And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?…Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
—Mark 5:25-30, 34
We may be thankful to God for giving us doctors, for a large number of them truly seek to do all they can do to alleviate suffering. Some are zealous servants of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, it is Jesus Himself who is the first and the greatest Physician.
Jesus heals diseases in which earthly physicians can do nothing. Jesus, in taking our human body upon Himself, delivered it from the dominion of sin. He has made our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit, and members of His own body. (See 1 Corinthians 6:15,19.) Even in our day, how many have been given up by the doctors as incurable? How many cases of cancer, infection, paralysis, heart disease, blindness, and deafness have been healed by Him? Is it not then astonishing that so small a number of the sick come to Him?
Jesus’ method is quite different from that of earthly physicians. They seek to make use of remedies that are found in the natural world, while the healing that proceeds from Jesus is by divine power—the power of the Holy Spirit. The difference between these two ways of healing is very striking.
Healing is granted after confession of sin; therefore, it brings the sufferer nearer to Jesus. It causes him to experience His love and power; it begins within him a new life of faith and holiness.
Remember that divine healing is a part of the life of faith. If no “elder” is at hand to pray the prayer of faith, do not be afraid to go to the Lord yourself in solitude. Commit the care of your body to Him. Get quiet before Him, and say, “I will be healed.” It may take some time to break the chains of your unbelief, but assuredly none who wait on Him will be ashamed. (See Psalms 25:3.)