Jesus stays a pandemic in his times. He demonstrates multiple healing acts in multiple ways to people from different walks of life. The crown of it all is His power to heal sin – by offering His life as sin offering for the world – past, present and future.
Overview
Matt 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34, 3.7-12; Luke 4:38-42; 6.17-19
- Background
- The plague was stayed
- Routine of Healing
- Responses to Healing
- Reasons for Healing
- Revelations on Healing
- Discussion
Objectives
To understand:
- Various types of healing Jesus can give
- Why he bore our sins/ sicknesses
- Attitudes to receive complete healing
- How we can help others get healed
Bible Passages
Matthew 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Introduction
Jesus – the greatest healer stops a pandemic in his days. In this passage we see healing of:
- Peter’s mother in law
- Demons
- Heals sick
- Even those touching him
The plague was stayed
In Jesus’ time, a disease similar to bubonic plague also known as the “black death” was ravaging lives and homes. This had not hit the earth for more than 800 years. It began in Jan 25 AD with a caravan of more than 800 caravan which had gone to remote parts of India, Tibet, Nepal etc to buy spices – spikenard, pepper, etc. On return, the fleas on rats infested mules, horses, camels in the caravan, the source of infection started infecting the people in the caravan and those around in the places the caravan passed through. Over 3,10000 lives were lost as per Dr. Ron Charles. [2]
The plague was stayed
Tiberius Caesar’s Governer General of Medicine, Marcus Omericus records this in detail. This event happens in September of AD 27. People would get tumours in arms and neck, chills, vomiting, fever. The only way they knew to prevent spread was to slash out the large tumours before they break open. If they broke open, anyone breathing them would breathe the infection. Previously, the caravan stopped at east of Euphrates for 9 months. The disease slowed down. When it proceeded, the disease started spreading. Omericus stopped it in Damascus. He found out that fever was last stage 100% contagious and 100% death. [2]
The plague was stayed
The second, more drastic means of stopping the plague was to confine all those whose sores had broken with their family and torch the houses. Over 16000 houses were torched 16000 people burned in Damascus. Disease seemed to have stopped. Tiberious gave order to continue. Within a week it came back. In the latter part of august of AD 27, the caravan reaches Capernaum on its way to Rome in August of AD 27.
On the way, he torches many houses. Peter’s mother in law Letricia is having fever. Marcus Omericus was now standing at Peter’s house about to torch it, when Jesus was summoned. [2]
The plague was stayed
Before Jesus enters, he is warned by Marcus that he cannot come out as the house was going to be sealed and torched. Jesus enters anyway. Even when tumours were lanced, it normally took 2-3 weeks for person to even get out of bed. The doors are sealed and the torch is about to be put on the house. The doors flew open and Jesus walks out with Peter’s mother in law, Letricia. [2]
The plague was stayed
Marcus records in big bold letters presented to the Roman Senate – ON THAT DAY THE DISEASE WAS STAYED in Capernaum and it went no further. On that day people came to the home and Jesus healed them all – all day and night.
An estimated 1.3 million people were prevented from dying of the plague – if the caravan proceeded to reach Rome.
It is over 360 years before the next wave of plague reaches Galilee – Decapolis area saving an estimated 8 million people. [2]
Routine of Healing
- He saw and healed – Peter’s mother in law, Letricia
- Some were brought
- Others came – from long distance to hear, to be healed
- Some reached out
Similarly Spiritually:
- He sees and heals
- Some are brought
- Others come – to hear, to be healed
- Some reach out
Responses to Healing
Serving Jesus
Leaving Jesus
Thanking Jesus
Seeking Jesus
Sharing His healing with others
When Christ touches us there is a reason – to in turn touch others. Do we fulfil the purpose of healing we have received?
Reasons for Healing
One objective – that we may die to sin and live to righteousness
One means – bearing our sin on his body
One outcomeReasons for Healing
Sickness of soul – salvation
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed
Reasons for Healing - Sickness of soul
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
What are our griefs and sorrows that Jesus bore?
“Our sins are called our griefs and sorrows because all our griefs and sorrows are owing to our sins and our sins deserve all our griefs and sorrows” Matthew Henry[1]
reflection
Though the best of us deserve the worst of suffering, God uses this necessary evil in the world of sickness and suffering to purify every one of His children.
No sorrow needs to be wasted in His Kingdom for His children.
Jesus touched and healed many in his day physically and spiritually. While there may be many not physically healed, we, today can be instruments of spiritual healing.
Revelations on Healing
God is primarily concerned about healing from sin
Our greatest ailments are a weak concern for the worst sickness – sin
Often physical sickness helps cure sinful habits
Spiritual healing is available to all
Some are unable to help themselves. We need to seek and help such people
Revelations on Healing
Many Christian institutions have reduced themselves into feeding and educating with weak spiritual focus
While physical needs shout at us loudly souls are silently screaming and dying
To meaningfully serve, caring for body should result in caring for the soul.
Christ is the greatest healer who desires wholistic healing for everyone.
Discussion
1.What strikes you about Christ’s healing approach?
2.How can we maintain focus on souls for healing and retain SOUL VISION? Take examples from situations around.
3.What attitude towards healing should we have?
References
1.Matthew Henry’s commentary
2.Dr. Ron Charles – cubitfoundation.org