Who Dunn It? - Part 6

Probably the most overlooked truth to specific matters involving healing is revealed in the earth walk ministry of Jesus Christ. There are several places in the New Testament that express this truth but it is more profound in the Gospel of John. During Jesus' final instructions to the apostles found in John chapters 13 through 17, we see a conversation that Jesus has that focuses around both Thomas and Philip. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:1-7)

Notice the statement that Jesus makes in response to Thomas. His response holds a very important key for us to grasp, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus is the way to the Father, the truth concerning the Father and life as the Father is life. In other words, any teaching on healing must be built upon Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that John has already revealed to us in the first chapter of his Gospel who Jesus is. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-2, 14) God the Word simply put on human flesh and was given the name Jesus. The Word in human flesh did not change or diminish in any way. (Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6) So when Jesus said, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also" He meant exactly that. Knowing Jesus, His nature, character, words, actions, His very person was to know the Father, that is, the Godhead. The apostle Paul tells us, "For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) Again, any teaching on healing (as well as all doctrine) must be upon Christ. "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:1)

Next, we see Philip question Jesus and Jesus' response. Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John 14:8-11) Here lies another important key. To see Jesus is to see the Father. Jesus is telling Philip that every verbal expression and every action that is observed in the life and ministry of Jesus is the Father. Jesus is revealing the Father's will, nature, character, purposes and plan. The writer of Hebrews tells us in a similar way, "Who (Jesus) being the brightness of His (The Father's) glory and the express image of His (The Father's) person..." (Hebrews 1:3} Another translation says, "And He  (Jesus) is the radiance of His (The Father's) glory and the exact representation of His (The Father's) nature..." To fully grasp this, faith must operate over the reasoning of the mind. 

Jesus tells Philip that His words and actions are not His but the Father's. This is due the the connection that Jesus has with the Father. Remember, the Word simply put on Human flesh. Jesus is God the Word in human flesh. He is the exact representation of the Godhead. The very essence of the Godhead in human flesh. Jesus makes another statement concerning His relationship with the Father to Philip. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works." If Philip does not have the faith to believe who Jesus is, then Jesus is asking Philip to consider the very works that He did or was doing. Facts are, no other person to date in the history of man performed the works that Jesus was doing. Why? His works were the works of deity. They were a reflection of the Father's will.

The sad thing for many believers today is that they have been inoculated with the doctrines of man that contradict the very words that Jesus spoke to Thomas and Philip. They teach that God does not heal in the same manner as He did through the ministry of Jesus and the early church. Therefore, healing is today is unpredictable, unreliable and inconsistent. That healing comes down to a choice that only God makes. God chooses who he wants to heal and when He wants to heal. This of course is completely inconsistent with scripture and has permitted the devil to raise havoc in the Body of Christ in the form of sickness, disease and even premature death. God's will has not changed. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Remember, God the Word simply put on human flesh, He was called Jesus and as we see clearly, He never changes. The statement that Jesus made to Philip is what must be addressed today, "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works." What are you going to believe? Where is your faith? Whose report are you going to believe, Gods or mans?

In the next part of this series we will continue to look at the earth ministry of Jesus in relationship with healing.