Tag: healing

Spreading News

Luke 5:12-16

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him (5:13 NIV).

As we study the Gospel of Luke, we should understand that he did not write it in a chronological order, but according to his thematic purposes. In the section 5:1-6:16, Luke presents Christ as the One who is worthy and able to call people to follow him, with an emphasis on the Twelve Apostles, whom he would send out to preach the good news. (An apostle is a “sent one” or as we might say a “missionary”. The Twelve would become Christ’s special missionaries to establish the newly formed church.)

Luke chose two healing miracles to demonstrate the power and worthiness of Jesus. Both were major miracles, actions impossible for mere humans to perform. It answers questions about why the fishermen ought to have left everything to follow Jesus. Was it misguided enthusiasm? No. For Jesus proved what he is able to do for people. 

The first miraculous sign pointing to Jesus’ greatness was his ability to cure leprosy. You can read in the footnotes of modern English Bible translations that it was a catch-all term for various skin diseases. All under this term were considered incurable. Under the law covenant, the person who had leprosy was considered unclean and was required to keep themselves separate from all others in Israel. I think there were only three people cured of leprosy in Old Testament times: Moses, when he did his miraculous signs before Israel (Exodus 4); Miriam, seven days after God had punished her with it for opposing Moses (Numbers 12); and Naaman, whom Elisha cured (2 Kings 5). 

Anyone in Israel with leprosy was banned from contact with others, including going into the towns of Israel. Yet the leprous man in our text did just that. Clearly, he was desperate, because he broke God’s old covenant law to seek healing. Somehow, the man had heard about how the Lord Jesus had healed others (Luke 4:40). News like that travels fast. For this reason, the man with leprosy took a risk and approached Jesus in town. He acted contrary to the law of God in the hope of receiving mercy from God. Would God be merciful to such a person?

The man had confidence in the ability of the Lord Jesus to heal him. He said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (5:12b NIV). Though he believed in Jesus’ power to cure the incurable, he doubted if Jesus would. Was it because of the illegal way he came? Was it because of being a social outcast he wondered if Jesus would care about such a person? Was it some other reason, like his sinfulness (and we are all sinners, Romans 3:23)? The Bible does not psychologize the man, like modern Americans love to do. The focus of Luke’s account is not on the leprous man but on the Lord Jesus. What does Luke want us to learn about Christ?

  • We should learn how Christ exhibits God’s mercy in telling his willingness to show mercy. None of us can deserve either healing or forgiveness from God. We might even be in situations that would seem to disqualify us from grace. But grace is simply grace, God’s undeserved favor toward those who deserve wrath. Jesus is willing!
  • We should learn that Christ has the power to do the humanly impossible. He immediately healed the man completely. He is able to do much more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
  • We should learn that Christ honored God’s word. Though the man had transgressed the law covenant, Jesus did not. His touch of healing brought purity or cleanness to the man. He ordered the man to do what the law required. He wanted the priests to experience what God could do. Did the man obey? We are not told. Again, the focus is on Jesus Christ, not the man.

The outcome of the incident was that the news of Jesus’ greatness spread even more. Now crowds began to gather to hear him and to have their sick healed. The four fishermen and other disciples witnessed these events. They had made a wise choice to follow Christ.

As for the Lord Jesus, he was not deflected from his relationship with his Father in heaven. Though much more busy, he remained prayerful. Luke wants us to imitate Jesus in being people who pray.

Grace and peace,
David

The Power of Jesus (Part Two)

Luke 8:26-39

The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said, “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him (8:38-39 CSB).

Next, we see the cure performed by Jesus.

The demons reacted fearfully to Christ’s presence. They knew his identity (8:28); people may not know him, but the sinful spirits do. They knew his absolute power and authority over them. If he willed, they would immediately be sent into the Abyss. So they fell before the Lord. They also knew him as their Judge (8:28, 31). They knew what their end will be. Consider James 2:19. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (ESV)

Christ Jesus followed his own procedure in this healing.

  • He delayed the cure (cf. Lk 4:35; Mk 9:25-27) in order to demonstrate his power more completely.
  • He exposed the demon’s complete hold on the man, who could not even say his own name.
  • He showed his sovereignty over the demons. They must ask for his permission (8:32). Compare Job 1.
  • He made the demons leave the man at his command (Mt 8:32).
  • He uncovered the destructive nature of the demons by allowing them to go into the pigs (8:33).

