Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
Heal Me
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The healing waters of Bethesda
There was a sick man lying
On his mat
To heal himself he was not
Able
So Jesus asked that sick old
What do you really want?
The man said, "I want to be healed"
Jesus said, "Take up your
Mat and walk"
He said "Heal me"
Heal me, Lord
He said, "Heal me"
Please heal me, Lord
Please heal me, Lord
So Jesus said, "Stand and
Walk?"
The crowd did look and see!
Two blind men in Jericho
They heard that Jesus was
Passing by
Jesus asked then what they
Really want
They said, "Lord, open our eyes"
Stand and walk!
Look and see!
Jesus comes to us today
The lame, the sick, and the blind
He asks us what do we really
Want
We say "Lord, open our eyes"
We say "Heal me, Lord, please
Heal me, Lord"
We say "Heal me, Lord, please
Heal me, Lord"
Stand and walk!
Look and see!
Jesus comes to us today
To a world of suffering and sin
He asks us what do we really
Want
We say "Lord, we want to be
Born again"
We say "Heal me, Lord, please
Heal me, Lord"
We say "Heal me, Lord, please
Heal me, Lord"
Stand and walk!
Look and see!
"Heal me, Lord, please heal
Me, Lord"
We say "Heal me, Lord, please
Heal me, Lord"
I say "Please heal me, Lord,
Please heal me, Lord"
I say "Please heal me, Lord,
Please heal me, Lord."
The song "Heal Me" by John Michael Talbot is a powerful and uplifting anthem that focuses on the transformative and healing power of Jesus. The lyrics speak of Jesus' ability to heal the sick, the blind, and the lame. The song references two stories from the Bible. The first is a story from the Gospel of John in which Jesus visits the pool of Bethesda where a sick man had been lying on his mat, trying to reach the healing waters of the pool. The man had been unable to reach the water for 38 years, but Jesus heals him and tells him to "take up your mat and walk." The second story is from the Gospel of Matthew, in which two blind men ask Jesus to heal them, and he does so.
The chorus of the song is a plea for healing, as the singer asks Jesus to "heal me, Lord, please heal me, Lord." The verses focus on the healings that Jesus performed, both in the Bible and in the present day, as he continues to heal those who are sick, blind, or in need of spiritual healing. The song ends on a hopeful note, as the singer expresses the desire to be "born again" and to receive Jesus' healing touch.
Overall, "Heal Me" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the transformative power of Jesus' healing touch. The lyrics encourage listeners to seek out Jesus' healing presence in their own lives, and to trust in his ability to heal and transform.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus came to Jerusalem to
Jesus traveled to Jerusalem where Bethesda, a pool known for its healing powers, was located
The healing waters of Bethesda
Bethesda was a pool that was believed to have healing powers
There was a sick man lying
There was a man who was sick and unable to heal himself lying by the pool
On his mat
He was lying on a bed or a mat
To heal himself he was not
Able
The sick man was not able to heal himself
So Jesus asked that sick old
Man
Jesus approached the sick man
What do you really want?
Jesus asked the sick man what he wanted
The man said, "I want to be healed"
The sick man expressed his desire to be healed by Jesus
Jesus said, "Take up your
Mat and walk"
Jesus miraculously healed the sick man and instructed him to pick up his mat and walk
He said "Heal me"
The sick man asked Jesus to heal him
Heal me, Lord
The song repeats the request for divine healing
Please heal me, Lord
The song expresses a plea and desire for God's healing power
So Jesus said, "Stand and
Walk?"
Jesus instructed the healed man to stand and walk
The crowd did look and see!
People witnessed the miraculous healing and were amazed
Two blind men in Jericho
They heard that Jesus was
Passing by
Two blind men in Jericho learned that Jesus was passing by
Jesus asked then what they
Really want
Jesus asked the blind men what they desired
They said, "Lord, open our eyes"
The blind men expressed their wish for Jesus to heal their blindness
Stand and walk!
Look and see!
The refrain emphasizes the miracle of healing and the joy it brings
Jesus comes to us today
The lame, the sick, and the blind
He asks us what do we really
Want
The song suggests that Jesus is present among us today, asking us what we truly want and need
We say "Lord, open our eyes"
The refrain changes to reflect our own desire for spiritual healing and understanding
We say "Heal me, Lord, please
Heal me, Lord"
The song continues to express the plea for divine healing
To a world of suffering and sin
He asks us what do we really
Want
The song suggests that Jesus is present in a world of suffering and sin, asking us what we truly desire
We say "Lord, we want to be
Born again"
The song expresses the hope for a new, transformed life through spiritual rebirth
"Heal me, Lord, please heal
Me, Lord"
The refrain repeats the plea for divine healing
I say "Please heal me, Lord,
Please heal me, Lord"
The song concludes with an individual plea for divine healing
Writer(s): Talbot John Michael
Contributed by Matthew E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.