31 Days of Healing: Grace Causes Healing to Flow

The southern pool of the pools of Bethesda and fifth porch as seen from the south.

Photo courtesy of Lightstock and BiblePlaces.com.

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.-John 5:1-15 (NKJV)


I might like this story a little bit.  This makes the second time I have written about it in my series on 31 Days of Healing.  You can find the other post here.

This passage of Scripture has been a little confusing for me in the past, and I think for some other people as well. But recently, I looked at it again, and things I believe are significant opened up to me. I want to share those with you today.

It is important to note the setting of the event. We are told that the man is at the pool of Bethesda. The word "Beth" in Hebrew means "house." And the word "hesed" has multiple meanings including mercy, love, grace and kindness. So, the man was at a pool named "The house of grace." Also, the Bible says that there were 5 porches there. Five is also the number of grace in the Bible.

The sick man in this passage of Scripture had been that way a really long time, 38 years. That is longer than Jesus had been alive. Some people have surmised that he could have made it into the water if he wanted it badly enough. That may have been why Jesus asked him, "Do you want to be made well?" Because some people don't want to.

His answer though suggests he didn't have anybody to help him. He was just there. At this point in my walk, I don't think it is as significant to wonder why he hadn't been healed by being in the water already. However, I think it is very important that we examine how or why he got healed when Jesus came into the picture. I think this story is painted for us by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate how we can get healed too.

The man didn't know who Jesus was. So, it wasn't his faith in Jesus that healed him, like we see in other stories. But his story does have something in common with some of the other stories we are told about Jesus- freedom from the law.

Repeatedly we see Jesus healing people on the Sabbath. That made the religious leaders so mad, because they did not think Jesus could be from God because He was "breaking the law." He didn't come to break the law, but free us from it. In John 5, Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and walk. It was unlawful for Jews to carry their sleeping mats on the Sabbath, because it was considered work. When Jesus said that to him, he was made well immediately! Immediately. I love that word. Immediately that man was freed from the power of the law, and Jesus put him under grace instead.

Grace causes healing to flow. It causes forgiveness and it causes healing. Throughout the Scriptures we see these two side by side, forgiveness and healing.

Jesus came to bring grace, and to remove us from living under the law. The Bible says that,

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),-Galatians 3:13 (NKJV)

Everything that Jesus did during His earthly ministry was a picture of what would be available to us as New Testament Believers.

As New Testament Believers, we are not under the law, but under grace. And grace is what causes healing to flow.

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.-Romans 6:14(NKJV)

31 Days of Healing: Gifts of the Spirit

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:  You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.  Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NKJV)

The other night I woke up thinking about the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12. Several thoughts came to mind.

One, the gifts are of the Spirit of God. It requires Him moving through us and within us for them to work. We do not work them on our own at will. (Interestingly, it is the same with the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.  We have to learn to yield to the Holy Spirit on the inside of us, and it will grow.)

Another thought is they are spiritual gifts, not natural. This kind of builds on my first thought. They cannot be physically seen, and we cannot work them, but He works them through us, as we learn how to yield to Him and the gift.

The last thought, the gifts are spiritual, but will solve problems in the natural. Gifts of healings for example. If the Holy Spirit works through a person with this gift, when it manifests, healing will take place in a person's life. You can see that. All believers are called to lay hands on the sick, but this is a gift that moves as the Holy Spirit wills. If you look at the life of Jesus, you can see this gift working, as many of the other gifts. He is our example. Often people got healed because of their faith in Him in the Gospels, but other times, it was this gift in manifestation. You can look at all the gifts from this perspective.

There are many things we can expect as Believers, through prayer, and other promises that God has for us, but these gifts are supernatural and moved by the Spirit of God on the inside of us.

Many blessings as you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him,

Beth

31 Days of Healing: The Healing of Malchus' Ear

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”-Luke 22:47-53 (NKJV)

This was seriously an intense moment.  Jesus had just been praying, and the Bible says that His sweat became like great drops of blood.  He was getting ready to be taken away.  He had prepared the disciples, but they didn't know it was immediately upon them.

