How am I accepting suffering or illness in my life to draw closer to the Lord and my desire for eternity with him? If we hear the President's name, we instantly mentally conjure some of his characteristics. He also answers our prayers when He uses doctors and nurses and medicines to bring about healing, just as He used spittle and clay and water in the healing of the man born blind. In this Gospel account, the crowd is walking with Jesus on his way to heal the daughter of Jarius. My first answer is that we should not feel obliged to give a full explanation where one does not exist. 9 For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go! and he goes, and to another, Come! and he comes, and to my slave, Do this! and he does it. 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said to those who were following, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. Our Lord made a point of commending his faith. When she admits she touched him, Jesus replies, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.". We are not to close our eyes to problems in the text, but faith allows us to live with apparent inconsistencies, knowing that Gods word is inerrant and infallible, and that our understanding of His word is neither of the above. He had absolutely no status and was looked down on as an untouchable. Any person she had touched in the crowd was also ritually unclean. The womans story is told in completion before the rest of Jairus story (Mark 5:35-43) is told. As the writer of Hebrews wrote, And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to himmust believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). We will submit. The days of her menstrual period were regarded as a quiet time, a time for herself. Get ready to become more and more fascinated with Jesus. May God stretch and increase our faith. He even had authority over nature. The centurion did not request Jesus presence, nor did he feel it necessary for his servant to be healed. A man of authority, like the centurion, could quickly recognize and appreciate the superior authority of Jesus. What opportunities does Jesus give us to bring others to him through our prayers of intercession or specific acts of care and concern? The Jews hated the Samaritans and considered them to be half-breeds and very unspiritual! 10 Steps to Healing from Spiritual Trauma, 10 Things You Should Consider before You Drink Alcohol, 10 Things You Should Never Say to Your Wife, How God Fills in the Gaps for Homeschool Moms, 7 Surprising Habits for Joyful Spiritual Growth, Mimi's Place: Learning the Rules of Being a Grandmother, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. (John 9: 35-38) The illumination of the blind mans faith is completed when he encounters Jesus for the second time. Christ Himself is named Jesus, Savior. God's names likewise identify His character traits: He is Eternal, Creator, Almighty, our Banner, our Healer, our Sanctifier, our Peace, our Righteousness, our Shepherd, our Master, etc. Elections, .ai-rotate {position: relative;} Cindee Snider Re Stein points out that one other reason why healing was essential in the ministry of Jesus is the fact that He had compassion that was equal to the power He had. The 10 lepers werent healed until they acted in faith and turned to head to the priest. This love for the nation was expressed by his role in building (or helping to build) their synagogue. The reason why the healing of Naaman is pertinent to us is that Naaman and the centurion are very similar in many ways, except in their approach to God for healing. He accepted Jesus' word that his son was healed, and apparently, this knowledge comforted him to the point that he felt little need to rush home. And though it is a clear act of love for her directly, there is much more to the story as a lesson for us. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Sometimes faith seems to be needed. Jesus takes command of the situation and pronounces that her faith has healed her. In this Gospel account the crowd is seeing a woman who has suffered the severe consequences of exclusion. The instructions of Leviticus 13 and 14 can seem peculiar to us. Sure we can ignore or try to avoid them for a while, but inevitably sickness and death catch up with every single one of us. Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy. Help me to have the courage and trust to offer you whatever sorrow, concern, or pain I carry today, knowing that my offering makes present your redemptive graces for the world. But we don't know this for sure. It was one such slave girl who happened to become the servant of Naamans wife. We know that Jesus healed people, all the time, but here's the question why? [Laura Hammel is a member of the Sisters of St. Clare, a Poor Clare community in Saginaw, Michigan. First, these miracles testify to the fact that Jesus is who He claimed to beIsraels Messiah. He asks, "Who touched Me?" Reflections on Ethics, Faith, and Health Care Jesus Kind of Healing a Reflection on John 9 by Fr. He desires that we regard His names and thus Him and His character reverently, taking the pursuit of Him and His way of life seriously as a matter of profound aspiration. So she went to see her doctor, who