Why did Jesus heal?

Jesus said 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' John 3:16 (a).

In this verse, Jesus has forever revealed the motivation of God towards mankind.

Compassion is love in action

Compassion seems to be the compelling virtue that caused Jesus to heal the sick. The Bible declares that 'love remains forever' (1 Cor 13:8,13) meaning God would always be motivated to heal the sick because His compassion (1 John 4:8) will not run dry.

Acts 10:38 (KJV)

"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."

Jesus did not heal to prove He was God. He did not function as God on the earth. He "emptied" (Phillippians 2: 5-8) Himself and only operated in what was available to a man in the right relationship with God. If Jesus proved He was God by healing the sick, then the twelve apostles (Mark 6:7, 13, 30) and the seventy disciples (Luke 10:17, 17) were also God because they healed the sick as well.

Laborers Ordained (for preaching and healing) Because of Compassion

Mat 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 

Mat 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 

Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Mat 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Sick Multitude Healed Because of Compassion

Mat 14:14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Blindness Healed Because of Compassion

Mat 20:29  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 

Mat 20:30  And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 

Mat 20:31  And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 

Mat 20:32  And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 

Mat 20:33  They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 

Mat 20:34  So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Leprosy Healed Because of Compassion

Mar 1:40  And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 

Mar 1:41  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 

Mar 1:42  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Devils Cast Out Because of Compassion

Mar 5:18  And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 

Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Dead Raise To Life Because Of Compassion

Luk 7:11  And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 

Luk 7:12  Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 

Luk 7:13  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 

Luk 7:14  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 

Luk 7:15  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Some other motivations for Jesus' healing of the sick are articulated below.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

His healing ministry was also a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's role in alleviating suffering and illness. Here we need to note that we are not waiting for a future fulfillment, since Mat 8:17 declares it fulfilled and now the scripture makes it plains that 'by His stripes we were (not going to be) healed ' [1 Peter 2:24]

Matthew 8:17: "This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.'"

Demonstration of Divine Authority

Healing was a sign of Jesus’ divine authority and His power over both physical and spiritual realms.

Mat 9:6  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power (authority) on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Mat 9:7  And he arose, and departed to his house.

Luk 5:24  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. Luk 5:25  And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Sign of the Kingdom of God

His healing acts were signs that the Kingdom of God was breaking into the world, demonstrating the in-breaking of divine rule and restoration.

Acts 10:38 states '... healing all that were oppressed of the devil...'. The word here for "oppressed" is "katadunasteuomenous," the present participle, passive of "katadunasteuo" which means 'I dominate or exercise lordship over." Healing is an act of warfare by which God's kingdom overrides devils dominion over a person and brings them liberty.

Luke 10:9: "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’"

Matthew 12:28: "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Validation of His Mission

Jesus’ healing miracles were evidence of His divine mission and His unity with the Father.

Joh 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Joh 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Restoration and Wholeness

Jesus genuinely cared about restoring individuals to physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness, addressing the holistic nature of their well-being.

Mar 5:34  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Luk 8:48  And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

These motivations reflect a comprehensive view of Jesus’ healing ministry, encompassing compassion, fulfillment of prophecy, demonstration of divine authority, the arrival of the Kingdom of God, validation of His mission, and the restoration of wholeness.