Jesus: Healer

We know Jesus as our Healer. He’s the One who healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead when He walked the streets of earth.

Because Jesus is unchanging in His character (see Hebrews 13:8), He is still Healer. He still eradicates disease and demolishes illness. Forever and always, He will be the One who Heals.

Often, when we hear about healing, our minds go straight to the physical. ‘Ah yes. Jesus will heal me from this stomach bug.’ That is good and true, but there is more.

Our King doesn’t just heal our bodies – He also heals our hearts.

“While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance and raised their voices, shouting, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’

“When Jesus saw them, He said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.

“‘Were not all ten cleansed?’ Jesus asked. ‘Where then are the other nine? Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?’Then Jesus said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well!’” (Luke 17:11-19, BSB, emphasis mine)

The word "cleansed" in verse 14 comes from the Greek katharizō, which means, "to make clean, purge, purify." In the context of this verse, it specifically means, "to cleanse by curing."

When Jesus cleansed the lepers, He literally cured their leprosy. Spots disappeared. Skin that had been eaten away by disease grew back new.

The once-lepers-now-normal men were able to present themselves to the priests with fresh, clean bodies that met the qualifications to worship God in the synagogue.

When the Samaritan leper saw that he was "healed" (verse 15), the word used is iáomai, which means, "to cure, heal, make whole." We’re talking about something a little deeper here. Not only was this man healed, but his body was made whole.

This man’s response to his physical healing was to sprint back to Jesus, whooping and hollering His praises. When he reached the Healer, he fell at His feet, thanking Him.

Jesus asked where the other 90% of miracle men were, seemingly surprised that the only one who responded in gratitude was a foreigner. He then sent the Samaritan off, telling him that his faith had made him "well" (verse 19).

That word is a special one. It's the word sōzō.

Sōzō means, "to save, i.e. deliver or protect, heal, preserve, do well, make whole."

Thayer's lexicon adds these definitions to sōzō:

• to keep safe and sound

• to rescue from danger or destruction

• to save a suffering one (from perishing), e.g. one suffering from disease

• to make well

• to restore to health

This power-packed 4-letter word speaks not only of physical healing but also of spiritual healing and healing of the soul.

Jesus' desire was for all of the 10 lepers to receive this kind of healing, a healing deeper than skin and tissue. His heart was for their hearts to be whole.

Did you know that Jesus hungers for wholeness in you too?

In Luke 5:13, Jesus told a leper, "I am willing" when asked if He would heal. As I wrote earlier, Jesus doesn’t change. If it was true of Him then, it’s true of Him forever.

God is always willing to heal us. He is always willing to heal you.

What do you need healing for? Is there any kind of pain - physical, emotional, spiritual - in your life? Take it to Jesus, the One who is willing to heal you. 

Whether it's a headache or a broken heart, He is a kind, tender, strong Healer. He is considerate and thoughtful as He takes care of you. It doesn't matter how big or small your hurts are; your Father longs for you to be sōzō - to be whole.

I know this to be true. I have seen it in my life.

Although I haven’t had many struggles with my physical health, I’ve definitely walked through a lot of heart hurts. I’ve needed heart check-ups (and still do). I’ve received diagnoses from Dr. Abba (and still do). I’ve undergone procedures (called processes) to lead me into more fullness, more healing, and more wholeness.

And guess what? I’m still not there. I haven’t arrived. There is always more in the Kingdom of God. More growth. More healing. More wholeness.

I don't know about you, but I could use some more healing right now. I could take some more wholeness. So I'm running to the Healer who loves me. I'm letting Him touch those painful places because I trust His healing hands to make me better than before.

As a side note, there are different timelines for healing. Sometimes, the healing is instantaneous. In other seasons, it seems that the healing is slower than a sloth on a Sunday morning. God is able to heal in a moment, but He also heals through a process.

Wherever you find yourself, stay surrendered and stay grateful. Hold onto hope for a greater future than you could dream, and know that you are on the path to wholeness and fullness.

Whether it takes two seconds or twenty years, your healing will come. Stay strong, and don’t give up. Keep your gaze fixated on your Healer, Who is always, always willing to make you whole.