Jesus, healing, and the Kingdom of God

Summary of Chapter 5: Jesus, Healing, and the Kingdom of God

Overview

This chapter explores the relationship between Jesus' healing ministry and the kingdom of God. Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom had arrived, and his healings served as powerful signs of this reality. Healing was not just a display of divine power but a testament to Jesus' identity as the Messiah. The chapter examines the tension of the "already" and "not yet" nature of the kingdom, which informs our approach to healing ministry today.

Key Themes and Concepts

  1. The Kingdom of God and Healing

    • Healing as Evidence of the Kingdom: Jesus' healings were signs that the kingdom of God had arrived. Matthew wrote, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people" (Matthew 4:23). Healing and the kingdom are inseparable; wherever the kingdom breaks in, healing is present.
    • Jesus as Messiah and Healer: Jesus' healing ministry authenticated his identity as the Messiah, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus pointed to his works when John the Baptist questioned if he was the Messiah: "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor" (Matthew 11:4-5; Isaiah 35:5-6).

  2. The Already and Not Yet Nature of the Kingdom

    • Kingdom Inaugurated but Not Consummated: Jesus’ arrival ushered in the kingdom of God, but the fullness of the kingdom will only be realized when he returns. The kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows over time: "Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree" (Matthew 13:31-32).
    • Living in the Radical Middle: The early church understood that they were living between the present age and the age to come. As Paul wrote, "We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23).

  3. Kingdom Expectancy in Healing

    • Healing Today: Because the kingdom of God has already come, healing is available today. Jesus declared, "The time has come... The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). Jesus commands his disciples to proclaim the good news and to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:7-8; Luke 10:9).
    • Faith and Expectancy: Healing ministry should be characterized by faith and expectancy. Jesus responded to faith, as when the blind man Bartimaeus cried out to him: "Go, your faith has healed you" (Mark 10:52).

  4. The Mystery of the Kingdom and Healing

    • The Tension of Healing and Non-Healing: Not all will experience healing in the present, and not all healing is permanent, as those healed still face death. Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" remained despite his prayers, but God’s grace was sufficient: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
    • Human Factors and Mystery: While factors like faith, prayer, and obedience play a role in healing (James 5:14-16), they do not guarantee results. Healing remains a mystery, rooted in the tension between the kingdom's "already" and "not yet."

  5. Kingdom Keys and Healing

    • Kingdom Values as Keys to Healing: Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and his parables reflect kingdom values that create the conditions for healing. Forgiveness, humility, and surrender to God's will are crucial for receiving healing. Jesus taught Peter about the importance of forgiveness, saying, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22).
    • Surrendering to God’s Reign: Healing comes when we surrender to God's reign. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught his disciples to pray for the coming of God's kingdom: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Aligning with God's will opens us to the possibility of healing.

Biblical References and Citations

  • Mark 1:15 - This verse establishes that Jesus’ message centered on the arrival of the kingdom of God, which is tied to healing and the restoration of all things.
  • Matthew 4:23 - Healing was an essential part of Jesus' ministry, showing that the kingdom of God had broken into the present world.
  • Matthew 6:10 - This prayer reflects the desire for God’s reign to be fully realized on earth, including healing as a manifestation of God's kingdom.
  • Matthew 11:4-5 - Jesus points to his healing works as evidence that he is the Messiah and that the kingdom of God has come.
  • Matthew 13:31-32 - The kingdom of God begins small but grows over time. Healing reflects the initial signs of the kingdom, which will be fully realized in the future.
  • Romans 8:23 - Though we experience the beginnings of the kingdom, we still wait for the complete healing and redemption that will come when the kingdom is fully realized.
  • Mark 10:52 - Jesus responds to Bartimaeus' faith with healing, emphasizing that faith plays a crucial role in receiving the benefits of the kingdom.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9 - Even when physical healing does not occur, God’s grace sustains us, showing that the kingdom’s fullness is still to come.
  • James 5:14-15 - This passage highlights the role of communal prayer and faith in seeking healing within the context of the kingdom of God.
  • Matthew 18:22 - Jesus' emphasis on forgiveness shows that relational healing is a crucial part of experiencing the fullness of the kingdom of God.

References

  1. Jürgen Moltmann, Theology of Hope, Fortress Press, 1967.
  2. George Eldon Ladd, The Presence of the Future, Eerdmans, 1974.
  3. Gordon Fee, Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God, Baker Academic, 1996.
  4. Derek Morphew, Breakthrough: Discovering the Kingdom, Vineyard International Publishing, 2015.
  5. Ken Blue, Authority to Heal, InterVarsity Press, 1987.
  6. Albert Day, Letters on the Healing Ministry, Abingdon Press, 1965.

Conclusion

The relationship between healing and the kingdom of God provides a balanced, scriptural foundation for healing ministry. The kingdom is both present and future; it has already broken into the world through Jesus but is not yet fully realized. This understanding invites both faith-filled expectancy and humble submission to God's sovereignty.

Healing is not just for the past or the distant future. Jesus’ words, (Mark 1:15), remind us that healing is available today. The power of the kingdom breaks through in healing, but the mystery of the kingdom also calls for humility in recognizing that not all will be healed immediately or fully in this life.

As we pray for healing, we do so in the light of the kingdom’s "already" presence and "not yet" completion. Jesus commands us to pray for the sick and proclaim the kingdom. We follow his example, confident that the King is at work and that his reign is growing, even as we anticipate the day when his kingdom will be fully realized and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4).