While sickness may result from sinful behavior, sinfulness is not, for Jesus, the only cause of illness. Jesus maintained that persons were often possessed by forces beyond themselves, whether these be demons, illnesses of spirit and flesh, or habitual guilt. Accordingly, Jesus recognized that healing required the "hands on" presence of a loving community or a person to activate the faith and healing power of the sick. Just as illness reflected the presence of "a power greater than oneself," trust in "a power greater than oneself" was necessary for healing.
— Bruce G. Epperly, Crystal & Cross