referred her to a specialist. Develop a morning and evening rhythm of giving thanks so that it becomes a lifelong pattern. [ a] When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.". He viewed this as a political ploy, giving the Syrians a pretext for another attack on Israel. The clue to Jesus' holistic healing of this woman, which leads to her full restoration as one of God's children, is found in the way Jesus responds to her act of faith. Lord, today I bring to you the many people who are sick in mind, body, or spirit. How have you experienced the healing power of Jesus? Jesus told her not to cry because it was unnecessary and inappropriate. . The centurions faith did not require Christs presence, nor rites, rituals and magical formulas, only the spoken word of the Lord. Also, when He bestows His grace on you, it will enable you to live in full confidence as His son or daughter. I have concluded in answer to why some are healed, some are not is that when healing occurs, it will ultimately bring glory to God. Jesus miraculous healing of this man is one of many such healings that are recorded in the gospels. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. Guests Maya Adolf and Jamie Sturm started an employee-led educational group to foster racial understanding in their workplace. Suddenly Jesus says he is aware of power leaving him. Instantly, his skin disease disappeared (1:42). Every miracle of Jesus is certainly an act of love given toward the person healed. His new vision applies both to his bodily eyes and to the eyes of his newfound faith. Jesus Heals - Catholic Daily Reflections Faith does not require sight. By now he has begun to believe in Jesus and wants to be his disciple. Jesus heals the crowds: A reflection on Mark 5:21-43 What greater compliment to the character of God than to have men demonstrate that they have confidence in Him. What a beautiful pattern. Some people believed that women bled because they were possessed by an evil spirit. Faith is trusting in the person of God, based upon the testimony of those who have seen him. For those who were sick, or whose loved ones were sick, each healing would have had a powerful effect upon them and upon their whole family. 16 And fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, A great prophet has arisen among us! and, God has visited His people! 17 And this report concerning Him went out all over Judea, and in all the surrounding district. When someone mentions another individual to us, we immediately think about that person's personality, the way he does things, the way he speaks, his mannerisms, his reputation, etc. It must have been an awesome sight, seeing all those Rolls Royce chariots arriving at the house, something like the arrival of the black limousines at the White House, when dignitaries and heads of state visit our president. Each person in the crowd has to wonder at what Jesus just did. Too often, we focus our attention on our faith, rather than on God, who is the object of our faith. I want to live this earthly life in your serviceplease never let me become dependent upon my own efforts but rather on you alone. You know where I avoid talking about, dealing with, or bringing to you the sorrows and wounds of my heart. . Let our prayer be a reflection of the greatness of our God. Everyone in the crowd is left with a decision to make just as the woman had to do; continue following Jesus to Jairuss house or perform the ritual cleansing, changing clothes and remaining alone until evening. In addition to the persuasive power of the letter from the king of Syria, Naaman came laden down with money and expensive gifts. In healing the woman in front of many people, Jesus was himself making a public statement, a dangerous one, about his own view of the religious laws he found to be against his ideas of justice and mercy. Both boys were the only son of a widow. So it was for the centurion and so it is for us. The true attitude of the Jews toward Gentiles of a lessor value can be seen from Luke 4:22-30 and Acts 22:21-23). He was also intent upon focusing on the mans position and power as a centurion. Jesus didn't just heal the physical condition of the man with the skin disease, as wonderful as this must have been. The centurions petition was a request for grace, and thus he totally rejected any worthiness on his own part (although the Jewish elders thought he was worthy). Jesus cleanses a man with leprosy. This first example of Jesus' healing miracles is important, as it emphasizes the link between miracles and faith. (Lev 15:19-31) If the bleeding did not stop, the woman was permanently excluded. Help me to have the courage and trust to offer you whatever sorrow, concern, or pain I carry today, knowing that my offering makes present your redemptive graces for the world. In your life and mind, God will never let us off the hook of faith. We know that because of Israels sin and rebellion against God Syria was given dominance over Gods people. Naaman arrived at the door of Elishas house. They said to the blind man again, What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. [Again] they said to him, What did he do to you? Moved with compassion, Jesus responded with Go, show