The Bible is full of Jesus encounters with individuals and bible characters who had encounters with God, and he has been just as present throughout the years as he was during his time on earth. Here is a List Of Encounters With Jesus In The Bible: it is no secret to anyone that Christianity is a faith-filled belief. For was it not Jesus who said, “Have faith in God”? (Mark 11:22) We are living in times where people strongly believe in science and technology, so much so that they fail to look at the supernatural things around them. But have you ever thought about how many encounters with Jesus there are recorded in the Bible? There are more than 30 such encounters.
Listing down these 30 encounters below will remind you of how Jesus has been working in your life out of sight but within reach. There are a lot of different kinds of encounters that the Bible talks about. One is the encounter with disaster when you lose everything, which I have experienced and was able to overcome. Another is an encounter with wisdom in order to set yourself free from sin. These encounters definitely help us on the road to righteousness.
List Of 30 Encounters With Jesus In The Bible
1. Jesus Calms the Storm (Matthew 8:23-27)
In this encounter, Jesus demonstrates his power over nature by calming a storm while on a boat with his disciples.
2. Jesus Heals a Blind Man (John 9:1-7)
Jesus encounters a man who was born blind and heals him, showing his compassion and miraculous healing power.
3. Jesus Raises a Dead Girl to Life (Mark 5:35-43)
Jesus encounters a grieving father whose daughter has died and raises her back to life, showcasing his power over death.
4. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)
Jesus encounters a large crowd of people who are hungry and miraculously multiplies a small amount of food to feed them all.
5. Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)
Jesus encounters his disciples in a boat on a stormy sea and walks on water towards them, demonstrating his divinity and power over the elements.
6. Jesus Forgives a Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)
Jesus encounters a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and forgives her, showing his mercy and grace.
7. Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man (Mark 2:1-12)
Jesus encounters a paralyzed man and not only heals him physically but also forgives his sins, displaying his authority to forgive sins.
8. Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (John 11:1-44)
Jesus encounters the family of Lazarus, who has died, and raises him back to life after being in the tomb for four days.
9. Jesus Casts Out Demons (Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus encounters a man possessed by demons and casts them out, demonstrating his authority over evil spirits.
10. Jesus Heals a Withered Hand (Mark 3:1-6)
Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand and heals him on the Sabbath, challenging the religious leaders and showing his compassion for those in need.
11. Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son to Life (Luke 7:11-17)
Jesus encounters a widow who has lost her only son and raises him back to life, showing his compassion for the grieving and his power over death.
12. Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17)
Jesus encounters money changers and merchants in the temple and drives them out, declaring that his house shall be a house of prayer.
13. Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy (Mark 9:14-29)
Jesus encounters a boy possessed by a demon and heals him after his disciples were unable to do so, teaching them about the power of faith.
14. Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man (Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus encounters a demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs and restores him to his right mind, showing his power to bring wholeness and restoration.
15. Jesus Heals a Woman with a Hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34)
Jesus encounters a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years and heals her, demonstrating his compassion and healing power.
16. Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus encounters a Roman centurion who asks for his servant to be healed and commends his faith, healing the servant from a distance.
17. Jesus Heals Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
Jesus encounters ten lepers who ask for healing and only one returns to thank him, showing the importance of gratitude and faith.
18. Jesus Blesses the Children (Mark 10:13-16)
Jesus encounters children who are brought to him for a blessing, demonstrating his love and care for the little ones.
19. Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter from the Dead (Mark 5:21-24,35-43)
Jesus encounters Jairus, a synagogue leader whose daughter has died, and raises her back to life, showing his power over death and his compassion for the grieving.
20. Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy (Luke 14:1-6)
Jesus encounters a man with dropsy, a condition causing swelling, and heals him on the Sabbath, challenging the religious leaders and showing his compassion for those in need.
21. Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man (Mark 7:31-37)
Jesus encounters a man who is deaf and mute and heals him, showing his compassion and power to restore wholeness.
22. Jesus Heals a Blind and Mute Man (Matthew 12:22-32)
Jesus encounters a man who is blind and mute and heals him, showing his authority over physical ailments and demonic forces.
23. Jesus Heals a Man Blind from Birth (John 9:1-41)
Jesus encounters a man who was born blind and heals him, sparking controversy among the religious leaders about his identity and authority.
