When I pray for the sick, I frequently feel God’s anointing in my right hand. When this happens, I quickly lay my hands on the sick person. The anointing produces a burning sensation in my hand, and as I pray I can literally feel power flow from the Spirit of God inside of me into the diseased body.
Why is laying hands on the sick so important? Laying hands on the sick serves as a point of contact that allows God’s power to be transferred. In this story we see how Jesus used His hands to bring healing.
One day a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus fell at the feet of Jesus and begged for help. The crowd around Jesus thought this was a strange sight because normally such an important man would not plead for assistance, but Jairus was desperate. He told Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and lay your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” As Jesus looked into the man’s tear filled eyes, He felt compassion; so, He followed him towards his house.
On the way to Jairus’ home Jesus was delayed because a desperate woman came to Him for healing. When they finally arrived, it was too late. Some men came and told Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher any more.”
Of course Jesus ignored their bad news and encouraged the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” The people around the house were crying loudly because of the death. Jesus asked them not to cry and added, “The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed in His face because everyone knew the child was already dead.
Jesus was able to say this because He already knew the end of the story. Did you know Jesus never preached a funeral? As a matter of fact, He spoiled every funeral He ever went to, including His own.
Jesus left the crowd outside and entered the room where the dead girl was lying. He touched her hand with His hand and gently whispered, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” The moment Jesus touched the girl’s hand, she rose from the dead. Immediately she stood up from her death bed and hugged her excited parents.
The key point I want you to notice in this story is that Jairus asked Jesus to lay His hands on his daughter. You see, Jairus knew the power of a personal touch. As soon as the hands of Jesus touched the hands of the dead girl, power entered her body and she was completely healed. The hands of Jesus contain healing power.
When a leper came to Jesus for healing, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him (Mark 1:40-41). On the surface this was not a smart thing to do because leprosy is highly contagious; if you touch a leper, you can catch leprosy. So why did Jesus touch this man? Jesus knew the healing power in His hand was stronger than the leprosy.
Another time, “When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them” (Luke 4:40). In the hometown of Jesus, He laid hands on people as He healed them (Mark 6:5).
Paul also laid his hands on the sick. On the island of Malta, the father of the chief official of the island was suffering from fever and dysentery. As Paul prayed, he laid his hands on the sick man and he was completely healed (Acts 28:8).
Right before Jesus returned to heaven, He commanded His disciples to “place their hands on sick people,” and He promised, “they will get well” (Mark 16:18). As Christians we have been given both a command and a promise. If we will do our part by laying hands on the sick, God will do His part and heal them!
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