3. 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 or any form of oppression on anyone, nor did He ever tell someone that they needed to suffer a little longer (in order to learn a lesson) before He would help them.

Jesus never required people to remove a sin from their life before He would help them. In fact, He ministered first and only then said, “sin no more” (John 5:8-9, 14; John 8:10-11).

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently helped and healed all who came to Him.

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 God’s 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 and prosperity in every area of life.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

The following verses are from the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:

John 11:32-35

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus wept.

Jesus didn’t just have a few tears run down His cheeks; He wept. His sorrow was heartfelt and sincere. He knew that He was about to raise Lazarus. Therefore, He wasn’t weeping for the loss of this man’s life. He was weeping because of the pain and destruction that sin had brought upon His creation.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and free us from his oppression, which includes sickness and disease. Christ offers healing and wholeness to all who come to Him.

1 John 3:8

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Matthew 8:16-17

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, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”

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)?

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 (The widow of Nain’s son is raised from the dead)

• 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.

Imagine how you would feel if your child, or someone you truly loved, questioned your willingness to free them from oppression and take away their pain and suffering. It would break your heart.

No one desires to see their loved ones suffer, not even for a moment. But 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 thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Our longing to see others free, joyful, and sound in body and soul comes from our loving Father in Heaven, the very One who created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).