If Jesus Had Met Me

I grew up in a home that didn’t know Jesus.

I met Him when I was 15 years old.

I legit thought I was a Christian because I lived in ‘merica. True story.

By 17, I was attending a Christian college, surrounded by like-minded youngins. I don’t really remember much talk of Jesus as our healer - from professors or my pastor at the time.

At least among the people in my “circles,” healing wasn’t a topic we heard much about.

Then, a little over a year and a half ago, the Holy Spirit came upon me like I’ve never experienced before. I cried for at least five hours when it happened. It was shocking, but also like a hug.

Since that moment, everything changed. One encounter with Him literally changed my entire life.

And even though I knew Jesus, I began reading His Word like I’d never read it before, like I’d never met Him before.

I wanted to start from the beginning; to remember what Jesus was all about.

What was He like…really?

How did He lead, teach, love, serve, and discipline?

I fell in love with Him all over again.

And when I saw how freely He healed people and how obvious it was that He wanted them to be whole, I was just overcome with a new sense of adoration for this man with every story I read.

A few weeks ago, Holy Spirit told me, “I would have healed you.” And I knew exactly what He meant. It wasn’t that He hasn’t ALREADY healed me, but that Jesus Himself would’ve healed me if I’d lived while He was on earth 2000 years ago. If He’d passed by me on the street, He would’ve healed me.

I’m so sure of this because He healed so many people just like me.

He healed people who dealt with some of the same issues that I deal with today in every single place he traveled. And there are a few I relate to more than others.

Like the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Because there was a time when I bled for three years straight. Every single day. Without exception. Until He completely healed me 11 months ago! I understand the madness that comes along with this issue. And I know He would’ve released me from it.

And the man who laid on a mat near the healing pools for decades. While I haven’t suffered anywhere near as long or as much as he did, I relate to him because I haven’t been able to straighten my knees since January of 2018. Yes, for real.

Walking is not an issue for me, but standing in one place is the hardest thing.

The way I describe it to people is…try standing with both of your knees slightly bent. Now do that for two years straight any time you need to stand. It’s exhausting, trust me.

This issue is caused by an alignment issue in my knees and hips. My knees have been prone to dislocations since I was nine years old and I’m now also dealing with alignment issues in my elbows and my jaw.

Basically, my 35-years-young body thinks It’s already 70-years-OLD.

And part of this is natural, right? We live in a fallen, imperfect world. Things get older and fall apart; they don’t get better and shinier as time goes on.

Our physical bodies are not meant to live forever. They’re built to last for a handful of decades.

So, if that’s the case, then why did Jesus spend so much time healing the sick and casting out demons? Why did he take the time to raise people from the dead, completely heal physical disease, or restore sight?

Why didn’t He just say, “I know you’re in pain, but that’s just part of the natural aging process. It happens to everyone. You’ll get a new body in Heaven, so there’s no need to fix the one you’re currently living in.”

Why would He heal if aging is just part of the process?

BECAUSE HE LOVES US!

Healing was always in His plan post-Fall because He loves His children.

And if we really understood the heart of our Father, we would never ask this question again.

He heals because He loves.

Jesus said it best when He said that no good parent would ever feed their hungry child rocks instead of food or a snake instead of fish. So, if we’re imperfect people and we know how to lovingly parent our children and meet their needs, how much MORE is our perfect Heavenly Father ready and willing to meet our needs? He’s ready to pour out so much more than we’d ever even think to ask.

He knows our needs. The ones we tell Him about and the ones we don’t.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

He knows the pain we feel in our bodies and He wants to take care of us.

And so, He did.

And, He does.

Jesus freely healed hundreds, maybe thousands, of people during His three years of ministry and then He willingly walked towards the cross where He paid for the complete and final healing of every person who would come after Him.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:4-6

There’s nothing we have to add to the cross. We received our healing in full when He died for us.

Peter summarized this text in Isaiah so beautifully when He said:

“When he was verbally abused, he did not return with an insult; when he suffered, he would not threaten retaliation. Jesus faithfully entrusted himself into the hands of God, who judges righteously. He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing flowed from his wounding. You were like sheep that continually wandered away, but now you have returned to the true Shepherd of your lives—the kind Guardian who lovingly watches over your souls.”
1 Peter 2:23-25

So, even though I’m still unable to straighten my legs today, I am declaring that my body was healed on the cross. My Spirit is alive with Jesus and is completely healed right now.

“But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!”
Ephesians 2:4-6

And I’m praying for my body to align with what I know is already true in my Spirit. If it does, I will praise Him. If it doesn’t, I will still praise Him!

