Laying on of Hands (LH) https://youtu.be/wFMoscVVbfs
Background
In recent weeks I have written on the importance of our physical meeting together as Christians as a medium of revelation. This includes touch is an important medium of revelation (1 John 1:1). To exist in the image of God, especially as he has appeared in Christ (2 Cor 4:4), involves us as space-time embodied beings who speak, move, touch, signal etc. I have also taught on the hand of God as an agency of power, salvation and intimacy with his people. Jesus is the visible hand of the Lord animated by the other hand of God, the Holy Spirit. This has led me to reflect on an often-forgotten dimension of New Testament Christian practice, the laying on of hands.
Introduction
The book of Hebrews says the laying on of hands is a foundational teaching. “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings/baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” (Heb 6:1-2)
In the average local church, we can reasonably expect the congregation to have some knowledge of all these doctrines, with the single exception of “the laying on of hands”. Why is this? Perhaps many churches simply “get on with it”, and don’t see the need for instruction on what they are practicing. Or, just the reverse, the rite is not being practiced at all. Maybe some folk think it is best left up to the Pentecostals? These are not valid reason for neglect. Since all scripture is inspired so as to equip us for “every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17) this must include the biblical references to LH. We should recognise the LH as a “means of grace” God has placed in the Church to strengthen his people for life and witness. Before passing on to investigate LH itself, let me make a note about the deficiency of translations.
Sometimes English translations fail to literally render the original Greek words. Where the Greek has, “How are such mighty works done by his hands?” (Mark 6:2), the NIV has, “miracles done by him”; Acts 14:3 has “granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands”, NIV translates, “enabling them to do…”, Acts 19:11 has “God did extraordinary miracles by the hand of Paul”, NIV has “through Paul”. Other versions, e.g. NLT, distort the text in similar fashion.
Who Lays on Hands?
In Old Testament times hands were laid on a sacrifice as it was dedicated to the Lord (Ex 29:10, 15; Lev 1:4; 3:2, 8, 13 etc.). In a connected way the Levitical priests were set apart for holy service when all the people laid their hands on them (Num 8:10). This seems to indicate an acknowledgement by the congregation of their representative role on their behalf. Elsewhere we see the impartation of blessing and appropriate gifts of the Spirit through LH (Gen 48:17-20). This is emphasised in the succession from Moses to Joshua (Num 27:18, 23; Deut 34:9). What seems strikingly absent from the old covenant is the laying on of hands for healing. The LH has a stronger profile under the new covenant. This would appear to flow from the presence of God in the midst of his people through Incarnation (Matt 1:23; John 1:14).
Throughout the Gospels Jesus is described as LH on needy people (Matt 8:3; Mark 1:41; 5:23; 6:5; 8:22-25; 10:16; Luke 5:13; 13:13). The multitude actively ask Christ to do this (Matt 9:18; Mark 5:23; 7:32). E.g. Mark 8:22 “some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him”, “children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them” (Matt 19:13 cf. Luke 18:15). The apostles continue this (Acts 5:12; 6:6; 28:7-10; 1 Tim 4:14?; 2 Tim 1:6), as do local church elders (James 5:14?; 1 Tim 4:14). In practice this might involve any believer e.g. Ananias praying with hands for Saul/Paul (Acts 9:12, 17). Whilst Mark 16:18 is not original, it demonstrates that the LH was an accepted practice throughout the early church; “they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” What however did this practice achieve?
What is the Result?
Joshua seems to have received the Spirit of wisdom from Moses (Deut 34:9). All upon whom Jesus LH received a blessing (Mark 10:16 cf. Matt 19:13-15; Luke 18:15). Power was communicated from Christ imparting healing on every occasion (Mark 5:41-42; 6:5; 8:22-25; Luke 4:40; 13:13). “Signs and wonders” take place through the hands of the apostles, (Acts 5:12), healing transpires through Ananias’ prayers for Saul/Paul (Acts 9:12; 28:7-10). Healing seems assumed for the LH of the elders for the sick person (James 5:15-16 cf. Mark 16:18.
More comprehensively, the gift of Spirit is mediated by LH to the Samaritans and Saul/Paul (Acts 8:17; 9:17). Likewise, the Gentile Ephesians are empowered to receive the Spirit, speak in tongues and prophesy (Acts 19:6). The narrative of Acts assumes that an authoritative LH imparts the gift of authority to minister and lead (Acts 6:6; 13:3). This is even clearer in Paul’s exhortations to Timothy (1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6).
The one exception to the apparent universal efficacy of LH is the sphere of deliverance form evil spirits. Though the crippled woman in Luke 13, especially verse 13, testifies to a release from the general power of Satan. How should we understand the energy that is at work in the New Testament LH?
Discerning the Inner Spiritual Dynamic
The clearest indication of the relationship between the human LH and the work of God is found in Acts 4-5. The gathered Church prays, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”” (Acts 4:29-30). A little later we hear how this prayer was answered, “Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.” (Acts 5:12).
In the order God, Christ, apostles/Church, the hand of the Lord is reached out to recreate and redeem broken humanity. Jesus’ LH is universally potent because whatever his hand touches already belongs to him and is his destined inheritance (Luke 10:22; Col 1:16). In Christ God reaches out his hand in creation and redemption. The life of the new creation in Christ is being communicated. Likewise, “in Christ” “all things” are ours (1 Cor 3:21-23). There is no doubt that LH quickens our faith and opens up an opportunity for divine healing, but these should be seen as secondary to our participation in something far deeper. Through LH there is a transference of the Spirit and a being touched by the new creation presence of the kingdom of God in Christ because we are entering into the dual identification between God and suffering struggling humanity that constitutes the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14; Rom 8:3; 1 Tim 3:16 etc.). LH communicates nothing less than a more intense share in God’s own glorified humanity.
If we are to be led by the Spirit into the grace imparting exercise of LH, we must understand it not as an external ritual or formulaic act but as a real extension of the Incarnation. Since the Church is “the fullness of him who fills all things in every way” (Eph 1:23) and its members are the members Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12) LH is designed to be a real communication of a share in the glorified humanity of Jesus.
Response and Conclusion
In the broader context of the life of Jesus the LH exercised through the Church is a Spirit-led (cf. 1 Tim 5:22) action of a surrendered Body. The potency of LH is not automatic, but integrated into an ordered spiritual life, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Rom 8:16-17). The dynamic action of the real presence of the glorified life of the all-triumphant Jesus comes to bear through us in the same way as it grew in him. Everything moves through the cross and into the resurrection. In our case grace flows in the reverse order as that it did for Jesus, hence Paul says, “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings” (Phil 3:10). We first need resurrection power to equip us to endure suffering that will bring glory to others (Eph 3:13). We are, “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.” (2 Cor 4:10-12). Voluntary afflictions for the sake of others can communicate the life of Christ through the LH making broken people whole. LH then is an expression of the mystery of the gospel. For the manifest presence of the power of the life of Jesus, this is surely a path worth taking.