yourselves to the priests (Luke 17:14). She had no real connection to others, not much self-respect, and little, if any, control over her life. Maybe the blessing is a delicious warm cup of coffee or an encouraging phone call. We explore what the Bible has to say about the purpose of your work with guest Tom Lutz. Nathan Stone writes in his book, Names of God,that this name means "to restore, to heal, to cure . Those who will become sons of God in the fullest sense are those who trust in, rely upon, and conduct their lives according to what God iswhat Jesus Christ is. First, note with me that there are some very perplexing differences between Lukes account and that of Matthew. Those who desire to be healed or to have a loved one healed must exhibit faith. This centurion was a military officer, attached to the occupation forces in Israel. Thank you for caring about, not just our eternal destiny and our physical bodies, but also our souls and our relationships. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed" (1:44). 2 And a certain centurions slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. The two crowds met head-on, outside the city of Nain. He was not seeking his own glory or honor. Everything that Jesus Christ reveals to us about His personality and character is wrapped up in His name. In Matthews account, this is never mentioned (Matt. After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Naaman obeyed and was cleansed. Naaman was a military man, too, like the centurion. I believe that this is for several reasons. 2021 2 Dec Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers but in our familiarity, it's easy to miss the profound lessons tucked away in this story. The bottom line was that the traffic light was malfunctioning. When God enters our life, we are able to stand up straight, so to speak. Ordinarily, uncleanness is transferred among men, but holiness is not (Haggai 2:10-14). Rather than appealing to Jesus as a man of great position and power, he approached Him as an unworthy Gentile. When we come closer to Jesus, we find that it is Jesus who has come close to us, confirming our faith and eliciting in us the joy of worship. With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. Although He puts the woman on the spot to confess openly what she had done, He encourages her by commending her faith. This is significant for us. I believe we offend Him when we take His gifts for granted and forget to say, Thank you. The Apostle Paul alluded to this when He wrote to the church in Thessalonica, instructing them to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The other crowd was the opposite. He knew what lie before Him in Jerusalem, the greatest most horrific sacrifice of His ministry. Jesus Christ as Healer, The Model Prayer (Part Three): Hallowed Be Your Name, The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Woman With a Flow of Blood, Jesus Christ's Miracles: Healing Woman with Flow, Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing Woman with Flow, The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Nobleman's Son. Naaman was the captain of the army of the king of Syria, Israel's enemy. Jesus calms a storm on the sea. "Name" to a Hebrew person indicates what the person is, and not the phonetic sound that is attached to this particular person. Simons mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. She was not only disheartened by the physical state of her illness, she was perhaps more troubled by the mental and social state of her existence. When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. Then, upon further reflection, he concludes that he must be a prophet, since he performed the unheard-of healing of a man born blind. Interestingly enough, he was a Samaritan. He trusted God and asked our Lord for the healing of his servant, not the blessing of his bank account, and so on. The healing that Jesus came to accomplish is first of all a healing of the spirit. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in. I trust that You will enable me to walk in Your ways every day of my life with full confidence. The crowd with Jesus (except for the sad sack Pharisees) was joyful, jubilant, expectant. You can connect with Becky at www.beckyharling.com, www.harlingleadership.com, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries, Twitter, @beckyharling, or on Instagram at Becky Harling, 6 Female Celebrities Who Openly Follow Christ, Steven Furtick's Elevation Church Leaves the SBC, Moms, You Have Permission to Invest in Yourselves, A Prayer to Watch How We Live - Your Daily Prayer - July 5, 5 Signs Your Church Might Be Heading toward Progressive Christianity. At the time of Jesus, there was no known cure which left those with leprosy without hope. Beyond just having leprosy at least one was from Samaria which would have made him the lowest of the low. He is the author of Reframing a Relevant Faith. A version of this column first appeared on his blog, Wilderness Preacher, and is used with permission. We are told: "Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who has touched my clothes?'" The woman admits that she has touched his robe and tells him of her bleeding illness. For example, in