This is what it comes down to for me, friends…

I’ve noticed that Jesus was amazed by two things during His ministry: an abundance of faith and a lack of faith.

He was amazed at the amount of faith of a captain of the Roman army (Matthew 8:10) and he was shocked at the lack of faith from the people in His own hometown (Mark 6:6.)

I want to live a life that is worthy of the gospel; worthy of the sacrifice He gave. I want to amaze Him and impress Him, even if it means embarrassing myself and disregarding the praise of men. I want Holy Spirit to give me a new measure of faith every day!

“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen.”
Hebrews 11:1-3

As unnatural as it feels, I want to speak out the reality of the spirit realm, even if it looks completely opposite of what I see in front of me.

I want to speak in my faith language - proclaiming the goodness of God, declaring how He has and will heal me, and posturing my spirit in a way to believe that He’s still capable of doing impossible things.

declarations

Because of the cross, I can declare:

I serve an approachable God who longs to heal and restore His people. (Mark 6)
My Father can handle my fears, my anxiety, and my pain. I can cry out to Him and He will embrace me. (Psalm 6)
There is NO ONE He can’t reach, no one He can’t heal. He isn’t a respecter of persons. He looks inwardly at the heart and not outwardly at appearance, as man does. (Matthew 8, Acts 10:34, 1 Samuel 16:7, Luke 4)
I will live by FAITH and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5)
By one perfect sacrifice, He has made me perfectly holy and complete for all time! (Hebrews 10, Isaiah 53)
I will praise Him before I see my breakthrough! Even when it looks like everything is falling apart, my confidence will not be shaken because I know that my breakthrough could be just around the corner! (Acts 16:16-40, Jeremiah 17:14, Philippians 4, Romans 5)
Once I was blind, but now I SEE! He has opened my eyes to eternal truths and daily revelations of His love and healing power. (Matthew 9)

Jesus as healer

a study of jesus’ healing power in the book of matthew

Matthew 4: Jesus ministered from place to place, teaching, preaching, and healing every kind of sickness and disease. Many people who were in pain and suffering with every kind of illness were brought to Jesus for their healing…they were all set free. Everyone who was brought to Jesus was healed!

Matthew 8: Jesus healed a leper. The man said, “Lord, you have the power to heal me . . . if you really want to.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper and said, “Of course I want to heal you—be healed!” And instantly, all signs of leprosy disappeared!

Matthew 8: Jesus healed the son of a captain in the Roman army. The man said, “I understand your authority, for I too am a man who walks under authority and have authority over soldiers who serve under me. I can tell one to go and he’ll go, and another to come and he’ll come. I order my servants and they’ll do whatever I ask. So I know that all you need to do is to stand here and command healing over my son and he will be instantly healed.” Jesus was shocked by this man’s faith! He didn’t even go with him and He healed his son at the exact moment He promised.

Matthew 8: Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. The moment He touched her hand, she was healed. That same night, many people who were demonized were brought to Him. He spoke a word of healing over them and they were totally set free from their torment. Everyone who was sick received their healing!

Matthew 9: Jesus healed the paraplegic man after He perceived the strong faith within his heart.

Matthew 9: Jesus healed the daughter of an influential Jewish leader. And while He was on His way to heal her, a woman who’d been bleeding for 12 years touched the end of His prayer shawl. She had faith that He could heal her. He responded, “My daughter, be encouraged. Your faith has healed you.” And instantly she was healed! When He arrived at the home of the Jewish leader, He saw people mourning because the little girl had died. Jesus said, “You must leave, for the little girl is not dead; she’s only asleep.” Then everyone began to ridicule him. After he made the crowd go outside, he went into the girl’s room and gently took hold of her hand. She immediately stood to her feet!

Matthew 9: Jesus healed two blind men after leaving the Jewish leader’s house. They followed Him out of the house and were shouting over and over again, “Son of David, show us mercy and heal us!” And they followed him right into the house where Jesus was staying. So Jesus asked them, “Do you believe that I have the power to restore sight to your eyes?” They replied, “Yes Lord, we believe!” Then Jesus put his hands over their eyes and said, “You will have what your faith expects!” And instantly their eyes opened—they could see!

Matthew 9: Jesus healed a demon-possessed man right after He healed the two blind men. Some people brought before Jesus a man with a demon spirit who couldn’t speak. Jesus cast the demon out of him, and immediately the man began to speak plainly. The crowds marveled in astonishment, saying, “We’ve never seen miracles like this in Israel!”