And then Judas arrives.  And he identifies to those who have come to arrest Him, which one Jesus is.  When the disciples saw what was happening, I imagine the adrenaline went soaring.

Have you ever been in an intense emotional situation, either in an argument with a friend or loved one?  It usually makes your adrenaline rush and your blood pressure go up right?  Now, imagine you have a sword.  You may laugh, but I know that I have thought about this passage of scripture before when I have gotten angry, mostly to comfort myself.

They were coming to take Jesus away, and the disciples became very protective of Jesus.  One of them became so protective, He pulled out a sword and cut off the high priest's servant, right ear.  What a moment! John's Gospel identifies the man that cut off the ear as Peter, and the servant as a man named Malchus.

What happens next is most amazing.  Jesus gets a moment of pause and touches Malchus' ear, the enemy who has come to take Him away, and heals him.  Everyone sees it.  The High Priest is most likely there and he just witnessed it.  They witnessed the miracle working power of God working on an enemy.

What does that say about the character of Jesus?  He is a healer.  That's who He is.  It is what He does.  He gives life to everything He comes in contact with.  It is always His purpose to heal.

There's a lot more to this story than I have even explored. One new thing that I have learned since first writing this post is that the name Malchus can mean "king" or "kingdom." This was Jesus last healing before He was crucified. I find it very interesting that His last miracle was "healing the kingdom."

Many blessings as you grow in grace and the knowledge of Him,

Beth

To read more about the healing ministry of Jesus, please visit 31 Days of Healing.

31 Days of Healing: The Lord's Supper, Part 2

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.-1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NKJV)

In 1 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Church at Corinth.  He is explaining to them the Lord's Supper and addressing some different issues they were having when coming together to participate in the Lord's Supper together. I want to just focus on verses 23-26.

Paul tells the Church in this city that "he received from the Lord."  That means that Jesus told Paul what He said to the disciples that night he shared the Lord's supper with them.   Jesus told Him.  I find that really cool that the Lord would illuminate Paul on His exact words.

So, Jesus tells Him that He prays, takes bread and breaks and gives it to them.  He tells them that this is His body which is broken for them.  Why would His body be broken for them?  I go into detail about that in Part 1 of the Lord's Supper.  You can read that here.  But, to be brief, it was for the physical healing of our bodies.

Next, Jesus takes the cup, and tells them, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood."  The new covenant means they are no longer under the old. His death and the shedding of His blood would move them into the new. His blood was shed much from the time the rulers and authorities took Him, until His death on that cross.  Blood rolled out of His hands and feet. He was the lamb of God, put to death for our forgiveness.

Then He tells them and later relays to Paul that they are to do eat the same kind of meal "in remembrance of Him."  They are to eat the bread and drink the cup.  They are to eat the bread and drink the cup to remember Him, to remember the broken body for their healing, and the shed blood for the forgiveness of their sins.

Nowhere in this passage of scripture does Jesus or Paul tell us to confess our sins. Nowhere in this passage of scripture does Jesus or Paul tell us to ask for forgiveness for our sins.  It has already been given.

The Lord's Supper is a reminder of what He did.  

He finishes the explanation with,

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

These words give us insight into the Lord and what this is all about.  For as often...He wants us to do this regularly.  Eat the bread and drink the cup.  You remember the broken body and the blood.  In doing this, you are proclaiming His death, His broken body, and His shed blood for you. 

You are not proclaiming your sin.  You are proclaiming your freedom from it!  You are proclaiming your forgiveness!  You are proclaiming your healing!

I pray that the next time you go to this you will experience more freedom and healing than you ever have before. 