24. Jesus Heals a Canaanite Woman’s Daughter (Matthew 15:21-28)
Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who begs for her daughter to be healed and commends her faith, healing her daughter from a distance.
25. Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Woman (Luke 13:10-17)
Jesus encounters a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years by a spirit and heals her on the Sabbath, showing his authority over sickness and evil forces.
26. Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy (Matthew 17:14-21)
Jesus encounters a boy who is demon-possessed and heals him after his disciples were unable to do so, teaching them about the power of prayer and faith.
27. Jesus Restores Sight to Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)
Jesus encounters Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, and restores his sight after he calls out to Jesus for mercy, demonstrating his compassion and healing power.
28. Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17)
Jesus encounters a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years and heals her on the Sabbath, showing his authority over sickness and his compassion for the oppressed.
29. Jesus Heals Malchus’ Ear in Gethsemane (Luke 22:47-53)
Jesus encounters Peter cutting off the ear of a servant of the high priest and heals the man’s ear, demonstrating his nonviolent response to violence and his compassion for all.
30. Jesus Appears to Saul on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19)
Jesus encounters Saul, a persecutor of Christians, on the road to Damascus and transforms him into a believer and apostle through a powerful encounter with the risen Christ.
Who had encounters with Jesus in the Bible?
There are many individuals who had meaningful encounters with Jesus in the Bible. From ordinary people to religious leaders, Jesus touched the lives of many. Here are a few remarkable encounters:
- The Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42)
- Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-10)
- Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)
- Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
- Nicodemus, the Pharisee (John 3:1-21)
These encounters reveal Jesus’ compassion, love, and desire to bring salvation to all people, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.
What are some encounters with God in the Bible?
The encounters with God in the Bible are not limited to Jesus alone. Throughout the Scriptures, many individuals had profound encounters with the divine. Here are a few noteworthy examples:
- Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-22)
- Isaiah’s Vision of God in the Temple (Isaiah 6:1-8)
- Elijah and the Whisper of God (1 Kings 19:9-18)
- Abraham and the Three Visitors (Genesis 18:1-33)
- Jacob’s Wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32)
These encounters highlight the transcendence and awe-inspiring nature of God, revealing His desire to communicate with humanity and guide them.
What happens when you have an encounter with Jesus?
An encounter with Jesus can be a life-transforming experience. It is not just a mere meeting, but an opportunity for deep spiritual connection and personal transformation. When one encounters Jesus, they often experience the following:
- Forgiveness and Redemption: Jesus offers forgiveness for sins and the opportunity for a fresh start (John 8:1-11).
- Healing and Restoration: Jesus has the power to heal physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds (Mark 5:25-34).
- Salvation and Eternal Life: Through faith in Jesus, one can receive salvation and the promise of eternal life (John 3:16).
- Revelation and Understanding: Jesus brings clarity and understanding about God’s love, purpose, and truth (Matthew 13:10-17).
- Transformation and Empowerment: Encountering Jesus often leads to a transformed life and the power to live according to God’s will (Acts 9:1-22).
An encounter with Jesus is a personal journey that varies for each individual, but it always involves encountering His love, grace, and teachings, which can profoundly impact one’s life.
What are Some Encounters with Jesus in the New Testament?
The New Testament is filled with accounts of encounters with Jesus that demonstrate His divine nature, teachings, and ministry. Here are a few significant encounters:
- The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11): In this encounter, Jesus displays compassion and forgiveness, challenging religious leaders to examine their own hearts.
- The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9): Peter, James, and John witness Jesus’ divine glory on the mountain, emphasizing His identity as the Son of God.
- The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35): Two disciples encounter the resurrected Jesus while walking on the road, leading to a revelation of Scripture and their hearts burning within them.
- The Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30): This encounter marks the institution of the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus shares a final meal with His disciples and predicts His betrayal.
- The Crucifixion and Resurrection (Matthew 27-28): Jesus’ ultimate encounter, offering redemption and victory over sin through His death and resurrection.
These encounters showcase different aspects of Jesus’ ministry and reveal His power, authority, and profound impact on those who interacted with Him.
Jesus’ Interactions With Others
Who did Jesus interact with in the Bible?
Jesus’ interactions in the Bible spanned across various individuals, from ordinary people to religious leaders. He demonstrated love, compassion, and willingness to engage with people from all walks of life. Here are a few examples:
- The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42): Jesus engages in a deep and compassionate conversation with a Samaritan woman, revealing His knowledge of her life and offering her the water of eternal life.
- Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52): Jesus stops to heal a blind beggar amidst a crowd, demonstrating His willingness to notice and respond to individuals in need.
- Simon Peter (Luke 5:1-11): Jesus calls Peter to be His disciple, promising to make him a fisher of men, showcasing His ability to see beyond a person’s flaws and potential.
- Nicodemus, the Pharisee (John 3:1-21): Jesus engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Nicodemus, explaining the need for spiritual rebirth and salvation.
- Judas Iscariot (John 13:21-30): Even in His betrayal, Jesus interacts with Judas, demonstrating His love and giving Him a chance to repent.
These interactions illustrate Jesus’ desire to connect with individuals on a personal level, extend grace and redemption, and invite them into a deeper relationship with God.
Encounters with Jesus in the New Testament
All of these people, from the hated tax collector Zaccheus to the revered Pharsee Nicodemus to the thief hanging on the cross, seemed to be favorites of Jesus’. The focus of this series is on Christ’s compassion and love for both humanity and the natural world.
- The Magdalene Mary
- Nicodemus
- Zaccheus
- The Well-Woman
- The Woman Who Is Adulterous
- Part 1 of Saul 7. Part 2 of Saul
- The Pontiff
- The Thief Who Is Dying
Meetings with Jesus
This compilation examines 41 instances in Luke’s Gospel when Jesus interacts with different individuals in brief. You will see here a peek of Jesus Christ’s absolute power as well as his personal compassion. Here, as you immerse yourself in these interactions, you will be inspired to love and trust him. You can get this meditation series as a paperback here.
Title of Articles
Shepherds of Simeon
The Temple’s Teachers
The Baptist John
The Devil
In the Nazareth synagogue
The man with the demon possession
Peter the Fisherman
The Pharisees and the paralyzed man
And the Pharisees with Levi
The Disciples of Jesus
The Centurion of Rome
The Messengers of Nain’s Widow
Simon and the immoral woman
In the sea storm
The Gerasenes
The individual who was bleeding
The Daughter of Jairus
The famished masses
Peter’s Ultimate Admittance
John, James, and Peter
Humanity’s fallen and untrustworthy state
aspiring followers
Those who listen Those who are happy
The Law Instructor
Mary
The incredulous
The Scholars of Religion
People with low faith
The Broken-Woman
The Wealthy Boss Zachaeus
Peter Judas
The Head Chaplains
The Second Burglar
Traveling towards Emmaus
The last meetings
List Of Encounters With Jesus In The Bible
The Bible is full of accounts of people having an encounter with Jesus. These encounters often changed the life of the person involved, as well as those around them. Here are just a few examples of such encounters:
1. Jesus was revealed to Saul
- Jesus was revealed to Saul
Saul was on the road to Damascus when he was blinded by a light, fell to the ground and heard a voice saying: “Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?” Saul replied: “Who are you, Lord?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
2. Jesus changed the name of Peter
The apostle Peter was originally named Simon. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter (Peter means “rock”). This is important because it shows that Jesus not only knows us by our names, but also cares about what kind of names we have and wants to give us a new name if he feels that the one we have isn’t right.
3. Jesus met Nathanael
Once you understand and respect the context of John chapter 1, it’s easy to see how Nathanael could have been so surprised when Jesus first spoke to him. The story begins with Nathanael meeting Philip, a disciple of John the Baptist.
Nathanael was from Cana in Galilee and had heard about the miracles that Jesus was performing in Judea. He asked Philip if he knew where Jesus was staying, but Philip didn’t know (John 1:43).
So they went looking for Him—and found Him! They saw an amazing sight: an old man sitting under a fig tree “with His disciples.” But nowhere do we read that this old man was Jesus Himself; He had long since left them (John 21:19). In fact, there are no descriptions at all of what He looked like here—just that He appeared as just another person on their journey together toward Jerusalem!
4. Jesus forgave a paralytic his sins
One of the most notable acts of forgiveness in the Bible is when Jesus forgave a paralytic his sins.
The story begins with Jesus meeting a paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, who had been lying there for 38 years (John 5:1-9). The pool had five porches around it and people would often sit on those porches waiting for an angel to come down from heaven and stir up the waters. When this happened, whoever put their hand in first would be healed. However, no one had been able to be healed because an angel never came down from heaven to stir up the waters until Jesus arrived at this site.
