The are many accounts of Jesus healing the sick throughout the New Testament.
For example, Jesus healed a paralyzed man, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and even the ear of a man who was trying to arrest him.
Jesus heals today too, and Kristine, a Compassion program participant, is living proof.
Healing Stories in the Bible: 5 Accounts of Jesus Healing the Sick
There are numerous accounts of healing in the Bible. In the Gospels, while there are one-on-one accounts of Jesus healing people, there are also stories of him healing crowds of those in need.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. — Matthew 14:14, NIV
It’s impossible to count the number of lives Jesus touched through healing while he walked the earth. Let’s explore five of them together.
All Scripture references written in NIV.
1. Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man (Luke 5:17-26)
One day, Jesus was teaching inside of a house in Capernaum. Many people had come to listen, so the place was packed. While Jesus spoke, men carrying a paralyzed man on a mat tried to take the man inside so Jesus could heal him. But it was too crowded.
When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. — Luke 5:19, NIV
Jesus saw the faith of the men and spoke to the paralyzed man, saying, “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:21, NIV). But he didn’t stop there. Jesus didn’t just heal him spiritually — he also healed his physical body.
So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately, he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. — Luke 5:24-25, NIV
2. Jesus Heals the Official’s Son (John 4:43-54)
In John 4, a royal official whose son was sick in Capernaum had heard Jesus was visiting Cana in Galilee. He went to Jesus and begged him to heal his son, who he was sure was going to die.
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” — John 4:48-50, NIV
Trusting in Jesus’ word, the man departed. And while on his way, his servants came running toward him with good news: His son was alive.
When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. — John 4:52-53, NIV
3. Jesus Heals the Woman With the Issue of Blood (Luke 8:43-48)
Here, we find Jesus surrounded by yet another huge crowd of people. In fact, Scripture says the crowds nearly crushed him (Luke 8:42). But there was one woman who pressed through.
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. — Luke 8:43-44, NIV
Jesus felt the woman’s touch and asked his disciples, “Who touched me?” (Luke 8:45). It’s easy to imagine what the disciples thought when they looked at the crowd pressing in.
Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you. But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” — Luke 8:45-46, NIV
Trembling in fear because she touched Jesus while being legally unclean, she came to him and dropped to her knees. The woman admitted to touching his cloak, sharing her need for healing and the miracle she had experienced.
Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” — Luke 8:48, NIV
4. Jesus Heals Malchus’ Ear (Luke 22:49-51)
In Luke 22, Judas brought soldiers and officials of the chief priests and Pharisees to Jesus so they could arrest him. When Jesus’ disciples saw them coming, they felt the need to fight.
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. — Luke 22:49-50, NIV
Jesus rebuked the disciple (identified as Simon Peter in John 18:10) who had struck the servant (identified as Malchus in John 18:10). After all, Jesus knew he would need to be arrested. He knew he would need to go to the cross. And he knew the importance of showing compassion, even to his enemies.
But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” — Luke 22:51, NIV
5. Jesus Heals the Blind Man (John 9:1-12)
Jesus was walking the streets of Jerusalem when he came across a man who had been blind since birth. His disciples asked him a question: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2).
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” — John 9:3, NIV
Jesus then spit on the ground and made some mud. He rubbed the mud on the man’s eyes and gave him a command.
“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” — John 9:7, NIV
6 Lessons We Can Learn From Jesus’ Healing Miracles
The healing stories in the Bible prove to us that Jesus has the power and authority to heal. And if that was true for the paralyzed man, the woman with the issue of blood and the blind man — it’s got to be true for us too.
While this is a profoundly encouraging takeaway from each healing account, there are so many lessons we can learn from Jesus healing the sick.
1. Friends Are Important
The paralyzed man in Luke 5 desperately needed healing. But being paralyzed, he couldn’t seek out the Healer on his own. Knowing this, his friends picked him up and carried him to Jesus.
Even when the way was blocked, they found another, tearing off the roof for their loved one. The result? Physical and spiritual healing that changed the man’s life for eternity.
Who you choose for your circle matters. True friendship is important. We must surround ourselves with Jesus-loving friends who would stop at nothing to bring us to his feet. Not to their opinions. Not to worldly things. But to Jesus.
After all, he’s the only one who can truly provide everything we need.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV
2. Faith Is Powerful
The woman with the issue of blood had been sick for 12 years. No one had been able to help her. As each day dragged on, we can imagine just how hopeless she must’ve felt. The weight of unexplained illness is heavy, and she had carried it for so long.
The day Jesus passed by, it would’ve been easy for her to say, “This will be like all the other times I’ve tried to get better. Why should I even try?” She could’ve seen the crowds pressing in and decided it was too much trouble. But the woman had heard of Jesus — and she had faith.
She could hardly see Jesus through the hundreds of legs and feet as she crawled. She couldn’t yet see the miracle. But she moved anyway and grabbed what she could: the hem of Jesus’ garment. And that incredible faith? It resulted in her healing.
Remember the official with the sick son at home? For him, the Healer was miles away (there’s about 16 to 18 miles between Cana and Capernaum) and time was of the essence. There was no ambulance. No car. There was only Jesus, his word and the official’s faith.
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. — John 4:50, NIV
Just like the woman, the official couldn’t yet see the miracle, but he had faith in Jesus. Location didn’t matter — he knew what Jesus could do. In fact, at Jesus’ word, healing was complete, and the father went home to a son who was alive and well.
