In "Jesus' Son," Denis Johnson explores the complexities of health and perception, focusing on the narrator's relationship with medical professionals. The narrator expresses a tendency to deceive doctors, suggesting that he equates good health with the ability to manipulate their understanding. This highlights a deeper commentary on how individuals sometimes view their own health through the lens of social interaction and expectation.

This quote reflects the narrator's internal struggle and perhaps a feeling of inadequacy when confronting illness. By lying to doctors, he may be attempting to maintain control over his own narrative, revealing a profound disconnection between his true state and the external judgments of health professionals.