There were three aspects I’ve noticed to Jesus’ ministry – Teaching, healing, and resting. Last week we looked at how Jesus used teaching as a way to train His followers. This week, we’ll look at the principle of His healing.
In a literal sense, you might be saying, “Rachel, I’m not equipped with the gift of healing.” There are some who doubt God still heals miraculously, or by way of the gift of the Spirit through humans. There have been many people who have professed this falsely and made it hard to believe the authenticity of this still exists. There are others who fully believe God still strongly uses this gifting around the world. For the sake of this study and for the purposes Jesus is modeling, let’s consider our conversation of healing in the more figurative sense instead of literal.
Let’s consider healing being the action part of His ministry. His teaching was the training, His healing was putting that into action, and by resting, He was recovering so He could continue to do the other two well.
Last week’s study took us Mark 1, where Jesus began His ministry after His baptism and time of testing in the wilderness. He had entered the synagogue and began teaching with authority. He told His disciples later on when a host of sick people came to visit Him, “Let’s go on to the neighbouring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38) Jesus’ main objective was to die on the cross for our sins. The second was to prepare the Jews for what was about to happen. He began to spread the news about a new Kingdom coming – the beginnings of the gospel message.
“Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, ‘What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’
Jesus rebuked him saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town was assembled at the door, and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” Mark 1:23-34
Jesus didn’t come to primarily heal the sick or cast out demons. He came to share about the New Covenant He was making, which we now call the gospel, and to die for our sins. But, because He is a gracious and loving God, He took time to do this for people too. It gave people renewed hope, helped to validate His authority, and fulfil prophecies. He told the demons coming out of people to be quiet because they knew who He was. They trembled when He came around because He had authority over them.
He used the healings and exorcisms as an opportunity to show God’s love and grace to a lost world. Though He even raised others from the dead, they would all eventually die again. Why? Because they were still human. It was all for God’s glory and to share His goodness with the world.
Side note – If you have been healed from something, praise God! His miracles are still happening today. However, if you are enduring a chronic/terminal illness with no end in sight, remember the Lord loves you just as much as those who’ve been healed. Your story is also being used for the glory of God! He is with you in your suffering. He grieves your pain, and rejoices at the reward and relief He has prepared for you.
So, how does His healing in a figurative sense apply to you today? I believe we can look at it as the action we take for Christ. Taking care of the widows and orphans, the sick and the needy, encouraging a brother or sister in Christ, preparing meals for others, supporting missionaries through prayer and finances, etc. The list can be endless. The actions we take for Christ to be His body to the family of God, and the world, is part of bringing His healing to all in need. We know that when we love others the way God called us, it brings greater hope and encouragement to others. It shines God’s light into darkness, lifts a discouraged spirit to the peace and joy Jesus gives, and brings tangible reminders of the Lord’s goodness when at times it’s hard to see.
By applying His teaching and putting to action possible ways of healing, you are in training as a warrior for Jesus in His Kingdom. He first came as a man to be our example. Then died and rose as the King of Kings. If you want to know how to best honour Him, these two principles are a great way to start. Next week we’ll look at the importance of rest and recovery.