Jesus told him that his sins were forgiven by God (Mark 2:5) and then sent him home without legs so he could carry his bed himself (Luke 5:24). He also told him not to sin anymore but if he did sin again then go ahead and sin no more so we know what happens when someone doesn’t listen!
5. Jesus prayed for Peter
After Jesus was arrested, he asked his disciples to wait for him at the Mount of Olives. He then went ahead of them and prayed that they wouldn’t abandon him. Peter followed Jesus, but while Jesus prayed, Peter fell asleep. A servant girl saw this and woke up Peter. She told him that he was calling for you; she had seen it in a dream (Matthew 26:36).
When Peter heard what had happened from the servant girl and others who were with them, he ran back to the garden where Jesus had been praying for him. When he found the empty tomb of Jesus, he went inside and saw clearly that it was empty (John 20:11-14). Then a young man appeared at his side with clothes as white as snow and told him not to be afraid because Jesus wanted to reveal himself again (Luke 24:5-7).
The next day when Mary Magdalene came out of her house after spending all night weeping beside her loved one’s tombstone (John 20:11), she found two angels waiting there who asked why she was crying; then they told her that Jesus had risen from death!
6. Jesus raised dead Lazarus
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
In this story, Jesus visits his friends Martha and Mary in Bethany. The sisters are upset because their brother, Lazarus, has been dead for four days and they’ve sent for Jesus to come heal him—but he’s not so sure that he wants to go see his sick friend. When he finally decides to go and see Lazarus though…well…you can imagine how that all went down: Jesus raised him from the dead! He came back to life! And in front of many witnesses too! It’s no wonder people started calling Jesus God after this miracle (assuming they had doubted before).
7. Jesus appeared on the mount of transfiguration
In this passage, two prophets and Moses appear with Jesus on the mount:
- “Then Peter, James, and John the brother of James were given a vision in which they saw themselves transported up to heaven. There they beheld God seated at his right hand. He spoke with them about their soon-to-be preaching mission across Israel.” (Mark 9:2-3)
- “Now when he [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.. Afterward he appeared to two of his disciples while they were walking into town from Bethany.. Then he [Jesus] restored sight to two blind men who had been sitting by the roadside.. And lastly he appeared to all eleven apostles as they sat at dinner.” (Matt 28:9-10)
8. Jesus taught the crowd in parables
Jesus taught in parables because the people were not able to understand the truth. He was teaching them, but they didn’t know it. They thought he was just telling them stories, but he was actually teaching them about God and how he wants us to live our lives.
9. Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water
It’s no surprise that Jesus’ first miracle of calming the storm is one of the most well-known. But it also appears to be one of his most frequent. Matthew 8:23 says that Jesus “went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons…and when evening had come, his disciples went down to the sea.”
Jesus told his disciples not only about his power over nature but also about their own lives: “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place privately;” which means this wasn’t just an exercise in intimidation by a charismatic leader who could command nature at will (though many would argue it was); it was also part of Jesus’ long-term goal for building up leadership within his church by giving responsibility for others’ lives back into their own hands again after years spent under oppressive regimes where people could expect nothing from anyone except being oppressed further until death took them away from this world forever.”
Examples of Divine Encounter In The Bible
You can experience an encounter with God through Christ our Lord. Through his grace, he gives us the opportunity to turn away from our idols and become devoted followers of him. He is not only powerful enough to rescue us from every situation in life but also loves us enough that he would graciously make time for each person who calls out to him (Psalm 65:2).
He will always be there for you, ready and waiting for your call. If you need help right now, ask him!
I hope that this lesson has been helpful for you to learn about some of the encounters Jesus had with people in the Bible. Jesus is not a distant God who does not know us or care about us, but an intimate God who desires to have a personal relationship with each one of His children. I encourage you to read through these encounters and ask yourself if there is anything in your life that you need to be healed from, forgiven of, or encouraged by.
5 Things That Happen When You Encounter Jesus
This week I had the opportunity to teach a lesson on a woman in the Bible who loved God. I picked the Woman at the Well in John 4 because I think it’s maybe my favorite example of this. In studying this more over the last couple weeks, I noticed some cool things that I thought I’d share here also.
