Why no healing for Timothy?

In 1 Timothy 5, we see that Paul’s friend Timothy is often sick. It literally says about Timothy:

For the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23a)

Paul had the gift of healing, as we can read in Acts 19:11-12, which says:

And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched him were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. (Acts 19:11-12)

So you would expect Paul to heal his friend Timothy. But no, Paul does not do that:

Do not drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23)

Paul does not heal his good friend Timothy, but gives him a medical advice. Hmm, that’s strange. Why didn’t Paul just snap his fingers and heal him? He healed people who weren’t his close friends, but not his closest friend. Why? This answer is not directly found in 1 Timothy 5, but if we look further into the subject of healing, we can still make considerable progress toward the answer, I think.

We’ve already looked at why Jesus performed miracles. Jesus’ primary purpose was not healing, but to provide evidence that He was sent by God to bring people (through Him) to God. Healing was not the goal, but the “side effect” of providing evidence so that people would believe in Him and thus come to God. This is what Jesus Himself says about that purpose:

If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father. (John 10:37-38)

But I have a testimony greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36)

Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. (John 14:11)

That is the reason why Jesus performed miracles. And yes, according to the Bible, Jesus was often deeply moved by the people who were sick. In various passages, we see that Jesus responded with compassion to their suffering. A clear example can be found in Mark 1:41, where we see the following:

Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ (Mark 1:41)

But the primary goal was (and is) not healing. We also see that Jesus did not simply heal anyone who passed by; no, He made choices based on what He felt: “Jesus was moved with compassion.” So, based on that compassion, He made choices about who would, or would not, be healed. But even that (the compassion) is not the REASON for healing. Notice:

In Matthew 26:52 (the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane), Jesus responds to Peter, who draws his sword to defend Jesus. Jesus says:

Put your sword back in its place, for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. (Matthew 26:52)

This happened when Jesus was arrested, and Peter wounded one of the servants of the high priest. Jesus stopped the situation and healed the man’s ear:

And Jesus answered and said, ‘Stop! No more of this.’ And He touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:51)

With these words, Jesus made it clear that His kingdom should not be defended with violence, and that suffering and crucifixion were part of God’s plan. So, even here, the healing of the ear was not the goal. The goal, again, is that Christ shows He is the Christ, and that He has the power, not the high priests, the temple leaders, and the elders who came against Him. Christ had that power over what did and did not happen, and that miracle was another proof that He had received the power of God and they had not. Again, that was proof that He was following God’s plan… even to His death and beyond…

Back to Paul and Timothy. Paul was a follower of Jesus, and the gifts he received came from the same God, so what Paul did was in line with those foundational principles given by God. It was not just “moved with compassion”; it had to be primarily a form of evidence, as Jesus Himself clearly indicated as the goal. And that evidence was necessary to lead people to God. That is the ultimate goal. So, even providing evidence is not the final goal; leading people to God is the ultimate goal.

Paul was indeed “moved with compassion.” If he didn’t care about how Timothy was doing, he wouldn’t have given him medical advice. So, the “evidence of his divine power” remains. And in a sense, it was not necessary to show that evidence at that moment. Timothy did not need that proof (that Paul worked under God’s power), because Timothy already knew that. Paul refers to Timothy…

To Timothy, my true child in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2a)

This indicates that Timothy was not only a Christian but also someone who accompanied and supported Paul in his ministry. So, Paul didn’t need to provide evidence of his divine power to his friend Timothy to lead him to God… and it is precisely that “providing evidence to bring people to God” that underpinned those miracles (including healings).

And now, to today… We have a complete Bible, FULL of evidence of who Christ was and is. The gifts of healing, as Paul had them, are not seen today. Why not? Look at Timothy and why he was not healed. The “non-healing” of Timothy is a lesson for today. If he had been healed, what would that have added to all the other evidence? Now, because he was not healed (and we understand a bit why), his “non-healing” is even greater than if he had been healed.

Do we understand that today and accept it today? Can we, if we are not healed, also say that what God has done is good? That healing was not Jesus’ primary goal and the “non-healing” of Timothy is a lesson that goes MUCH deeper than his frequent sickness and stomach issues? Even when it comes to ourselves?

Jesus’ goal is that we are shaped into His image and can come to God through Him. We need to ask Him for that, and the rest… is very, very far in the shadow of that ultimate goal.

Not seeing, but still believing.

Many, many people beg for healing over and over again: Let me see, let me hear, let me walk, O Lord.

Jesus Christ can heal, every hour, every moment. But if that doesn’t happen, do you then say: It is good for me as You have willed?

Here below, going through life without injury is nice, but God won’t ask later: Was your body here on earth without sickness or pain? Sick and healthy, hear this: God will speak to us all, and this question will echo: What have you done with My Son?

Once, Jesus walked on earth, He healed, did so much good, but isn’t this a glorious wonder, Jesus gave His blood for me! Jesus bore my sins on the cross, Jesus shared in my suffering, as long as I thank Him for this, I find peace in my heart.

If the Savior were to come by now, and He stood still beside me, don’t first ask: Heal me. But: Mold me entirely to Your will.

But even though I may be a child of God, and His cross has already borne me, sickness remains in my life until I will be with Jesus.

Even with this prayer in my heart, I travel to the land where there is no sickness, nor pain, where I will behold my Savior, where God will be all in all.

That the Savior reached His goal, even if through sickness or pain, keep your head turned upward, bear your cross patiently and silently. Even if you don’t see it, keep believing! Child of God, we are going home.

(Okke Jager, April 23, 1928 – Kampen, January 26, 1992)