Objection: Someone might say, “I don’t like this loss of animal life and money!” I answer:

  • Animal life is under the ultimate control of God (Matthew 10:29)
  • “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?” (Romans 9:20)
  • “Can anyone seriously hold that the pigs should have been saved and the man left unsaved?” (Leon Morris)
  • “By permitting this loss Jesus was actually helping these owners” (William Hendriksen). If they took this lesson to heart, they would know that they were selfish, caring more about pigs than about a human.
  • It is a sinful thought pattern that criticizes the Lord. He knows all things; he does all things well.
  • The demons were the active agent of destruction, not the Lord. Jesus didn’t tell them to destroy the pigs; he told them to leave the afflicted man. He did good; they worked evil.

The Lord Jesus completely cured the man (8:35). The man was freed from demons and their control. He was no longer restless; he sat at Jesus’ feet (cf. Lk 10:39). The man was no longer naked but clothed. The man was in his right mind. “Never is a man in his right mind till he is converted, or in his right place till he sits by faith at the feet of Jesus, or rightly clothed till he has put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ryle). Isn’t it good to know that we have a Savior who can cause such a cure? Since Christ is Almighty, we may have certain hope!

Think about the reaction to the cure by the Gerasene people.

  • They responded to the information from those who tended the pigs (8:34-35). Can you imagine what television news would do with this?
  • They were filled with fear when they saw the man healed (8:35). But they displayed no interest or appreciation about his cure.
  • When they heard the full story of what had happened, they asked Jesus to leave (8:36-37). This is the tragedy of the sinful human heart! How sad it is when a person asks Jesus to leave, and he does!

A couple thoughts: First, be careful what you ask for! The Lord might say yes. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them (Psalm 106:15 NIV). Second, it is sad to think of the many church buildings that are now used as museums or warehouses or worse. One day Jesus said to them, “Look, I stand at the door and knock!” And they refused his presence. May it not happen to your fellowship of believers.

Think about the reaction to the cure by the healed man. He wanted to be with Jesus! (8:38) Did you hear that? Do you have that same desire? Note the contrast with the Gerasenes.

Read Christ’s command to the man (8:38-39). The Lord wanted this man to testify for him. We are saved and then sent to tell others. Jesus sent him to an excellent “mission field”: to his home. They knew how he had been, and they would be most appreciative of the change in him. Did you ever think how many people would be in your church if everyone would bring their relatives, friends and neighbors?

Imitate the man’s response (8:39). His message was simple: what God did, Jesus did. He went back home as Jesus told him, and then did more (cf. Mk 5:20).

What are you doing for Christ? Who is hearing the good news about Jesus from your lips? In this hour, personal contact is limited due to Covid-19 restrictions, but we can prepare for when we can talk to many people again. Start by preparing your heart. Let’s humble ourselves before the Lord and have a renewed change of mind (repent) about God, Christ, ourselves, our sins, and God’s way of grace in the Lord Jesus. Seek the Lord while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Grace and peace,

David

It Seems Strange

IMG_1078Luke 5:17-26

It seems strange. Jesus had healed so many, and apparently had left the paralyzed man unhealed. Instead, he had simply told him that his sins were forgiven. Yet one thing we learn as we read the Gospels carefully is that Jesus acted in situations in the way that would maximize God’s glory. As he cared for people, he also focused on making the greatness of God known. For example, read Mark 9:14-29. Since he is Lord over all, he was not in a hurry to act. We are wise to learn this, instead of demanding that God answers us “immediately if not sooner”. This seems strange to us, until we learn and adopt Christ’s priorities as we follow him.

It seemed strange to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law for a far different reason. They correctly knew that only God could forgive sins, as Jesus had just claimed to do (Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 43:25; Micah 7:18). But Jesus had dared to say to the man in front of everyone that his sins were forgiven. To them this was blasphemy, because he slandered God by claiming to do what only God had the authority to do. This was a serious matter. If Jesus was only a man, they were right in what they were thinking about him, but it seemed too strange to them that Jesus could be more than a mere human.

It surely also seemed strange when Jesus revealed that he knew their thoughts. They assumed they had Jesus trapped, but suddenly the tables were turned and they were cornered. Over many years of preaching, I have wondered what people were thinking about during the message. It has always reassured me to know that I don’t need to know, because the Lord Christ knows exactly what everyone hearing a sermon is thinking about. By the way, when you hear the word preached or taught, what do you think about? But I digress. Jesus knew, and he was going to act so that they might know an important truth (5:24). Jesus, the Son of Man, has power to forgive sins. “Son of Man” was Jesus’ favorite name for himself. The roots of this term in the usage of Jesus come from Daniel 7:13-14. There it was written that the Son of Man was given authority, which is the issue in this event. Does Jesus have authority to forgive sins?