Lukes account of the healing of the paralytic (Luke 5:17-26), he informs us that he was let down through the roof. After all, we have the Holy Spirit, the very power that created the earth. In the time of Messiah, the fearful and weak are strengthened; the blind, the deaf, and the lame are cured. Jesus the Healer | All Reflections | Feed Your Soul | Dynamic Catholic Mark 6:56. Later, however, the death penalty for sin was transferred to Jesus. Agreed! His faith was evidenced in the way he dealt with the Jews, and especially in his generosity toward the building of their synagogue. Jesus is concerned first of all with caring for the health of our souls, curing the blindness of our minds. They were mourning the death of a widows only son. In our culture of platform building and rising celebrity status, we forget that God values the least. So, we have to conduct our lives within the framework of trusting in that name, which is what will lead to eternal life. (John 9: 39-41) At the end of this narrative, Jesus declares to the Pharisees what we have already seen in his encounter with the man born blind. 5. Its significant to note that Jesus was on His way to the cross. What happens next is pivotal for our spiritual journeys. Lesson 17: Jesus The Healer (Matthew 8:1-17) | Bible.org What the Bible says about We, as the crowd observing these actions, see a new authority acting. The other party insisted that his light was green, and he had two deputy sheriffs to testify to this, who were standing on the opposite corner. Then, upon further reflection, he concludes that he must be a prophet, since he performed the unheard-of healing of a man born blind. Jesus saw and heard the lepers crying out, Jesus, Master, have pity on us! (Luke 17:13). Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. Comparing these two verses from Proverbs suggests that a certain chastening is required for cleansing. We discover who we are and live freely in His grace. The Meaning of Healing | The High Calling | Theology of Work Not all blessings are huge. He can give her wholeness. Desperate for healing, a woman has crawled through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' clothes. At least a glimmer of faith was necessary to believe that, if he could only convince Jesus the Healer to go to his dying child, his son would be healed. He doesnt bring about the blind mans healing by simply speaking a word. It would have been truly awe-inspiring to witness Jesus healing the sick. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. [reprint], 1965), I, p. 544. She was not to cry because her son was not to remain dead. The woman who has bled for 12 years has not found healing from her disease from doctors and treatments. When the nobleman is met by his servants with the wonderful news that his son had been healed at the exact time Jesus had said he was, the miracle is seen to have had a double effect - the sick boy was healed of his deadly fever, and the father was convicted of his belief in Jesus. I believe that these two miracles, the healing of the centurions son and the raising of the widows son, serve several purposes in the developing message of Lukes gospel. https://www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He worships Jesus as his Lord. Heal and restore my wounded soul to live in the freedom of your love. Her projects, in addition to her prayer ministry, have included developing and maintaining a website, making blessing oil, and creating various greeting cards for sale. Going to a deserted place and listening to the Father to know how to answer the needs of those around him were constant and essential activities of Our Lord throughout the Gospels. Have faith and God will bless you. He says and does things we are not used to hearing. From the response of the people to John it would seem that they thought a prophet might be Messiah. Then, a person and his or her name were bound together, the name representing the person's essence. Peter summarizes this idea in I Peter 2:24, "[He] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed.". Jesus doesnt just answer those prayers when he performs what we might consider miracles: healings that are beyond medical explanation. Then we will return to consider the characteristics of faith which we can discern from both incidents. His miraculous cures werent the end goal, but rather indicatorssignsto orient us toward our eternal destination. The centurion saw himself as unworthy of the grace of God. In the case of Elijah especially, there are parallels to the raising of the son of the woman who lived at Nain. The restoration of an individual from sin to spiritual health parallels this woman's physical healing. Lord, I know that You are the Son of God. I believe that you desire to be with me in this intimate moment of prayer. Her newest Bible study, Our Father, comes Shortly after the healing of the centurions slave Jesus was traveling toward Nain, accompanied by a large crowd. A healthy faith is a faith in the person, which then enables us to believe the promises. Men find God trustworthy because He is worthy of mens trust. Develop a daily rhythm of thanking God for His love every morning and His faithfulness every evening.