Jesus Touch of Healing

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. Matthew 12;15-16

Jesus, you are as much a Healer today as you were 2,000 years ago. I take hope in your love and power to heal both the loved ones I entrust to your care and me. God is greater than any of my circumstances, whether physical, spiritual, financial, or end-of-life. This is such an important truth to remember whenever we are feeling defeated.

 We now live in an age when our modern treatment of medical issues takes place behind closed doors in sterilized surroundings. In the United States, HIPAA protects patients’ medical privacy. Unless you are the patient, you will seldom be exposed to the graphic reality of sickness. Now, I am not advocating going back to a time of non-sterilized environments; I am grateful for the advances in medical care. However, I am more thankful that Jesus is still the ultimate healer.

The sick, hurting, and destitute people Jesus encountered did not have the luxury of medical care, privacy, or hope. They endured the frustrations of their broken bodies daily, in full view of every passerby. The blind were forced to beg, those with leprosy lived as outcasts, the deaf lived in isolation, and the broken were robbed of all dignity. Yet Jesus saw them for who they were. They were beloved, created in the image of God, and loved by him.

“What sickening ulcers and putrefying sores! Yet He was ready for every new shape of the monster of evil and was victor over it in every form…It is still the case today. Whatever my own condition may be, the beloved Physician can heal me; and whatever may be the state of others whom I may remember at this moment in prayer, I may hope in Jesus that He will be able to heal them or their sins…I can hope for each and for all, when I remember the healing power of my Lord…He who on earth walked the hospitals still dispenses His grace and works wonders among the songs of men: Let me go to Him immediately and earnestly.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Jesus did not worry about social norms or traditions when it came to his beloved. We read the tender story of a man with leprosy who walked bravely out of the shadows and endured the scorn of the crowd so that he could come to Jesus. He had been condemned all his life to the realm of the outcasts until he learned about the one who could bring healing. Jesus could have stood at a distance and spoken the word for the man to be cured, but not Jesus. “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man…Be clean! Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (complete story: Matthew 8:1-4). The man was healed, but maybe for the first time in years, the man felt the touch of another human, and that touch was Jesus.

Jesus was not hindered by distance or racial barriers when it came to his beloved.  We read the humbling story of a Roman military officer who set aside his rank and power for his paralyzed servant and asked Jesus to heal him. The centurion bowed before Jesus, saying he was not worthy for Jesus to come to his home, but trusted that Jesus could “say the word, and my servant will be healed”. Jesus was amazed and told him, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. And his servant was healed at that moment” (Matthew 8:5-13).

Jesus did not worry about religious sensitivities when it came to restoring his beloved, who were broken. We read of the determination of friends to get their hands dirty and make a spectacle of themselves, if necessary, to bring their friend to Jesus. The noise must have stopped Jesus’ teaching as the friends worked hard to pull off the roof tiles until they could lower the man to Jesus. “So he said to the man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.” (Mark 2: 1-12 complete story).

Jesus understands the challenges of his beloved and gives us the strength, courage, and fortitude to face each day. Joni Eareckson Tada, who has been paralyzed and in a wheelchair since she was 17, tells the story of hoping to take her wheelchair to heaven with her. “Now I know that is not biblically correct, but if I were able, I would have my wheelchair up in heaven right next to me when God gives me my brand-new, glorified body. And I will then turn to Jesus and say, “Lord, do you see that wheelchair right there? Well, you were right when you said that in this world we would have trouble, because that wheelchair was a lot of trouble! But Jesus, the weaker I was in that thing, the harder I leaned on you. And the harder I leaned on you, the stronger I discovered you to be. So thank you for what you did in my life through that wheelchair. And now, “I always say jokingly, “you can send that wheelchair to hell, if you want.” (Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni & Friends website)

Lord, you are my healer and comforter. I bring all my cares to you and lay them at your feet. I am learning to listen to you when you say, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus.