James 5: 14-16
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Do you ever wonder why Christians touch the person they’re praying for? Does the “laying on of hands” make our prayers more powerful?
In the Old Testament, this term is used in the context of offering sacrifices. Priests would ceremoniously lay hands on the animal to transfer God’s curse for the people’s sins to the object of sacrifice instead of on the people (Leviticus 16:21). In some circumstances, we are symbolically transferring power from God to another through touch.
Other passages refer to the practice of “laying on of hands” when people were commissioned into leadership, similar to being “knighted.” In Numbers 27:18 we see God telling Moses to lay his hands on Joshua, the new leader, as he is being sent out. There is a transfer of authority and a symbol of anointing from one person to another. In the same way, later in the NT book of Acts, when the early church leaders and deacons were chosen “they presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:6).
Laying on of hands was also used for blessing others. Remember the scene where a group of children gather around Jesus and disciples try to push them away? Jesus responds lovingly, “Let the little children come to me..” and he took them in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them (Mark 10:14-16). We can follow Jesus’ example when we want to pray a blessing over someone by laying our hand on their shoulder – we are allowing the blessing of God to be transferred from us to them by the power of the Spirit.
However, our best example of “laying on of hands” comes from Jesus who often used touch when healing someone. New Testament scriptures record that Jesus laid his hands on the one who was to be healed (Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:23; 6:5; 7:32; 8:22–25; Luke 13:13). For example, in Luke 13:13 a woman who was crippled by an evil spirit experiences healing when Jesus lays his hands on her-” And he touched her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God”. Wouldn’t that be incredible to see?!
After Jesus ascended to heaven, scripture records the disciples following his example by laying hands on people when they prayed for them. When the apostles heard that some Samarian citizens had accepted God, Peter and John placed their hands on them and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit and they did! Impartation of the spiritual gifts happened.
There is no mandate or magical formula about laying on of hands. Jesus used it as a way to relationally interact with and express love to those who probably had little to no human contact. Believers can use this spiritual practice as a way to connect with other believers; it is an outward sign of the Spirit’s inner working power, but it is not required for healing to occur. It is a symbol of blessing, transference of power, and anointing. So let’s ask the person we are praying for if they are comfortable with us laying our hand on them, then pray with authority and see what the Spirit will do!
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, how would you like me to pray or bless the people around me? Please bring to mind those who need healing, encouragement, or blessing today. Pray as the Holy Spirit directs.
Prayer:
Jesus, we marvel at your power. You listened and obeyed your father and by His authority you healed people, sometimes with a word, sometimes with a touch, but always by your great power. Please give us boldness to pray with the same authority and power. Anoint my hands as I pray. As we lay hands on each other may we see the filling, signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit. To you be the glory and power forever. Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Laying On Of Hands
Leviticus 16:21
“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head.”
Matthew 9:18
“While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
Numbers 27:18-20
“So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.”
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,”
1 Timothy 4:14-15
‘Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”
“Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”