Is It Always God’s Will to Heal? What Jesus Showed Us
By Samuel Waterhouse, author of You Were Healed ·
The short answer
Yes. Jesus showed us the Father’s will (John 5:19), and He never once refused to heal anyone who came to Him. When a leper asked “if thou wilt”, Jesus answered “I will” (Matthew 8:3). Again and again the Gospels say He healed them all.
The leper asked the question for us
“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): And there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will. Be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
The leper didn’t doubt that Jesus could heal. He doubted that Jesus would. That is where many believers are today. Jesus answered the question once and for all, with His hand on a man no one else would touch: “I will.”
Jesus healed them all
Read the Gospels and look for the word “all”. It is there again and again:
“But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all.
“And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): And the whole crowd tried to touch him, because power was going out from him and healing them all.
“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): And Jesus went out and saw a great crowd, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
There is no record of Jesus telling anyone, “It isn’t God’s will to heal you,” or “Your sickness is bringing glory to God.” Not one.
Jesus only did what the Father was doing
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do. For whatever the Father does, these also the Son does likewise.
If you want to know God’s will, look at Jesus. He is the exact picture of the Father. If Jesus healed all who came to Him, the Father’s will is to heal. And He hasn’t changed:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Where does sickness come from?
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him.
Peter calls the sick “oppressed of the devil”. If God were the one making people sick, Jesus would have spent His whole ministry working against His Father. Jesus drew the line clearly:
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
What about “if it be Your will”?
Adding “if it be Your will” sounds humble, but for healing it means “I don’t know what You want.” God has already told us in Isaiah 53:4–5, Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24 and Acts 10:38. When you know His will, you can pray with confidence:
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Healing is His will, so when you pray for healing you are praying according to His will. He hears you, and you have what you asked for.
Say it out loud
“Jesus said “I will” to the leper, and He says it to me. It is God’s will that I am healed. By His stripes I was healed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Questions people ask
Did Jesus heal everyone who came to Him?
The Gospels repeatedly say He healed them all: Matthew 8:16, Matthew 12:15, Luke 4:40 and Luke 6:19. There is no record of Jesus refusing to heal someone who came to Him for healing.
Should I pray “if it be Your will” for healing?
Scripture already shows that healing is God’s will (Matthew 8:3, Acts 10:38, 1 Peter 2:24), so you can pray with the confidence of 1 John 5:14–15, knowing He hears you.
Go deeper
You Were Healed
How Scripture says to receive the healing Jesus already purchased. Isaiah 53 word by word, Jesus and the apostles in action, every common objection answered with Scripture, and daily confessions.
Read every verse in plain English, with the King James beside it, free at gigakjv.org.
Church leaders: invite Samuel to teach the Word and pray with people at your church or gathering.
Send an invitationThis article is Bible teaching, not medical advice. Every decision about your health is yours; don’t stop or change any prescribed treatment without talking to your doctor. In an emergency call 000 (Australia), 111 (New Zealand) or 911 (USA). Full disclaimer.