Why Did Jesus Heal People?

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to Aaron: In all future generations, none of your descendants who has any defect will qualify to offer food to his God. No one who has a defect qualifies, whether he is blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, or has a broken foot or arm, or is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or has a defective eye, or skin sores or scabs, or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron who has a defect may approach the altar to present special gifts to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he may not approach the altar to offer food to his God. However, he may eat from the food offered to God, including the holy offerings and the most holy offerings. Yet because of his physical defect, he may not enter the room behind the inner curtain or approach the altar, for this would defile my holy places. I am the LORD who makes them holy.” [Leviticus 21.16.23]

We should all ask ourselves this question while the passage above is fresh on our minds: "Why did Jesus heal people?"

Why did Jesus heal people?

The answer to this question is an indictment upon Christians and Christianity. Do we really want to know the answer? Too late, we have already read the answer above in Leviticus 21.16-23.

Jesus healed people because He came to the earth to remove the veil that separated God and man - He came to make us all priests unto our God. He reconciled man unto God.

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. [Matthew 27.50-52]

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. [2 Corinthians 3:18]

And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” [Revelation 5.10]

Why did Jesus heal people? Because "priests unto our God" must necessarily be whole. Jesus' forgiveness saved and healed them thus enabling them to enter God's presence as whole "priests unto our God." Whatever one believes about healing on earth, we must all necessarily agree that there will be no sickness, disease, or defect in heaven where God dwells. However, I will argue that healing on earth is by all accounts of Jesus Himself our work on earth too:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]

So, forgiving people and healing people on earth is our work because it was, and remains, the work of Jesus. How is the power of forgiveness at work in us then?

Father, how can I say "Christ is in me" when my life looks nothing like His? May Your Word continue to bring understanding, may Your Spirit continue to bring conviction, and may You will be done on earth as it is in heaven!