Jesus Still Heals
October 4th, 2026 | Pastor Russ Smith | Healing | 6 Minutes
Have you ever cleaned your glasses and realized how much the smudges had affected your view? Life can feel much the same. Hurt changes how we see relationships, and disappointment makes us approach new opportunities with caution. Even when we love Jesus, we may have to admit, “I am having a hard time getting past what happened to me.”
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Mark 8:22–26 meets us in that honest place. A blind man comes to Jesus, receives a touch, and begins to see—but not clearly. His healing is still blurry. Jesus does not turn away. He touches the man again, and his sight is completely restored.
Healing is not a formula
Scripture does not give us a simple, step-by-step formula that guarantees healing. Pastor Russ observed that Jesus did not heal every blind person in exactly the same way. If God had given us a precise sequence, we might begin trusting the steps rather than the One who heals.
The story in Mark 8 is not a technique to copy. It reveals the compassion of Jesus. After the first touch, the man can see people, but they look like trees walking around. His need remains, yet Jesus is not frustrated or exhausted by it. He places His hands on the man again.
That moment offers hope to anyone living with frustration, fear, hurt, bitterness, addiction, or a need that has not yet changed. Your need has never exhausted His compassion. Incomplete healing does not mean Jesus has stopped caring. He will touch you again.
Let people lead you to Jesus
The story begins with unnamed people bringing the blind man to Jesus and begging Him to heal the man. We do not know how far they walked or what responsibilities they set aside. We only know that they saw someone in need and helped him reach Jesus.
That is the kind of culture the church should cultivate. When someone says, “I’m struggling,” we lean in and help that person get to Jesus. When we are the ones struggling, we must also be willing to receive help.
Some people are always showing up and caring for everyone else. When asked how they are doing, their automatic answer is, “I’m fine.” But healing invites honesty. We can say, “I wasn’t fine. Then I met Jesus, and now I’m moving forward. Come with me.”
Robert and Tammy’s testimony showed what this can look like. Through heart surgery, a heart transplant, and a kidney transplant donated by Tammy, they kept returning to faith and prayer. Their church family walked beside them with practical support and prayer. Their journey was not easy or immediate, but they did not walk it alone.
Trust the One who is leading you
After others bring the man to Jesus, Jesus takes him by the hand and leads him out of the village. The man cannot see the road or know where Jesus is taking him. He must decide that although he does not know where he is going, he can trust the One leading him.
Before the man experiences the miracle, Jesus is already leading him in the right direction. We often want to know the outcome and the route before we surrender. Yet uncertainty does not mean Jesus is absent. He can be at work before we recognize what He is doing.
A diagnosis may be real, and Pastor Russ made clear that faith does not require denying it. But we do not have to let a diagnosis erase our identity or determine every word we speak over ourselves.
Be honest about what is still blurry
When Jesus asks what he can see, the man tells the truth: he can see, but not clearly. He could have settled for “close enough.” Instead, his honesty makes room for another touch.
We can be tempted to hide the places where healing feels incomplete. We may wonder what people will think if we ask for prayer again. They will simply know that we received prayer again—and many need the same courage. We keep asking, seeking, knocking, and praying. We do not let yesterday’s disappointment steal from what Jesus may do today.
Receiving another touch also means refusing to return to old patterns. After restoring the man’s sight, Jesus tells him not to go back through the village on his way home. Pastor Russ connected that instruction to the thoughts, words, and habits that must change when Jesus leads our lives.
We stop speaking condemnation over ourselves. We stop tearing others down or returning to gossip. Ephesians 4:29–30 calls us to speak what builds up those who hear—and the first person who hears our words is often us. Obedience is not a formula for earning healing, but it is part of following the One who heals.
Common Questions About Healing
Why doesn’t the Bible provide a step-by-step formula for healing?
The Bible is not a guide for getting everything we want from life. It is the inspired Word of God, revealing who He is through the person of Jesus. When we want to understand healing, we should look to Scripture for the source rather than a formula. That source is Jesus (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 103:2–3).
Does asking for prayer again mean the first prayer failed?
Not at all. Prayer is a practice of faith, and faith requires trusting what we cannot yet see or fully understand. We know that God is good, desires to heal, and loves us dearly, but we do not always know His plan.
Perhaps He is building our faith through prayer. There may be sin in our lives that needs to be addressed, circumstances being orchestrated beyond our awareness, or a season in which we must wait and trust His timing. Whatever the reason, we should continue to ask, seek, and knock in prayer (Matthew 7:7).
Does faith require me to ignore or deny a medical diagnosis?
No. God has given humanity the intellect to discover truths about His creation through fields such as natural science and medicine. Christians should carefully consider the information, diagnoses, data, and studies provided by reputable doctors. Do your due diligence, remain informed, and seek further answers when you have doubts.
Medicine and science are practices carried out by people, so seek credible practitioners. They are not the final authority, however. Continue to pray, trust God, and seek His will without being consumed by fear or anxiety (Matthew 6:25–34).
What role does Christian community play in healing?
The people around us can build up or tear down our faith, so remaining connected to a godly, faith-filled community is vital. We pray for one another, encourage and support one another, remain present, and share our lives. We are for one another.
Scripture describes the Church as the body of Christ. When one part suffers, the rest of the body responds with care. We carry one another’s burdens and serve one another as we seek wholeness together (1 Corinthians 12:12–26; James 5:16; Galatians 6:2; Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; Matthew 18:19).
Can healing include emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual needs?
Definitely. Christ came not only to heal physical ailments but also to take away our sin and heal what sin has affected. Sin touches every aspect of life, leaving us broken emotionally, mentally, relationally, spiritually, and physically. The healing of Jesus reaches every part of our lives. In Him, we are made whole (Isaiah 1:18).
Put It Into Practice
Identify one physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual need that still feels unresolved. Tell a trusted believer or prayer-team member honestly what remains “blurry,” and ask that person to pray with you this week. Receiving prayer again is not a sign of failure. It is an act of faith that refuses to face the need alone or settle for “close enough.”
Come back for another touch
You do not have to pretend that everything is clear when it is not. You do not have to face your need alone, and you do not have to know every step before trusting Jesus. Let people lead you to Him. Tell Him honestly what is still blurry. Receive prayer again, and be willing to follow when He changes the route home.
Your need cannot exhaust the compassion of Jesus. Yesterday’s disappointment does not have to keep you from seeking Him today. Stay near, remain honest, and make room for another touch.
Watch The Full Sermon
Want to explore this teaching more deeply? Watch the complete message from City Church of Surprise on YouTube.
Need Prayer?
Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to walk through it alone. Our team at City Church would love to pray with you.
