Who do you say that I am?
Jesus: the Great Physician
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Luke 7:18-23, Isaiah 61:1-2, Matthew 9
Memory Verse: "And with his stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5 (Pre-K to grade 3)
Healing, Repentance, and Forgiveness Often Go Together
John the Baptist preached about repentance because God's Kingdom/God's rule was near (breaking into their time in a new way.). After Jesus' baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16) Jesus began his ministry in Galilee preaching the Good News of God's Kingdom/God's rule being shown plainly through Jesus' healing "every disease and sickness, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, the epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them." (Matthew 4:23, 24).
In Matthew 9 Jesus said to the paralytic man whose friends brought him, "Take heart son, your sins are forgiven." When the teachers of the law said that was blasphemy, Jesus said, "Which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven, or to say rise up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man (Jesus) has authority on earth to forgive sins'…then he said to the paralytic, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.' And the man got up and went home." (Matthew 9:2-8 )
The breaking into their lives of God's present Rule (Kingdom) through Jesus' healings, forgiveness of sin and deliverance demonstrated who Jesus was and is: the promised Messiah/"anointed" One--and more. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the One who is to come or shall we look for another?", Jesus answered by healing many diseases, casting out evil spirits, preaching good news to the poor--the very signs of God's coming Servant-Messiah and King in Isaiah 61:1-2. It was evidence both of who Jesus is and of what God's Kingdom is concerned with--setting things to right, fulfilling God's original purposes for his creation and his people.
Jesus is the Savior, the one who heals the sick and forgives sinners, the one who makes people whole, both in body and in spirit. In Matthew 9:10f, Jesus was eating with tax collectors (corrupt) and "sinners". When the religious leaders were scandalized, he said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick…For I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners." (vs.12-13) It is only as we admit our need for healing and deliverance from sin that Jesus helps us. We have to ask and we have to come to him, and we can bring our friends to him.
In the Old Testament God reveals himself as the Healer. In Exodus 15:26 God says," I am the LORD who heals you." He calls his people to follow and to obey him so that they do not fall into sin and its consequences. The Jews knew that healing as well as forgiveness comes from God. One of God's names is "Jehovah Rapha" (Yahweh Rapha)--"The LORD who heals". Psalm 103:3 reminds us, "He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." Psalm 147:2 says "He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." Isaiah 53:4 & 5 reminds us "Surely he took up our iniquities and carried our sorrows", "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace (shalom: wholeness, well being, health, proper relationships, etc.) was upon him, and by his stripes (wounds) we are healed."
Jesus is God with us, God's Word made flesh, Son of God and Son of Man. He is the Great Physician, the Healer who came to bring us the wholeness that God wants for us--both in terms of health of body and spirits and in terms of sin. We have to come to Jesus and ask for that. Our healing and transformation is not complete in this life but it is something that God wants to work in us and through us in this broken and fallen world. As Fr. Nigel says in healing services, "When we pray, something always happens" even if it is not what we had in mind.
Jesus also sent out his disciples to do what he was doing. He sent the twelve out and he sent out 70 others of his disciples and "gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and cure every disease". In Luke 10:1 Jesus sends out 70 of his disciples, two by two, to work in God's harvest. They were to "heal the sick" and tell people "God's Kingdom was near" and call for them to turn away from their own way (repent).
God has restored a ministry of healing to his church and he wants us to be involved. When have you seen or experienced God's healing? When did you discover that God heals today?
Let's look at some of Jesus' healings to see what we can learn. Look at Matthew 9 and read the first story (vs.1-8 ). In this first story there is sin involved in the sickness but that is not always true. When Jesus healed the man born blind, his disciples asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus said neither, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (John 9:3) In this chapter Jesus heals men, women and children. Sometimes the person comes by herself like the woman bleeding for 12 years. She touched the hem of Jesus' garment (where there were tassels to remind the wearer of God's commands). The hem also symbolized the owner's identity and authority. (See p.153 "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus). Jesus knew that someone had touched him in a special way and spoke a word of encouragement, "Take heart daughter, your faith had healed you." In the next healing, Jesus asked the blind man if he had the faith that Jesus was able to do the healing and the man said he did. Then Jesus healed a man who had an evil spirit that was controlling him. Jesus doesn't use a cookie cutter approach. He knows exactly what that person needs.
Then Jesus asked his disciples to PRAY for the LORD, the Owner of the Harvest to send out laborers and then he sent out the twelve to do this. The Lord calls us to pray for healing also. It is God who heals and delivers and forgives but he wants to use us. Are we willing to be available? Only a few have a "gift of healing" but we all are able to bring someone to Jesus and pray for their healing or salvation. Sometimes when we need healing James 5 tells us to call for the elders to pray and sometimes tells us that we are to minister to each other, to confess to each other and pray for each other as God leads--so that we may be healed.
God worked powerfully in healing in the early church and today in some places in the world--so that many will come to know Jesus. In Acts 9:34 Peter tells the paralyzed Aeneas, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." He rose immediately and "All who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord."
In the New Testament healing was done in the NAME and POWER of Jesus. He still wants to use us in the same way today.
Here are some Words the Lord gave the teachers for us to reflect on.
"So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own city." (Matthew 9:1) A word received: I came to my own, but they did not understand. I will come to you if you ask me and give you understanding by my Holy Spirit.
Stop and ask.
"Then behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.'" (Matthew 9:2) A word received: Bring all the broken-hearted and sick to me.
What are some of the ways we can do this?
"And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, 'This man blasphemes!'" (Matthew 9:3) A word received: What is your reaction when you hear me speak or see me do something? Do you rejoice with me?
What do we do?
"But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, 'Why do you think evil in your hearts?'" (Matthew 9:4) A word received: I want you to learn to handle it when evil thoughts come to mind. I want you to turn to me in repentance and ask for forgiveness from my father in my name.
Jesus came to give us victory over sin by his cross. Do we bring our sin to him quickly? Do we thank him for his forgiveness?
"'For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Arise and walk"?'" (Matthew 9:5) A word received: Look to me for direction and guidance.
We need to keep turning to Jesus and his Holy Spirit step by step. He alone knows what is needed.
"'But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'--then he said to the paralytic, 'Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.'" (Matthew 9:6) A word received: I want you to know that I have the power to forgive sins and the power to heal.
Praise him!
"And he arose and departed to his house." (Matthew 9:7) A word received: I want you to respond to my words as this man did.
When Jesus gives us instructions, do we do it?
"Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men." (Matthew 9:8 ) A word received: I want people to marvel and reflect on what God can do in their lives.
Are we stingy with our praise and thanks? Do we take it for granted?
NO CLASSES ON NOVEMBER 29.
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