Jesus knew that it was one matter to tell someone that their sins were forgiven and another to demonstrate that he had the authority to do so. This was the reason that he had delayed to heal the paralyzed man. He met the man’s most crucial need first, which was his need of forgiveness of his sins. Now his delay does not seem so strange. So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God (Luke 5:24b-25 NIV). He acted in a way that everyone could know that he could forgive sins, for he gave an immediate and complete healing to the man. Not only was his paralysis gone, but he had strength and balance to go home, carrying his mat, and this without physical therapy. And not only could he walk home, he could return home with the confidence that he was right with God.

Now, it no longer seems strange, but amazing and praise producing. This ought to be our reaction when we read these accounts of the glory of God displayed in Jesus Christ. Praise God that we follow a leader who is devoted to honoring the Father in heaven. Praise God that he is wise to know the right time to act. Praise God that he has authority and power to forgive our sins and to heal us. Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins? This gift of his grace may be yours today.

Grace and peace, David

An Unexpected Response

IMG_1957Luke 5:17-26

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law wanted to hear what Jesus taught to the crowds, not out of any desire to learn from him. They were concerned. Their gathering included men from every village of Galilee and Judea. Even the prominent religious leaders from Jerusalem came. They were very concerned! Early in his public ministry, our Lord had made claims that upset the religious establishment (cf. John 2). Jesus was being watched. The religious leaders saw that he was gathering a group of disciples around him and was proclaiming that God’s kingdom (saving reign) had arrived. So they watched him. As they watched, they would hear Jesus give teaching that would greatly trouble them. They had to watch him.

The crowds came to Jesus also, but not to watch him, but in order that their sick and disabled might be healed (5:15). The Lord did not disappoint the common people. Jesus healed them by the power of the Holy Spirit. (This is what the “power of the Lord” means, cf. Luke 4:18-19.) At this point, Jesus was in a house. Picture him sitting in a great room, surrounded by the home owners, some of his disciples, many Pharisees and teachers of the law, and as many common people as could push themselves in. See a narrow path from the door to Jesus, where people could lead their family and friends to Jesus for healing. It must have been a hot and exciting scene.

Some men carried a friend on a mat to try to get him to Jesus. Simply carrying a paralyzed man on a mat was a difficult task, but it became harder. When they reached the house, they could not get their friend inside because of the crowded conditions. Intent on getting their friend to Jesus, they decided on a bold plan. They carried the paralyzed man up on the flat roof, probably by using an outside stairway. (Sharon and I went up on a rooftop this way in Mali, West Africa during a visit to that country, though we weren’t carrying anyone). Next, they tore up the roof; the sounds and then the sight of this must have been startling to those inside the house. Imagine the debris falling into the room, along with the light and the much-need oxygen. With the roof opened, they lowered him on the mat right in front of Jesus. There was probably a lot of loud talking of various sorts going on throughout this process.

Finally, everyone became quiet, and all eyes were turned on Jesus. Picture the Messiah looking at the man, next up at his friends on the rooftop, back down to the room of people, and then back to the man. Everyone waited to hear and to see what Jesus would do.

Let’s pause the story for a moment. If this is your first time reading the story of Jesus, you might be expecting him simply to heal the man and send him back to his friends filled with joy. But some of us have read or heard this story so many times, that it does not excite us or fill us with wonder. We nod our heads and think, “Yeah, that’s typical Jesus.” We expect what Jesus said. And so the glory of the story doesn’t grip us. However, I assure you that no one in that room, including the paralyzed man expected what Jesus was about to say. Okay, let’s hit the “play button”.

 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20 NIV). This was very unexpected! I can feel their stunned silence for a few minutes. Think about this. Did the friends of the man decide to go to all that effort to hear Jesus say to him, “Your sins are forgiven?” Is that what the paralyzed man wanted to hear? If you had been on that mat, is that really what you would have wanted to hear at that moment? What of the homeowners whose roof was partially torn apart? Did the disciples expect Jesus to forgive instead of heal? It undoubtedly caught the Pharisees and the law experts off-guard, too, though Jesus (in their eyes) had just handed them a golden opportunity. Jesus did the unexpected. And it is his unanticipated responses that provide us with occasions to wonder and to worship.

As we conclude today’s article, I want us all to ask ourselves, “If I want something big, like healing from paralysis, would I be content if Jesus simply said to me, “Friend your sins are forgiven”? To be a follower of Jesus means that we learn from him, that we learn from him how that he is able to meet our greatest need. It means that we will learn to say, “Praise God, Jesus has done the best thing for me, even when I assumed he would do something else.” Please let this work into all our souls until next time.

Grace and peace, David