HOW DOES SOMEONE GET HEALED?

Acts 3:13-16

[Peter speaking] "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."

We could probably spend weeks or even months studying and trying to understand healing (whether physical, emotional or circumstantial), and still not be completely sure how or why it happens. Most of us have prayed at one time or another for someone to be healed with mixed results. So what does Peter say about healing? "By faith in the name of Jesus... It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him ."

In Biblical times a name was an expression of the essence of a person -- it expressed their character and nature. Peter gives us a few of Jesus' names in this passage: "Servant," "Holy and Righteous One," and "Author of Life." What do these names tell you about Jesus' nature? About His character?

"Servant" tells us He is there to help us in our time of need. "Holy and Righteous One" tells us He is in control, His timing is always perfect, He will always make the right decision, and it is His choice (if, when and how to heal). "Author of Life" tells us He has the ability and power to do what He desires.

There is a lot in the "name" of Jesus. So what is our part? Faith in His name: faith that He cares; faith in the rightness of His decisions; and faith that He can and will heal.

Which area of your faith can use some work? Do you doubt He cares about your specific need or situation? Are you at peace if He decides not to heal -- that He is always right? Do you doubt He has the power?

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