Introduction: When Jesus began His ministry he declared that he had come to be a healer (Luke 4:16-19). Of course, His primary meaning was “spiritual healing,” but he spent much time and energy healing people from their physical diseases, too. Here in John we have two examples of that. Let’s take a look at some principles revealed in these accounts:

I. Everyone Get’s Sick (John 4:46).

Rich or poor, male or female, young or old, good or evil, we all get sick. Why? The answer lies with “The Fall.” When sin entered into the world, so did disease, birth defects, catastrophic accidents and so on. Blame it on Adam and Eve. They are responsible.

II. Faith for Healing is not identical to Saving Faith (John 4:48).

Many people in Galilee followed Jesus around, hoping to see signs and miracles. Hoping to get a healing. Hoping to eat some more miracle bread. But they abandoned Him when He was crucified. Remember the ten lepers that asked Jesus to heal them? Only one came back to say “Thank you.”

III. We are supposed to pray for healing with Faith (James 1:6-7; 5:16). This father had faith, and Jesus healed his son (John 4:50). Do you really believe that Jesus has the power to heal? You don’t need great faith, just a little. Jesus taught that if we had faith as a grain of mustard seed (small), we could still move mountains.

IV. The healing of this boy resulted in the conversion of his family (John 4:53). Medical missions is a good way to spread the Gospel (Matthew 10:5-8).

V. Out of the multitude of sick people at the pool, Jesus healed only one miraculously (John 5:3). Out of all the millions of sick people in the world, only a few get healed miraculously. God does miracles which support His plan for history, not to get us whatever we want. However, God does heal multitudes providentially. If you go to the Dr., and take your medicine, and get well, you should thank God. It wasn’t a miracle, but God was behind it in the end. He didn’t have to make you well. When we pray to be healed we will get one of three answers: “No, Yes, or Not Now.”

A. Paul is an example of a “No” answer (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). He must say “No” to all of us, or we would never die, and we all must die.
B. This man at the pool, lame for 38 years, is a “Not Now.” Don’t you think he and his family had been asking for God’s help for a lifetime? Now God finally answers.
C. An immediate “Yes.” Paul not being poisoned by the serpent bite. The High Priest’s servant getting his ear back right after Peter chopped it off.

Conclusion: God knows our troubles, and He invites us to pray for healing. He may say an immediate “Yes,” or He may say “Not now,” or He may say “No.” Whatever God’s answer, we should continue to trust Him. As Job exclaimed in Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him!”