Many blessings in Him,

Beth

To read more in the series go here:

31 Days of Healing: ALL Things Are Possible!

The enemy of our souls is a liar.  He will tell you your situation is hopeless, that it is over, and this is just not true. There are many men and women whose stories tell us that nothing is ever hopeless with Jesus.

*The man born blind from birth was healed by Jesus. He instantly received his sight.

When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated Sent.) So he went and washed, and came back seeing.-John 9:6-7(NKJV)

*The woman bleeding for 12 years was healed.  Her blood flow instantly stopped when she touched Jesus.

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.-Mark 5:27-29 (NKJV)

*The man at the pool of Bethesda who hadn’t walked for 38 years was immediately healed by Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.-John 5:8-9 (NKJV)

*Malchus’ ear was instantly restored by Jesus after Peter cut it off with a sword.

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.-Luke 22:50-51 (NKJV)

*The man laid at the Temple Gate called Beautiful who was lame from his mother’s womb was instantly healed.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God.  And all the people say him walking and praising God.-Acts 3:6-9 (NKJV)

*The man at Lystra who had been a cripple from his mother’s womb was instantly healed after hearing Paul preach.

And in Lystra, a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.  This man heard Paul speaking.  Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!”  And he leaped and walked.-Acts 14:8-10 (NKJV)

*The widow of Nain’s son was raised from the dead.

The He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.-Luke 7:14-15 (NKJV)

*Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead.  

Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with amazement.-Mark 5:41-42 (NKJV)

*Tabitha was raised from the dead.

Then Peter arose and went with them.  When he had come, they brought him to the upper room.  And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.  But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed.  And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.  And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.  Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.-Acts 9:39-42 (NKJV)

All of these will tell you it is not hopeless. Nothing is ever hopeless.  It isn’t over until you are in the ground, and then Lazarus would tell you otherwise.

All things are possible to him who believes.  Keep fighting.  Keep believing.  Don’t give up.  God is faithful. Your answer is found in JESUS.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”-Mark 9:23

To read more in the series go here:

He Took Our Sicknesses

Imagine you are standing on a wooden box in the middle of a slave market.  And imagine you are covered with whatever illness you have in your body. Now imagine Jesus walks up and gets on the box in your place.  The disease leaves you and is transferred to Him.  You walk away completely clean, completely fresh, no disease of any kind, and paid for, no longer a slave.That is exactly what Jesus has done for us.  That is what happened at the cross.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—-Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.-Matthew 8:17 (ESV)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.-1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. -Isaiah 53:4-5 (HCSB)

To read more in the series go here:

31 Days of Healing: Two Blind Men Healed

Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”  So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.-Matthew 20:29-34 (NKJV)

Jesus and His disciples are leaving Jericho, the famous Old Testament city where the walls fell when the Israelites marched around it.  A great deal of people are following Jesus.  As they leave, they pass by two blind men sitting by the road.  They hear Jesus is passing, so they start crying out to Him.

They must have known who Jesus was already, because they try to get His attention.  What did they hear about Him that produced that reaction?

The phrase, "Son of David" that they used signified that they believed He was the Messiah!!  This is faith, and gets Jesus' attention.  

The people around them told them to be quiet.  Are there people around you that want you to quit talking about Jesus?  The devil sure does.  Why?  Because when you talk about Him, it produces faith.  

Jesus heard them calling.  He heard them.  He hears when you call too.

He asked the same question He asked others and He is asking still, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” they said to Him, “open our eyes.”-Matthew 20:33 (HCSB)

They told Him specifically what they wanted.

And He did it.

Moved with compassion.

He didn’t go through a list of what they had been doing wrong, or why they were blind, He just healed them.

Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.

How does this apply to us?

When your eyes are opened, when your body is healed, you will always want to follow Jesus.  

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.-Hebrews 13:8  He is always working.-John 5:17  He makes all things new.-Revelation 21:5

And everything Jesus did during His earthly ministry, was a preview of what was going to be available to us all because of what He accomplished at the Cross.

To read more in the series go here: