Here I analyze all the references to healing in the book of Mark. According to Papias of Hierapolis, an early Greek Christian writer who lived approximately between the years 60 and 163, Mark was a close associate of Peter from whom he received the tradition of the things said and done by the Lord.
Jesus rebukes an unclean spirit in Capernaum
Jesus is in Capernaum on the Sabbath teaching in the synagogue. A man with an unclean spirit starts yelling and asking “What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” Notice that the demon recognized who Jesus was and His authority. Jesus ordered him to be quiet and come out of the man. The unclean spirit put the man into convulsions and yelling but came out of him. The followers of Jesus were amazed to see that unclean spirits obeyed Him, and of His authority. The news about Jesus spread quickly through the surrounding district (Mark 1: 21-28).
Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law
Right after they left the synagogue Jesus went into the house of Simon Peter, where Peter’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. The first thing we learn here is the apostle Peter was married, because you cannot have a mother-in-law without being married. Jesus took her by the hand and raised her up; the fever left her (Mark 1: 29-31).
Jesus heals many
After the sun had set at the end of the Sabbath Day people started bringing to Him all who were sick and those who were under the power of demons. Jesus healed many who were suffering with various diseases and He drove out many demons. Notice how evil and sickness are always strongly associated (Mark 1: 32-34).
Jesus heals a leper
Jesus went throughout Galilee preaching the gospel in synagogues and casting out demons. A leper came to Him and said, “If You are willing, You are able to make me clean.” Jesus touched him with His hand and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” The leprosy left him immediately and he was cleansed and restored to health (Mark 1: 39-42).
Jesus forgives a paralyzed man and heals him
Jesus was preaching in Capernaum in a home when four people came to Him carrying a paralyzed man. They could not get to where Jesus was, so they made an opening in the roof above Him and lowered the man through it. Jesus saw their faith and told the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Here we have another situation where sins committed by a person are related to the disease suffered by that person (Mark 2: 1-5).
Some teachers of the law that were present were appalled by what Jesus said. Jews at the time believed that only God could forgive sins. Jesus read their thoughts and rebuked them by asking them which would be easier, to tell the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk. Jesus added that the Son of Man (another title used in the New Testament for the Messiah) has authority on earth to forgive sins (again we see here the issue of authority). Jesus then told the paralyzed man to get up, take his mat and go home. People there were astonished, and they praised God (Mark 2: 6-12).
My understanding of this passage is that Jesus was going to forgive the sins of the paralyzed man, which would effectively heal his paralysis. When the teachers of the law rebuked Him for saying something that they did not believe anybody could do but God, he explained to them that by healing him this way he was going out on a limb. Nobody can see if somebody’s sins are forgiven or not. It is intangible, but anybody could easily see if someone were healed instantly. I believe that the Lord wants us to go out on a limb first because it is this kind of faith that triggers healing. Faith is always actionable.
Later, Jesus was having dinner with sinners and tax collectors (tax collectors worked for Rome, and as such were hated by the Jews of those days), and again He was rebuked by the Pharisees. When Jesus heard what they were saying He said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mark 2: 15-17).” Here we again see that close association between sin and disease.
Jesus heals on the Sabbath
Jesus went into a synagogue on the Sabbath and met a man with a withered hand. Jesus ordered the man to come forward and then asked the people around Him if it was lawful to do good (heal) or to do bad on the Sabbath. Everybody kept silent so he ordered the man to stretch out his hand and it was healed (Mark 3: 1-5).
Jesus heals many on the shores of the sea of Galilee
Then Jesus retired to the sea of Galilee and asked his disciples to get a boat ready, so that he could keep a distance from the people that were crowding Him on the shore. He was healing many and those that had diseases wanted to get closer to Him and touch Him. Here Mark tells us that whenever unclean spirits saw Jesus they would fall down before Him and say, “You are the Son of God! Again, we find this close association between disease and evil (Mark 3: 7-12). I think I am starting to get it now.
From the country of the Gerasenes, where he rid a man of several unclean spirits, Jesus goes to the other side of the lake and meets a large crowd. There, a synagogue official tells Jesus that his daughter is near death. He asks Him to come to his home and lay his hands on his daughter and heal her. Jesus went with him (Mark 5: 21-24).
Immediately, a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years (most probably a type of hemophilia) approached Jesus from behind and touched His cloak. Mark tells us that she had thought that if she could just touch His garment she would get well. We do not know how she acquired this faith, but she was immediately healed of the chronic flow of blood. Jesus perceived that the power had flowed from Him and asked, “who touched me?” The woman feared but told Him the truth. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be healed from your suffering (Mark 5: 25-34).” Here we have another example where Jesus tells the sick person that it was their faith that healed them.
Immediately somebody came from the home of Jairus, a synagogue official, and told him his daughter had died. Jesus told him to not be afraid and only have faith. Jesus went to his house and found people loudly weeping and wailing. He told them that the child was not dead, but only asleep. He entered the house and took the girl’s hand, ordering her to get up. The girl, who was twelve years old, immediately got up and started to walk. Jesus told her relatives to not tell anybody about this but to give her something to eat (Mark 5: 35-43). I sometimes wonder why Jesus gave strict orders not to tell anybody after He performed a miracle.
Teaching and healing in Nazareth
In chapter 6, Jesus went to His hometown of Nazareth where He laid His hands on a few people and healed them, but people rejected Him. This is where Jesus spoke the famous saying, that a prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home. He was amazed at their unbelief, demonstrating once again that you can have faith and unbelief at the same time which counters your faith (Mark 6: 1-6).
The twelve apostles are sent out
Later, Jesus sent out his disciples as messengers and He gave them authority and power over unclean spirits (Mark 6: 7). They went out and preached repentance of sins and they “were casting out many demons, and were anointing with oil many who were sick, and healing them” (Mark 6: 12-13). Another mention of the association between disease and evil spirits.
Healing at Gennesaret
Later Jesus and the disciples came to the land unto Gennesaret, where people knew Him, and began to carry the sick on their beds so that they might touch Him even if only the border of his garment. As many as touched Him were healed (Mark 6: 53-56).
Healing the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter
Jesus went to the region of the city of Tyre. A Syrophoenician woman, a Gentile whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him. She found Jesus and fell at His feet, asking Him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He was saying to her that He was there first for the children of Israel. She answered that even the pet dogs (the non-Jews) under the table eat the children’s crumbs. Because of her humble answer and her faith, Jesus granted her request and stated to her that the demon had left her daughter. When she returned to her home, she found her daughter relaxed and well and the demon was gone. I see two things in this story: first, again we see the close association between evil spirits and disease; second and more importantly, the commentary footnotes of the Amplified Version say that “it foreshadows the fact that Gentile believers will not be spiritually homeless but will also be welcomed into God’s household as His children. The gracious response of the woman recorded in verse 28 confirms that on some level she understood this (Mark 7: 24-30).”
Jesus restores a deaf-mute man
When Jesus was in the region of Decapolis [the ten Hellenistic cities] they brought to Him a deaf-mute, and they begged Him to place His hand on him. Jesus, put His fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting He touched the man’s tongue with His saliva. He restored the man’s hearing and his speech. Jesus told the people not to tell anyone, but they did anyway because they were astounded by the healing (Mark 7: 31-37).
Unbelief is bad for your health
Now Jesus and His disciples went to the district of Dalmanutha. There the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him. Because of their unbelief, they demanded from Jesus that He give them a sign from heaven (Mark 8: 11). This is not about healing, but it affects all of us because many of us are restrained by unbelief, by expressly or tacitly always waiting for a sign from heaven. Jesus asked from them, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Immediately He told them, “No sign will be given to this generation (Mark 8: 12-13)!” On matters of faith and unbelief the Lord always wants us to go out on a limb and believe before the signs from heaven arrive. Then we get the results!
A blind man was healed in Bethsaida
Afterwards they came to Bethsaida where some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch him (to lay His hands on him). Jesus healed him and completely restored his sight, and then told him to go home but to not even enter the village (Mark 8: 22-26). I have been puzzled by the fact that Jesus, when he healed somebody, often asked people not to tell other people about it.
A mute boy who also suffered from convulsions and seizures was healed
This is a remarkably interesting passage. It shows us that unbelief and faith are two very distinct things. We can have a measure of faith that is enough to heal us, but if we have any unbelief it could counter and act in opposition to our faith.
A man brought his son who was possessed with a spirit which made him unable to speak, and who also suffered from convulsions and seizures. The man said that the disciples had been unable to drive the spirit out of the boy. Jesus chastised them saying, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me! (Mark 9: 17-19)”
They brought the boy to Jesus and the father said to Him, “…but if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts!” The man responded saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the boy and never enter him again (Mark 9: 20-25).
Later His disciples began asking Him in private why they were we unable to drive the spirit out themselves. Jesus told them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer (Mark 9: 28-29).”
The last two verses seem to suggest that some unclean spirits (and the diseases they cause) require a special treatment, but it is clear to me that this was a problem of unbelief. The father of the boy obviously had faith, otherwise he would have not brought his son to Jesus. The disciples obviously also had faith. So, faith was not the problem; it was unbelief. “All things are possible for the one that believes and trusts,” said the Lord.
Bartimaeus receives his sight
Now Jesus was leaving Jericho with His disciples when a blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting by the road. He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David (another title for the Messiah, who was predicted to descend from king David), have mercy on me!” Then he repeated his call on Jesus. Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabboni (a Jewish title of respect for somebody who is an instructor, a learned person), let me regain my sight.” Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well,” and he was healed from his blindness. Notice that Jesus said it was his faith (the Amplified version says, “and confident trust in His power.”) that healed him (Mark 10: 46-52).”
Speak to your mountains (your problems, your health)
Jesus and the disciples were on the road when He got hungry. He saw a fig tree and went to see if it had fruit on it, but there was nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Jesus said to it, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” The disciples were listening to what He said (Mark 11: 12-14).
The next morning, they passed by the fig tree again and the disciples saw that it had withered away from the roots up. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered!” Jesus replied, “Have faith in God. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [Amplified version: in God’s unlimited power] but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [Amplified: in accordance with God’s will].” Then He added, “For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received them, and they will be given to you (Mark 11: 20-24).” Obviously, the Lord does not want us to walk around throwing mountains into the sea for no good reason. It is not the will of God for us to do that. However, diseases that affect us are some of the mountains in our life that we need to speak to. So how do we speak to our “mountains”?
Jesus added, “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions (Mark 11: 25-26).” I think it is significant that he followed the lesson of the fig tree with this statement. Essentially, He is telling us that it will be very difficult to talk to our mountain if we have unforgiveness in our life.
The disciples commissioned
After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and He said to them to preach the gospel everywhere. He also told them that every person who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but anybody who has not believed will be condemned. Immediately he stated, “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well (Mark 16: 14-20).” Notice that Jesus not only commissioned His eleven remaining disciples but also stated the signs that would follow those who believe (that is us), including laying hands on the sick and making them well. Some people may think that laying hands on the sick is the practice of some fringe Christian denominations, but Jesus said that this would be a sign of “those who have believed.” Why is it that Catholics and so many Protestant denominations do not practice the laying hands on the sick to make them well?
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