It is a common perception in the religious world that for one to be healed, she or he must have adequate faith. I’m sure this false idea has allowed many fake healers to save face when their hypnotic ad-vantage over a would-be recipient has failed. And as sure as it has been a refuge for the charlatan, it has no doubt been the breaking point in the faith of those accused of failing to believe in God’s power.
The destructive work of these spiritual con-artists brings to my mind a faith-healing service several years ago in Kingston. The pretender boasted of the wonderful deeds he’d done in Jesus’ name across the country for what seemed like hours. After he finished patting himself on the back, some who had been healed that week during his revival were invited to come and pat his back some more.
Not 10’ away from him, sat a young man on the front row. I knew him, for we studied the Bible on a few occasions that summer. Maybe I am wrong, but I think there are some who go to such events simply for the show. But there are others who are there because they seek a healing. He was of that sort, for he was troubled with Cerebral Palsy. One row back sat another whom we knew. She would have sat on the front row also, but it was necessary that her interpreter sit there. She was deaf.
After the job of stroking his ego was finished, he began to heal those who came forward. Neither of those whom I knew got into line to be healed. I can only speculate on why they didn’t. Was it because they were pre-screened and disqualified? Was it because they were in line earlier that week and were not healed. Had they been told that they lacked faith to be healed?
I’ve not seen either of them in several years. It would not surprise me if their faith was so trampled that week by the self-righteous fraud who graced the stage that they turned away from faith entirely.
It is a false claim to say that the one seeking to be healed must have faith to be healed. The Lord went to Bethany after the death of His friend Lazarus (Luke 11). From outside the tomb, He called for his friend to come forth. How much faith did this dead man have?
In John 5, Jesus found a man sitting by the pool of Bethesda. It was believed by several that an angel stirred the water from time to time, and whoever got into the pool first would be healed. The Lord asked this man who had been lame for 38 years, “Do you want to be made well?” His presence at the pool said “yes,” but his answer to Jesus rang of skepticism. There was no expectation that he would be healed. He had none to help him into the water. I wonder how many he had seen hobble into this pool and then walk away whole. But it was never him.
Jesus gave seven simple words:
Rise, take up your bed and walk. (John 5:8)
He was made well! Now, how much faith did this man have?
We already saw that he clung to no expectation to be made well. Further, John 5:13 reveals that
…the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn…
How much faith did this man have? When the religioius leaders asked him who it was that had told him to take up his bed, he did not know. He had no faith in Jesus at all, but was healed.
Jesus revealed that it was necessary for the healer, not the healed to have faith. In answering his disciples about why they were unable to cast out a particular demon, He said to them:
…Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:20-21)
Absolutely, if a miracle fails, it is because of a lack of faith – on the part of the miracle worker! The healer, not the healed must have adequate faith.
And yet we read in Acts 14 of a man crippled from birth, of whom it is said that
…Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet!’ And he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:9-10)
Ah, see, he had faith to be healed! So the faith healers are right when they say that some do not have faith to be healed, right? NO!
The woman with the issue of blood was like this man. She thought:
If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well. (Mark 5:28)
She did, and she was!
The Lord commended her faith. She knew, without a doubt that He could make her well. As Paul looked at this man, he saw the same trust in the power of God.
It would be wrong to conclude from John 5 or 11 that for one to be healed, they must have no idea who Jesus is or be dead. It is equally wrong to draw from Mark 5 or Acts 14 that a certain level of faith must exist for a healing to be received.
