What Do You Know About the Laying on of Hands?

         Here’s another link between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament it is recorded that the priests were to be prepared—purified—for their service to the Lord. This included representatives from each tribe of Israel laying their hands on the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn—just like the firstborn were either protected or sacrificed in Egypt.  

Baptism in the Jordan River
Israel

As recorded in the New Testament, Jesus did heal a deaf man—but He did it with more than just laying on of His hands as had been requested. He put His fingers in the man’s ears and used His very spit and prayer to revitalize the man’s hearing and speech. Later, right before He left this earth for Heaven, Jesus told His disciples what He expected them to do. His instructions included the powers that would be given to those who believed.

And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."  Mark 16:15-18 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The power of Jesus here demonstrates healing, yet not everyone has been given the gift of healing. There are many gifts of the Spirit…and those gifts all work together through people to minister to other believers. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are described in First Corinthians Chapters 12 - 14. Among, but not exclusively just these, the gifts are:

1.     Word of wisdom

2.     Word of knowledge

3.     Faith

4.     Gifts of healings

5.     Miracles

6.     Prophecy

7.     Distinguishing between spirits

8.     Tongues

9.     Interpretation of tongues

Laying on of hands isn’t necessarily always associated with healing. It can be as it was used in Numbers for purification and for special blessings—like when missionaries are sent out. It is interesting that the laying on of hands was not just a New Testament action since we note that it was used during ancient times. There is power in touch—for physical, mental and spiritual healing. Pray about how God wants to use you to touch other’s lives for Him. It takes faith—to believe in Jesus and His power at work in your life…and in the lives of others around you.

 

When you present the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. Numbers 8:10

 

A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him. Mark 7:32

 

Meditate. Read God’s word and seek to understand what He is saying.

 

Prayer – Lord, I hear You asking…Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:13-16.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory (my salvation). Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the LORD has done. - Psalm 118:14-17

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

Reused from Banquet With The King blog, September 26, 2018 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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