We start with the setting of the story:
1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria. 5 So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as He was from His journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
As always, there’s some hubbub from people who aren’t into what Jesus is doing and don’t understand exactly what’s happening, and this leads Him to move on for a bit. As He’s heading to Galilee, He passes through Samaria. This is an area that Jews wouldn’t have been excited to stop in. In fact, most of them would’ve gone the long way around so they could avoid Samaria completely. Samaritans were a racially mixed people who were part-Jewish and part-Gentile. Jews and Gentiles were united in not liking them, but Jews would’ve seen them as dirty and unclean. Samaritans also had their own version of the Pentateuch and their own temple on Mount Gerizim, which will become important later in this story. So it’s about noon and Jesus is tired so He takes a rest at Jacob’s well.
Now we’re going to see what happens when a Samaritan woman has an encounter with Jesus.
An encounter with Jesus:
- Will often not be what we expected
7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)9 The Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
We see a few ways here in which this unnamed woman is surprised by meeting Jesus. For one thing, it’s noon and she’s probably not used to seeing anyone at the well. Most people would’ve come to the well in the morning or in the evening when the temperatures would’ve been cooler. But as we’ll learn when we see more about her character in a few verses, she probably had reason to want to avoid being there at busy times. There are probably a lot of people in town who look down on her. So seeing anyone there at all is unexpected. She’s also surprised because she knows that He’s a Jew and He should therefore hate her. Most Jews wouldn’t have interacted at all with her because they would’ve thought it would make them unclean. He’s not only interacting with her, but He’s asking her for water. He’s not worried about being made unclean by her. And again she’s surprised because she’s a woman and He’s a man. It probably wouldn’t have been normal for a strange man to be talking with her so casually. So she’s coming up against a lot of unexpected things!
I know in my own life when I come to Jesus, I usually have a lot of my own expectations. But He has His own plan and it’s often different from mine and always better. I might expect Him to give me answers on a question I have, and instead He just gives me more of Himself. I might expect Him to guide me to a specific route He wants me to take in my life, but instead He reminds me to just seek Him first and everything else will follow. I might expect Him to take certain sorrows or troubles out of my life, but He instead just tells me to trust Him and wait patiently. I might expect Him to teach me one thing, but He teaches me another instead. Whatever it is, Jesus likes to surprise us and remind us that He’s got it under control. So when we come to Him, we should learn to expect the unexpected!
- Addresses questions we didn’t know needed answers
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
We see her here very focused at first on the literal water at this well. She’s never heard of living water. She doesn’t know to look for it or hope for it. She doesn’t know to ask for it. But Jesus introduces her to this question. But I love that as soon as He explains it to her, she’s all in…even though it seems she doesn’t completely understand what He’s talking about. She’s now the one asking for a drink.
Think about the time in your life before you knew Jesus, or maybe after you knew Jesus but you were wandering or struggling. During those times, did Jesus ever reveal something to you that you didn’t even know you needed? I know that’s happened to me. It’s kinda like how we talked about Him being unexpected. There have been plenty of times when I’ve come to Him wanting Him to help me maybe deal with someone who’s being annoying or frustrating to me. But the question I didn’t know I needed an answer to turned out to be, “What is it in your heart, Kristin, that needs to change in the way you interact with this person? In what ways are you not relying on Me? In what ways are you not believing that the gospel applies to this person? How do you need to focus on being more like Me rather than trying to change this other person?” It’s stuff like that. Kind of annoying, right? But really good for us. Jesus is patient and reveals things to us when we need to hear them in ways that we can respond to. That’s what He begins to do with the woman here. But then He gets even deeper.
- Reveals the gross parts of us
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
Jesus knows exactly what this woman’s biggest struggle is. He could just immediately say to her, “Well, lady, you’re sexually immoral. Everyone in town knows that you’ve been sleeping with quite a few different guys over the last few years. You’re living in sin with someone right now. You need to make some major changes.” That would’ve been overwhelming and probably off-putting. But He also doesn’t say to Himself, “I know she’s got a lot of sin issues, but I don’t want to offend her or go through the awkwardness of having a hard conversation, so I’ll just ignore it.” That would’ve been wrong as well!
Instead, Jesus knows the importance of revealing sin to the sinner in a loving way. He gently lets her realize what’s going on with herself. He tells her to bring her husband to the well, and she sees an opportunity to admit what’s been going on with her. He reveals the gross parts of her immorality, but also shows that it’s not enough to make Him bail on her as He sticks around to keep talking with her.
