The Gospels contain many examples of people being healed by Jesus. Some come to Jesus on their own, crying out for Jesus to heal them. Some are brought by others before Jesus to be healed. Still more are healed when a loved one brings Jesus to the afflicted one. But, this past week, three other healing stories have been an encouragement to me. These three accounts, found in the Gospels, describe Jesus healing from afar, by his words alone, at the request someone whose loved one was suffering.
1. The Syro-phoenician Woman’s Daughter
In Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28, the Gospels share the story of a non-Jewish woman who came to Jesus pleading that he heal her demon oppressed daughter. This woman had great faith, as she knew that even crumbs from the “bread of life” that Jesus was giving to his people, the Jews, would be enough to heal her daughter. Jesus did grant that healing, and commented on the great faith of the woman.
I wrote about this example here, in Today, I am a dog
2. The Centurian’s Servant
In Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 the Bible gives the account of a Centurian who came to Jesus because his servant was near the point of death. Jesus began to come to the house, but the Centurian met him outside the house. He humbly told Jesus that he was not worthy to have Jesus come in to his home. But, he also understood the authority of Jesus, and that if he just spoke the word, the servant would be healed. Jesus, who pointed out the great faith of this man, said the word to bring healing to the servant.
3. The Capernaum Official’s Son
In John 4:46-54, an official came to see Jesus, because his son was sick to the point of death. He asked Jesus to come before his son died. But, instead of coming with the man to heal the son (as Jesus often did with similar requests), Jesus simply told the man to “Go” and that his son would live. The man returned home and found his son was indeed healed at that time. In this story, the man is almost scolded by Jesus for his faith that needed a sign. This man did not have great faith, but he had just enough faith to come to Jesus.
In each of these examples the person being healed:
- Couldn’t come to Jesus. In 2 of the examples, the person was ill to the point of death. In the other example, the person was so oppressed by a demon that she couldn’t come to Jesus.
- Didn’t ask Jesus for their own healing. Instead, a mother, a father, and even a boss, petitioned Jesus on behalf of their loved one.
- Never physically touched or saw Jesus. In each situation, Jesus only spoke to the person interceding, and yet, the loved one was healed.
- Had someone who loved them enough to petition Jesus on their behalf.
I also found it interesting that in the first two accounts, the person pleading for healing was put forth by Jesus as an example of great faith. However, in the third account, the father asking for healing for his son was reminded of the smallness of his faith. In any of these circumstances, Jesus can heal.
This past week, I found myself in the same position as the mother, father, and boss from the above examples. I had (and still have) a loved one so spiritually and physically sick that they couldn’t come to Jesus. As I lift them up to Jesus through my own prayers of intercession, I am comforted that there are examples in the Bible of Jesus healing from afar, in answer to prayers of loved ones.
Do you have someone you love who needs healing or cleansing from the Great Physician? Go to Jesus on their behalf!
With Joy,
Kathleen
Please see my Link-ups page to see where I try to link with other great Christian bloggers each week.
Dear Kathleen,
I’m teaching my adult SS class tomorrow about the lesson of the centurion wanting Jesus to heal his servant. You perspective about intercessorary prayer and Jesus healing from afar bring a greater depth to the lesson in our SS book.
Thanks!
Jan, thanks for the comment, and for stopping by. May God bless your ss class.
Thank you for the scriptures and teaching my dad is currently in hospital due to Covid19 and ths has been really an inspiring read as we are faced with ths situation, thanks and GOD bless
Dear Kathleen,
I stumbled across your site , whilst looking for examples of people being healed remotely,
especially casting out of a demon. The only one I can find is the Syrian woman you mention.
As I too have a loved one who is unwell and yet he through a bad church experience, does not profess a faith, only God knows the whole story.
I prayed this morning, that through your faith that the loved one that you mentioned will be healed by the power of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Lord bless you mightily for your faith.
Thank you so much for your comments, and especially for your prayers. I also prayed this morning for your loved one. As we wait for Christ’s healing, let us be consistent in prayer, strong in faith, and unending in love on our loved ones’ behalf. May God be glorified in all! God Bless you!
Hi Kathleen, Thank you so much for having all of this on 1 page. I studied these examples recently out of desperation. “Jesus Healing From Afar”!. These scriptures increased my faith and allowed me to pray with boldness for healing, for myself and many of my family members that had COVID. We all are healed! I truly had to fight the enemy and I needed every scripture about healing to win. These great examples must be brought to “light” and magnified in this season.
Also please join me in prayer for my friend May, who had a stroke today. She is in ICU. She is a woman of faith and now she cannot pray.
Again thank you! , Woman of God!
Thanks for explaining wonderfully. I have preached same message and tried to improved people faith by this message couple of times.
Hello Kathleen,
I too stumbled across your writing here. And what a blessing to my heart, mind and soul!!!
Mary, a 91 year old lady who’s like a Mom to me (although I have a very loving Mother), is in need of a miracle. From very brief T.I.A.’s & urinary tract infections, she hallucinates to the point of thinking this is reality. She’s in tbe hospital right now & they’re working to find any cause in her brain. This us torment & I thought if I could get to her, lay hands on her & take authority over the enemy’s evil plan. Immediately GOD’S precious HOLY SPIRIT reminded me of the Centurion & his servant. As I googled where this account was in the Bible, I ran across your writing. I cannot thank you enough for your obedience to GOD. Even though you wrote this 8 February 2016, GOD knew I would need this today on 29 June 2022. And I am certain that GOD’S Word, JESUS the Living Word will continue tobring hope, healing, comfort & joy for years to come.
Thank you,
Deborah Espine’t
If these three instances are the only ones, then they wouldn’t be “examples,” which implies that there are more. Rather, they would be “instances” or “occasions.”