Remember: Even if you can’t see it, you can trust that Jesus is working on your behalf.
3. No One Is an Outcast
The woman with the issue of blood was viewed as unclean under the law of Moses. She couldn’t go to the temple or even touch other people. For 12 years, she was an outcast.
The blind man would’ve faced the same fate. Many around him would’ve believed that sin had caused his blindness, causing them to cast him aside. The disciples even asked if it was him or his parents who had sinned (John 9:2).
Cultural stigmas kept them both trapped in isolation. In loneliness. In suffering. But in Jesus’ eyes, there were no outcasts. He touched the blind man. He didn’t shy away from the woman. Instead, he had compassion on them and healed them.
Jesus was not bound by cultural traditions of old. He knew that all people, regardless of their circumstances, were loved unconditionally and chosen without restraint.
So Jesus didn’t turn away — he healed them both, body and soul, turning outcasts into family.
He does the same for us. Jesus doesn’t turn away, even if others do. His love and care don’t depend on who we are, what we have, where we live, what we’ve done or even our circumstances. He chooses us over and over again.
4. Love Must Be Unconditional
Malchus was one of the men who had come to arrest Jesus. He was the servant to the high priest, Caiaphas, the one who had orchestrated the plan to have Jesus killed.
That same man had his ear cut off by Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ own followers. As Jesus’ friend, the disciple had every right to defend him … right?
Many of us could agree that Simon Peter’s reaction was justified. But we’re called to do something different: Be like Jesus. Seeing Malchus in pain, Jesus could’ve let him stay that way. He could’ve shrugged it off and said, “He deserved it.” But instead, he healed him.
Jesus’ love, his compassion, is unconditional. He himself instructed his disciples to love their enemies.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. — Matthew 5:44-45, NIV
We are to love our enemies, just as he did. If we see someone who has hurt us in pain, we are to pray for them, not curse them. Not cut them with words or strike them with action. We must remember: Jesus loves them, and he has healing for them too.
5. The Simplest Things Make a Big Impact
Remember the man who had been blind since birth? Jesus healed him in an unusual way.
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. — John 9:6, NIV
Mud. It’s something so simple, yet in this moment, it changed everything for the blind man. In Jesus’ hands, even the simplest things can make a life-changing impact. Some mud can heal a blind man. A few little loaves and fish can feed 5,000. A mustard seed of faith can move mountains.
You may think you have nothing to give. You may think you don’t have what it takes to do what God has called you to do. But know this: When you place what you have in Jesus’ hands, it’s more than enough, because he is more than enough.
One simple yes from you can change a child’s life. Learn more about child sponsorship.
A Living Testimony: Kristine Beats Cancer & Finds Her Purpose in Worship
No one knows the healing power found in Jesus quite like Kristine, a 19-year-old woman from the Philippines. A thriving youth leader and worship drummer at her church, she has a testimony of triumph only she can tell. And it all began as a child living in poverty.
Kristine grew up in a crowded, impoverished neighborhood. Her parents worked hard to support the family, but they didn’t have steady jobs. Instead, they would work any odd job they could find. As a child, Kristine would go without meals daily.
When Kristine was registered into the Compassion program, she was welcomed into a loving church community that ensured she had enough to eat. And she began receiving the care she needed to thrive. Eager to serve, she joined the church’s praise and worship team but was unsure where she belonged.
Pastor Adam, the church’s music director, encouraged her to try the drums. The very first time she sat down behind them, Kristine knew she had found her place.
“The rhythm came naturally, and behind the drum set, Kristine found her voice.” — Pastor Adam
Although musical instruments, lessons or formal training were far beyond what the family could afford, Kristine found support at the local church. There, she was given the tools and training she needed to develop her gift and grow in her passion for music — a love that would help carry her through one of life’s hardest seasons.
A Cancer Diagnosis
At 17, Kristine began experiencing pain and swelling in her throat. Medical tests revealed a devastating diagnosis: thyroid cancer. And surgery would be required to save her life.
Kristine felt no fear. While she had grown in her musical ability at the center, she had also grown in her relationship with God. She knew he would take care of her.
“For some reason, I wasn’t concerned at all. I had peace. I knew God would take care of me and heal me in his time.” — Kristine
Her faith in Jesus and music became her anchors. Rather than focusing on her illness, she continued to practice, worship and lead, trusting that God was in control of her future.
Miracles & Medical Care
The church surrounded Kristine and her family with support. They provided financial assistance to cover her medical needs and continuously prayed with the family, strengthening their faith.
Kristine received the thyroid surgery she needed. The procedure was successful in removing the cancer, and she began her journey toward recovery.
Today, Kristine continues to take medication to maintain her health, with Compassion supporting her needs. And she also continues to serve. Behind the drum set, she leads her church in worship as a living testimony of God’s faithfulness.
From poverty to possibility, from illness to healing, from cancer to calling, Kristine’s journey reflects what can happen when a child is given opportunity, care and hope.
Sometimes, Jesus desires to partner with us, his Church, to bring healing — and lives can change when we say yes.
The Bible is full of accounts of Jesus healing the sick. But he didn’t stop then. There are living testimonies of Jesus healing people just like Kristine all around you. And sometimes, he does it through his Church. Today, let these stories inspire you to have hope. Whatever you’re facing today, know that Jesus is with you. He loves you. He cares for you.