Healing
Does God Still Heal? What the Bible Says, and What We Saw at Gage Park
At Jesus Festival 2026 people reported healings — one person came up out of the baptism water saying their back was healed. What Scripture teaches about healing, and how to pray wisely.
Yes — Christians across the world and through history have prayed for the sick and seen God heal, and the Bible gives every reason to keep asking Him. At the same time, not everyone is healed in this life, and faith has to be honest about that too.
At Jesus Festival Hamilton 2026 there was a Prayer and Healing tent, and early reports from the weekend included many testimonies of healing and freedom. One person came up out of the baptism water saying, “My back is healed!” This guide is about what Scripture teaches, what to do with stories like that, and how to pray wisely.
Healing in the life of Jesus
Healing runs all through the Gospels. Jesus healed people who were blind, who could not walk, who had diseases others were afraid to touch. He did not treat sick people as projects; He touched them, spoke to them and restored them to their families.
His healings were signs pointing to who He is and to the kingdom He brings — a world where, one day, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.
What the Bible tells us to do
Jesus sent His followers out to heal the sick as they shared the good news. James writes plainly: is anyone among you sick? Call the elders of the church to pray over them. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
So Christians pray for healing not because they have a technique, but because they have been told to ask, and because God is good.
What we saw at Gage Park
Over the 2026 weekend, people came to the Prayer and Healing tent and to the prayer teams, and early reports included many healings and deliverances. Testimonies shared at the baptism tank included someone saying their back was healed as he came out of the water.
We share these as people reported them, with gratitude and without exaggeration. We do not keep medical records, and we do not need to inflate anything God does. If God healed you at Jesus Festival, we would love to hear the story — send it to hello@jesusfestival.ca.
When healing does not come
Some of the most faithful people in the Bible were not healed in this life. Paul prayed three times for God to remove what he called a thorn in the flesh, and the answer was: “My grace is sufficient for you.” Not being healed is not proof that you lacked faith, or that God does not love you.
Be wary of anyone who blames a sick person for their illness, or promises healing in exchange for money. That is not the Jesus of the Gospels.
How to pray wisely
Ask boldly and specifically. Ask others to pray with you, and let the elders of your church pray over you. Keep seeing your doctor and taking the treatment you have been given; God also works through medicine, and the Bible never treats wisdom and faith as enemies. If you believe God has healed you, let your doctor confirm it before you change any treatment.
And keep praying for the deepest healing too — forgiveness, peace with God and freedom from what holds you. That is the healing Jesus promised to everyone who comes to Him.
Need prayer?
You do not have to wait for a festival
Ask your church's elders to pray with you, or write to the festival team. We would count it a privilege to pray.
"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well."
— James 5:14–15
Keep going
For prayer, and for what comes next.
Questions people ask
Does God still heal people today?
Christians believe God still heals in answer to prayer, as He did through Jesus and the early church, while acknowledging that not everyone is healed in this life. The Bible tells believers to pray for the sick.
What does the Bible say about healing?
The Gospels record Jesus healing many people as signs of God's kingdom, and James 5:14–15 instructs the church to pray for the sick. Paul's experience in 2 Corinthians 12 shows that God's grace is sufficient even when healing does not come.
Were people healed at Jesus Festival Hamilton?
Early reports from Jesus Festival Hamilton 2026 included many testimonies of healing and deliverance, including someone who said their back was healed as he came out of the baptism water. These are shared as reported.
Should I stop taking medicine if I believe I am healed?
No. Keep following your doctor's advice and let them confirm any healing before changing treatment. Faith and medical care are not opposed.