I used to think that Jesus could heal anybody at anytime. Luke 5:17 implies that there were times for healing. In other words, there were times when grace was available for healing. Jesus learned obedience to the Father's will by constantly maintaining an open ear to the Father's voice through the Holy Spirit (see Hebrews 5 & 8).
As disciples we must learn the same thing--how to manage the pouring out of His grace; learning to go where the grace is. If we do not acquire this discernment, we find ourselves striving in limited human energy to serve God. If we are praying when we should be serving or serving when we should be praying, we do so with minimal favor. Disciples learn to pursue favor (a "grace" related word). This process of learning can be frustrating because we often stumble. Yet we learn valuable lessons when we make mistakes. Ecclesiastes 3 shows that there are times and seasons for all of the activities of life.
~ John Elliott,
in a recent email devotional
...And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.
~ Luke 5:17