When we truly have an encounter with Jesus, He’ll do this with us, too! Sometimes we don’t want to have our sin pointed out to us, and that can even occasionally make us not want to come to Him. But we should remember that He’s kind and patient and He doesn’t point out our sin without also being there to help us overcome it and change.
- Gets to the true heart of the issue
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Similar to the above point, we now see that Jesus will always get to the true heart of the issue, whatever it is we’re dealing with. He’s revealed her sin to her and she’s understood that He’s a prophet. He knows things He couldn’t have known by any natural means. So since He’s a prophet, she now brings up a question that’s been bothering her for a long time. Like we mentioned at the beginning, the Samaritans had their own temple on Mount Gerizim, but the Jews had the temple in Jerusalem. Since she knows He’s a Jew, she knows He believes Jerusalem is the place to worship. So she asks Him to clear up the discrepancy between her people’s tradition and His. What He reveals to her is that the heart of this worship matter isn’t necessarily the past and the traditions of these two people groups. The heart of the issue is what’s happening now – those who worship God must do so in spirit and truth and the Messiah has arrived.
It’s easy for us to get distracted by secondary issues and skip the truly important issues. Sometimes we want to argue about whether we should have traditional or contemporary music in a worship service at church, but all the while we’re not focusing on actually worshipping Jesus in our hearts and actions. When we truly encounter Jesus, we can be certain that He will get to the heart of the issue, no matter what we do to try to distract from it.
- Sends us out to tell others about Him
27 Just then His disciples came back. They marveled that He was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to Him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His word.42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
This is my favorite part of this story. Jesus has been an unexpected person in her life who revealed the sin she struggles with and cares about the heart of her issues. She’s been amazed by Him and believes Him when He says that He’s the Messiah. Now His disciples come back, surprised to see Jesus talking to a strange Samaritan woman, and she takes the opportunity to slip away. While she’s gone, Jesus takes the opportunity to remind His disciples that there are a lot of people out there ready to be harvested for salvation. Little do they know, they’re about to see a real-life example that this is true!
When she gets back to town, the woman tells everyone she can find that she’s met the Messiah! Picture this – the woman who just a few hours ago was going to the well in the middle of the day to avoid seeing people comes back into town running around, gathering up as many people as she can find. What a change! She tells them that He knew everything about her, He’s a prophet, and her enthusiasm for Him makes them want to meet Him themselves. They believed her based on her testimony about Him, but then they encountered Him and believed even more.
So this, I think, is the most important thing we need to remember about a true encounter with Jesus. When we truly know Him and He’s done all this work in our hearts, we can’t possibly keep it to ourselves. We should be compelled by what He’s shown us and by the love He’s placed in our hearts to help other people meet Him and be changed by Him. A true encounter with Jesus sends us out to tell others about .’
A Chart of Healing Encounters
This chart identifies various accounts of healing in the New Testament for personal or group study. As we read how Jesus and his disciples interacted with very sick people, we see that Jesus’ ministry goals involved physical healing, spiritual restoration, social restoration. As nurses, these stories give us a healthy model for providing holistic care for our patients.
