The Great Physician Meaning (KJV)

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 KJV)

Jesus is known as “The Great Physician,” especially due to the many miracles He performed during His earthly ministry. The Bible tells us that “a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” (John 6:2 ESV). He healed many sick people in the cities he traveled to. But Jesus wanted more than to heal their physical bodies. He wanted them to believe in Him.

#1 Jesus Heals the Body

When we read the four gospels in the Bible, we see many accounts of miraculous healings that Jesus performed. He healed people from leprosy (Luke 17:11-19), paralysis (Matthew 9:1-8), blindness (Matthew 9:27-31), deafness (Mark 7:31-37), and other illnesses. He cured many people (Luke 4:40). He even brought three dead people back to life: the son of a widow (Luke 7:11-17), the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:21-24,35-43), and Lazarus (John 11:1-44).

He once said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe” (John 4:48 NKJV). All the signs and wonders Jesus performed had the purpose of proving that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah (John 20:30-31).

A clear example of the purpose behind the miracles is His healing of a man born blind (John 9:1-41). This was a miracle that no one has ever heard of before (John 9:32). The Jews knew that only someone sent from God would be able to do it (John 9:33). That’s why the Pharisees did everything they could to dismiss this miracle, up to the point of excommunicating the main witness (John 9:34). They knew, if they admitted that Jesus had done it, they would have to admit that He was the Messiah. So, they kept on refusing to believe the evidence because they didn’t want to believe in Jesus (John 9:39-41).

#2 Jesus Heals the Mind and the Heart

During His ministry, Jesus didn’t heal only people’s physical bodies. He cared for the other aspects of their ailments as well. He knew what they needed besides getting rid of their sicknesses.

For example, when Jesus healed a man with leprosy in Matthew 8:1-4, He first touched him. We don’t know for how long that man had been sick. Due to the strict laws regarding skin diseases, we can assume that, for the duration of his illness, no one had ever touched him, until Jesus did. His touch was the first physical contact he had had in a long time.

Jesus also told him to show himself to the priest and follow what the Law of Moses determined that he should do in that case. The procedure would allow him to be socially and religiously active again. After the priest confirmed his healing, he would be able to go to the Temple, to move back inside the city, and to touch and be touched. He would have his normal life back. It was not only about physical healing. Jesus took care of this man’s emotional, social, and psychological needs as well.

The Bible mentions other aspects of the mind and the heart that Jesus takes care of. For example, He takes care of our anxiety (1 Peter 5:7). He gives us peace (John 14:27), rest (Matthew 11:28), and joy (John 15:11). He gives purpose to our lives (Philippians 1:21) and makes us part of His family (John 1:12). Every good thing that we have and everything we need comes from the Father through Him (James 1:17).

#3 Jesus Heals the Soul

The multitudes didn’t understand why Jesus came to the world. They sought Him for the miracles. But He came to do much more than heal physical illnesses (Mark 2:8-12). He came to save us from the condemnation that our sins deserve (John 5:24).
But, first, a person needs to recognize that they are spiritually dead and incapable of getting themselves healed. Self-righteousness will only keep people away from the only One who can save them.

The apostle Peter quoted a prophecy from the Old Testament when he said that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV). Christ suffered the punishment of our sins and gave us eternal life instead (Romans 6:23).

Jesus can still heal our bodies. But what good does it do to have a perfectly healthy body and lose our souls into eternal damnation (Matthew 16:26)? So, let’s be grateful to the Great Physician for the amazing gift He gave us: salvation from our sins and eternal life with God.

Conclusion

Jesus never promised to heal each and every sickness in this life. We will experience suffering (John 16:33). But Jesus wants us to be healed and saved from our sins. That’s why He died and was resurrected. The Bible tells us that, one day, we will meet with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17). He will give us an immortal body (1 Corinthians 15:54). There will be no more sickness, no more pain. We will be free from all suffering (Revelation 21:4). And we will enjoy eternity in His glorious presence.