Determining Your Healing Style

Did you ever know someone who seemed to excel at whatever they attempted? I have a friend like that. In high school, he lettered in baseball. He maintained a close to perfect grade point average. In his high school yearbook he was voted "most likely to rule the world." Something like that, I think. He became fluent in a second language. He ministers around the world. On top of it all, He is generally a humble person. I hope he still is after he reads this!

On the other hand, since we grew up together, I have had a pretty good look at his flaws. He has many areas of strength, but he also has areas that are not strengths. I could take a couple paragraphs to describe his flaws. But just in case he reads this, I will not do that.

The point I am making is that each of us, as we mature, will become more effective and fruitful. But we will never be perfect. We are part of the body of Christ. We need the rest of the body to function, and the body needs us. While we may function in different styles of healing ministry, we will function most fruitfully in the style that matches our calling. We should have characteristics of each of the ministry gifts and office. But we will find that we have a primary function that most closely relates to only one of those offices. Not everyone in the body of Christ is called to one of those offices. However, everyone in the body of Christ will have a style that relates to one of those offices.

Jesus emulates, in His ministry, each of the ministry styles that we have discussed in this series of lessons. He is the example of the perfect man. He operated in the "full measure" of the Spirit. He was voted most likely to be: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher.

In this lesson I would like us to take a look at the miracles of Jesus. As we do, we will see "how", "when" and perhaps "why" he used each style of healing ministry. Jesus had no limitations, other than the ones He chose to take on. We will see, I believe that He did limit Himself, even in healing ministry, while He was on the earth. He was very purposeful in how He healed; this is a lesson for us as well.

Jesus The Teacher

Jesus was well recognized and respected as a teacher. Many called Him "Rabbi," which means "teacher." The disciples of John the Baptist recognized Him as Rabbi, when He first came on the scene at the end of John the Baptist's ministry. Jesus' own disciples refer to Him as Rabbi numerous times. It seems as their relationship grows and they have a greater revelation of who He really is, they stop using the term. Some of the religious leaders of the day accept Him as rabbi. The pharisee Nicodemus came to Him at night and called Him Rabbi.

Wherever we find Jesus ministering, He is teaching. Sometimes in the fields, other times on a mountaintop. On occasion in a boat on the lake, He taught the masses. Often, in the serenity of the olive groves, He taught his disciples. In the synagogue on the Sabbath, in private households in the evenings, and on the streets throughout the day, Jesus taught whoever had ears to hear and learn. He was a master teacher.

Jesus Used Healing Ministry To Teach

Luke 5:17-25

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Luke does not tell us what Jesus was teaching before the roof came down, but he does say that the power of God was present to heal while Jesus was teaching. We are also told that a number of religious teachers were present. Jesus was given an opportunity to demonstrate a miracle and teach a lesson. Often, when Jesus saw a person with faith He would speak healing to them immediately. In this case, Jesus saw their faith and said, "your sins are forgiven." This opened the door for Him to use healing ministry to demonstrate the power to forgive sin. When the Pharisees questioned his authority to forgive sin, he says, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-- "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Through this healing, Jesus taught that He had the power to forgive sin. It was a powerful lesson. One that religious people had trouble refuting.

Pastor Jesus

I have a Venezuelan friend whose name is Jesus. This is not a completely uncommon name in Latin American culture. He also happens to have long hair and a beard. He told me a story once about visiting the United States. He went to restaurant where he had to wait for a table. When his table was ready, the host called his name using the North American pronunciation, "Jesus, your table is ready." Everyone in the restaurant turned to see if it was really the Messiah. No one expects to see the Son of God when they go out for a quiet meal.

In reality, Jesus spent much of His time among the common culture of His day. If the Messiah was born into the twenty-first century, no doubt, we would see Him at a fast food burger joint one day and the upscale bistro another. Jesus loved to be where the people were. He was a shepherd and He wanted to be with the sheep.

The word "pastor" used in Ephesians chapter 4:11 means shepherd. It is the same word used throughout the gospels when referring to a shepherd. The prophets prophesied that the Messiah would be a shepherd. Jesus said of Himself in Matthew 15:24, "I was sent to the lost sheep of Israel." In John 10:11, He said, "I am the good shepherd." Jesus demonstrated over and over His love for the people of Israel. He expressed pastoral feeling over the city of Jerusalem just days before the city turned against Him in Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Many times, it is this Shepherd's heart that motivated Jesus to heal. One example that seems particularly clear is that of a woman whose son had died. Upon entering the town of Nain, Jesus comes upon a funeral procession. Let's pick up the story from Luke 7:11-15:

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a large crowd went along with Him. As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, "Don't cry." Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. (NIV)