Healing Encounters in the Gospels and Acts*
| Encounter | Assessed Problems/Needs | Intervention | Outcomes | Role of Faith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Leper— Mt 8:2-3; Mk 1:40-41; Lk 5:12-13 | To “be made clean” | Jesus touched him, said, “Be made clean!” Sent to priest and directed to offer prescribed gift. | Leprosy cleansed; man restored to community, told others about Jesus (against Jesus’ orders) | Believed Jesus could heal, but no cause/effect noted by Jesus |
| 2. | Centurion’s servant— Mt 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10 | Paralysis and terrible distress; close to death | Jesus spoke (from distance) | Physical healing | Faith of centurion affirmed |
| 3. | Peter’s mother-in- law— Mt 8:14-15; Mk 1:30-31; Lk 4:38-39 | High fever | Jesus touched (took) her hand and lifted her up | Fever gone. Able to function in her social role | Not mentioned |
| 4. | Demoniac(s)— Mt 8:28-32; Mk 5:1-13; Lk 8:26-33 | Danger to society, bizarre behavior, selfmutilation, demon possession | Jesus confronted demons and cast them into a herd of swine | Clothed, in his right mind, desire to follow Jesus. Man, herders became evangelists. Jesus asked to leave, fear | Hostile to Jesus |
| 5. | Paralytic— Mt 9:2-7; Mk 2:3-12; Lk 5:18-25 | Forgiveness Physical healing | Jesus forgave sins, then healed the paralysis | Got up, carried mat, walked home, glorified God | Faith of friends |
| 6. | Jairus’s 12- year-old daughter— Mt 9:18-26; Mk 5:22-42; Lk 8:43-48 | Resuscitation (patient appeared dead or close to death), healing | Jesus took parents, Peter, James, John into girl’s room; took her by hand, told her to get up. Told father not to fear, Believe! | Patient got up out of bed, walked around and was able to eat Her spirit returned to her Skeptical crowd amazed | Jairus declared faith in Jesus to heal. Jesus said not to fear, but believe |
| 7. | Woman with hemorrhage— Mt 9:20-22; Mk 5:25-29; Lk 8:43-48 | Chronic vaginal bleeding (12 years), unsuccessful medical treatment, financially exhausted | Touched Jesus’ clothing (selfcare). Jesus insisted that she identify herself | Bleeding stopped immediately; felt in her body she was healed. Shalom (Go in peace) | “Your faith has made you well.” |
| 8. | Two blind men— Mt 9:27-31 | Cure for blindness Mercy | Jesus inquired about their faith, touched their eyes, said they would be healed according to their faith | Eyes opened Spread the news about Jesus throughout that district | “According to your faith, be it done to you.” |
| 9. | Mute demoniac— Mt 9:32-33 | Demon possession | Jesus cast out demon | Patient spoke. Crowd amazed Pharisees skeptical | Not indicated |
| 10. | Blind, mute demoniac — Mt 12:22; Lk 11:14 | Demon possession | Jesus cured him | Patient could speak and see. Crowd amazed; Pharisees skeptical | Not indicated |
| 11. | Boy with epilepsy—Mt 17:14-18; Mk 9:17-27; Lk 9:37-42 | Safety issues Demon possession | Disciples unable to heal because of their lack of faith. Jesus cured him | Demon came out, boy cured instantly | Disciples’ lack of faith prevented healing |
| 12. | Demoniac— Mk 1:23-26; Lk 4:33-35 | Poor behavior, seizures, demon possession | Jesus cast out demon | Demons came out of patient Jesus’ fame spread | Hostile to Jesus |
| 13. | Deaf mute man— Mk 7:31-37 | Deafness, speech impediment | Jesus provided privacy, put his fingers in patient’s ears, spat and touched tongue, said, “Be opened.” | Patient could hear and speak clearly; crowd spread the word about Jesus | Not indicated |
| 14. | Blind man— Mk 8:22-26 | Vision impairment | Jesus provided privacy, healed in 2 stages (saliva to eyes and touching) | Vision gradually restored, sent home | Not indicated |
| 15. | Widow’s son— Lk 7:11-15 | Apparent death | Jesus touched the bier and told patient to arise | Patient sat up and began to speak; crowd fearful, praised God | Jesus initiated encounter, took compassion |
| 16. | Infirm woman— Lk 13:11-13 | Evil spirit-imposed disability of 18 years. Unable to stand | Jesus called to her that she was healed, then laid his hands on her | Patient immediately stood up straight and began praising God. | Not indicated. Jesus initiated encounter |
| 17. | Man with dropsy— Lk 14:1-4 | “Dropsy” (edema?) | Jesus “took him and healed him” | Apparent object lesson for Pharisees. Man healed | Not indicated. Jesus initiated encounter |
| 18. | Ten lepers— Lk 17:11-19 | All had leprosy and were forced to keep their distance from healthy people Asked Jesus for mercy | Jesus cleansed all 10 of leprosy and told them to go show themselves to the priests (return to community) | One patient returned to thank Jesus, commended for his faith and sent on his way | All 10 cured. To the one who returned, Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” |
