.
Mark 2:10-11
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
John 10:37-38
If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Acts 14:3
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 4:19-20
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Galatians 3:5
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
Hebrews 2:3-4
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