Matthew 9: Jesus walked throughout the region with the joyful message of God’s kingdom realm. He taught in their meeting houses, and wherever he went he demonstrated God’s power by healing every kind of disease and illness.

Matthew 10: Jesus commissioned His 12 men to bring healing to every sick person, to cast out demons, and to raise the dead. They were called to freely release the power of God’s Kingdom to others because they’d freely received it themselves. (And we’re called to the same commission!)

Matthew 12: Jesus healed a man with a paralyzed hand. He said, “It’s always proper to do miracles, even on the Sabbath.” Then he turned to the man and said, “Hold out your hand!” And as he stretched it out, it was restored, exactly like the other.

Matthew 12: Jesus healed another demonized man who was blind and couldn’t speak. Jesus healed him instantly, and he could see and talk again!

Matthew 14: Jesus healed all the sick who were in the crowd. His heart was deeply moved with compassion toward them, so He healed them.

Matthew 14: After feeding 5,000+ people and walking on water, Jesus traveled south of Capernaum. The people living there quickly recognized who he was. They were quick to spread the news throughout the surrounding region that Jesus had come to them. So they brought him all their sick, begging him to let them touch the fringe of his robe. And everyone who touched it was instantly healed!

Matthew 15: Another huge crowd followed Him up a hill, bringing with them the lame, blind, deformed, mute, and many others in need of healing. They laid them at Jesus’ feet and he healed them all.

Matthew 17: Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy after His disciples were unable to heal him. Later the disciples came to him privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we cast out the demon?” He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do! But this kind of demon is cast out only through prayer and fasting.”

Matthew 19: Matthew records that massive crowds followed Jesus and He healed all who were sick.

Matthew 20: Jesus healed two more blind men. They said, “Lord, we want to see! Heal us!” Jesus was deeply moved with compassion toward them. So he touched their eyes, and instantly they could see! Jesus said to them, “Your faith has healed you.” And all the people praised God because of this miracle. And the two men became his followers from that day onward.

Matthew 21: After clearing out the temple, the blind and the crippled came into the temple courts and Jesus healed them all. And the children circled around him shouting out, “Blessings and praises to the Son of David!” But when the chief priests and religious scholars heard the children shouting and saw all the wonderful miracles of healing, they were furious.

Do you see the themes in each of these stories?

Each person received instant healing.
He didn’t discriminate - He healed every single disease.
He’s impressed by only ONE thing: Faith.
He wants us to experience abundant life and true freedom.

So, where does this leave us…2000 years later?

There are a few options.

The first is to assume that the healing power (that He freely released) died with Him and the first few disciples thousands of years ago.

The second is to ignore these parts of the New Testament and cling to teachers and believers who do the same; people who will overlook these stories because it’s just easier to ignore them than address them.

The last option is to believe what Jesus said and believe that these stories are true! We can grab hold of the testimonies of the people who received healing as a testament to the Father to do it again in our own lives!

In the very last verse of the book of Matthew, Jesus, who had resurrected from the dead and came back to speak to the people He loved best, met up with His 11 closest friends on the mountain top to the place they’d arranged ahead of time.

He came close to them, even though some of them still didn’t believe it was Him! And His last words were, “All the authority of the universe has been given to me. Now go in my authority and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”

So, if we’re going with option 3, believing that every word He spoke was not just for a dozen people who lived thousands of years ago, but was actually for every person who would come after them, then we have to believe that this Great Commission is for us, too.

With the power of the Holy Spirit, we walk in His authority. We teach others to faithfully follow all of His words. We remind each other that we’re not alone; that He is with us, every step of the way.

So, I’m believing that healing is my inheritance (Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 8:16-17, 1 Peter 2:24, 3 John 2, Acts 10, Romans 8:17, Psalm 107.) I’m believing that He will heal me and that He has.

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It Is So

by: Elevation Worship

There is a promise
That points beyond my failure
There is a still voice
To silence all my fears
Even the worst of my mistakes
Are miracles in the making
A miracle's in the making

By Your stripes, I am healed
With one touch I am made whole
You have spoken, and I know that it is so
In the storm You are peace
And Your love won't let me go
You have spoken, and I know that it is so

In every season
Your purpose is unchanging
In every moment
You're working for my good
Jesus the Rock that never fails
Your kingdom will not be shaken

By Your stripes, I am healed
With one touch I am made whole
You have spoken, and I know that it is so
In the storm You are peace
And Your love won't let me go
You have spoken, and I know that it is so