| 19. | Severed ear— Lk 22:47-51 | Right ear severed by sword | Jesus touched the ear and healed it | Physically healed | Not indicated. Jesus initiated encounter |
| 20. | Official’s son— Jn 4:46-54 | Lay ill, near death | Jesus said, “Go; your son will live.” | Son healed, father and entire household believed | Father went to Jesus, desperate |
| 21. | Disabled man— Jn 5:1-9 | Ill and disabled for 38 years, lying by pool at Bethesda. Apparent feelings of aloneness and helplessness | Jesus asked if he wanted to get well, ignored man’s excuses; told him to stand, take up mat, walk. Later, said not to sin anymore or worse things could happen | Healed, up and walking, going to the temple and apparently reformed | Skeptical |
| 22. | Blind man— Jn 9:1-7 | Born blind, financially destitute (beggar) | Jesus put mud made with his saliva on patient’s eyes, told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam | Physically healed (able to see); believed, witnessed to family and others in community | Jesus initiated encounter; no faith indicated |
| 23. | Lazarus— Jn 11:1-44 | Ill, apparently dead | Waited until patient dead 4 days, wept and went to tomb, asked the stone be removed, prayed, Lazarus come out. Unbind him. | Lazarus came out, still wrapped in strips of cloth. Jesus told crowd this happened so they would believe | Rather shaky faith, mixed with anger and resentment toward Jesus |
| 24. | Paralyzed man—Acts 3:1-10 | Congenital deformities of feet, ankles; unable to walk, carried by friends so he could beg. Asked Peter and John for alms | Peter looked at man, told him to look at them, stand up and walk in the name of Jesus. Took him by the hand and raised him up | Feet, ankles made strong; jumped up, began walking, leaping and praising God. Crowd filled with wonder and amazement | None indicated—only begging for money |
| 25. | Sick people/ Apostles— Acts 5:12-16 | Assorted sick and demon-possessed people brought by friends and relatives | People carried people out into the street so Peter’s shadow would fall on them | All cured. Apostles held in high esteem by people, but persecuted by Jewish authorities | Seeking signs and wonders, but healings resulted in faith |
| 26. | Unclean spirits/ Philip— Acts 8:6-8 | Large numbers of sick people-paralyzed, lame, demon possessed | Philip proclaimed the Messiah to them and performed signs (healing) | Many cured Great joy in the city | Healings resulted in faith |
| 27. | Saul’s blindness/ Ananias— Acts 9:17-19, 22:12-13 | Saul struck blind during a vision of Jesus | Saul prayed. Ananias instructed in a vision to go to Saul. Laid hands on Saul, said he’d been sent so Saul could be healed, receive Holy Spirit | Scales fell off Saul’s eyes, vision restored, he got up and was baptized. Ate and regained his strength | Faith involved, but not so much faith that God would heal, as a conversion experience |
| 28. | Aeneas/ Peter—Acts 9:33-35 | Bedridden for 8 years, paralyzed | Peter told him, “Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” | Immediately got up. All the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord | Man of faith with longterm disability; Peter took initiative |
| 29. | Tabitha/Peter— Acts 9:36-41 | Became ill, died. Grieving friends called for Peter | Peter prayed at bedside, told patient to get up. After opening eyes, she sat up He took hand, helped up | Peter showed her friends that she was alive Many believed in the Lord | None indicated, except all grieving believers |
| 30. | Disabled man/Paul —Acts 14:8-10 | Could not use feet, never walked, crippled from birth | Paul looked at him intently, saw he had faith and loudly told him, “Stand upright on your feet.” | Man sprang up, began to walk. Crowd thought Paul/Barnabas were gods, tried to offer sacrifices. Paul preached, was persecuted | Man “had faith to be made well.” |
| 31. | Spirit of divination/ Paul—Acts 16:16-18 | Slave girl with spirit of divination, earned money for owners by fortune telling | Paul got annoyed and ordered the spirit to come out of her | Spirit came out immediately; girl no longer useful to owner. Paul and Silas arrested | More annoyance than faith? |
| 32. | Eutychus/ Paul—Acts 20:9-12 | Overcome with sleep during Paul’s long sermon, fell out the third floor window. Died. | Paul bent over him, took him in his arms and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” | Boy taken away alive, friends and family comforted. Paul went back to preaching | Believer, but given up for dead |
| 33. | Publius’s father/Paul —Acts 28:8-9 | Sick in bed with fever and dysentery | Paul visited him and cured him by putting his hands on him | Cured. Others sick on island came and cured. Paul honored, islanders took care of his needs | No indication of faith, resulted in others seeking healing |
| *Note Jesus’ ministry goals: physical healing, spiritual restoration, social restoration (Mt 9:12-13; Lk 4:18-19, 10:8-9; Jn 10:10) |