Tag: heal

  • Interrupting Jesus 8 – late to a funeral

    Interrupting Jesus 8 – late to a funeral

    Are the moments of Jesus’ earthly mission so different than yours?

    • What unexpected event interrupts your week?
    • Who interrupts your daily journey though life?
    • How will you touch their lives?
    • How will you fit everything and everyone in?

    Jesus, the promised Christ of GOD the Father, had an earthly mission to accomplish in just 3 years. You and I, mortal souls bound by flesh, have missions to accomplish, goals and plans for our everyday mortal lives. Just like in the life of Christ, what happens? Interruptions.

    One event on our planner leads to another and gets interrupted by a life event or person we must ‘pencil in.’ How does God want us to face the unexpected?

    Matthew 9: ESV

    14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” … 18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

    O.K. You are in an important meeting with VIP’s of the community (even someone from your church or synagogue). Someone informs you that ‘so and so’ has died. Of course, you want to go comfort their loved ones, who may even be acquaintances, friends or family of yours.

    In fact, the man who came to Jesus with the news was actually the father of the one who had died. Furthermore, the man is an official, a ruler of some kind who not only has come to Jesus, but worships Jesus as Lord.

    Yet there is an urgency here more important even than attending a funeral. The man is important and has bowed down to Jesus as Lord. Above all, this ruler has shown faith in what he asks of Jesus:

    “… come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

    Is this ruler of the Jews saying that He not only believes that Jesus is the Messiah of Jehovah, but that Jesus can give live eternal (after death) to his beloved daughter who has just died?

    Yes! But perhaps more.

    Is it possible that this ruler, father of the girl who had just died, may have heard of the miracle Jesus performed on the boy in the casket at Nain? Perhaps.

    If you or I were a father or mother in the presence of God Incarnate, would we ask the Lord Jesus to raise our child from the dead (if it is His will)?

    So Jesus Christ leaves His meeting with the Pharisees and accompanies the official to his home. AND like so often happens with Jesus, once more He is interrupted along His journey by someone else with faith – a woman who also believed.

    christ-and-woman-with-issue-of-blood20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”

    Perhaps Jesus is now hemmed in by the crowds like when the men came to Him and had to cut through the roof to bring their paralyzed friend to the Messiah. Maybe Jesus was on the way to the home of the official and still had the usual crowds all around Him.

    The unclean woman wants to touch Jesus! How would this Rabbi react – how will this renowned teacher act when an unclean woman stands in the path He must take to go to the funeral of Jairus’ daughter?

    22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

    Again, Jesus does not ignore her for the important official; nor does our Lord fail to show her compassion.

    The Apostle Matthew reports the interruption in the mission of Jesus and summarized the impact of the miracle Jesus would perform for Jairus’ daughter. Matthew tells how after these two interruptions Jesus became even more well known for the His miracles.

    … 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

    The patient history of the Gospel writer Dr. Luke, however, provides additional detail of both interruptions. See how we sometimes overlook the obvious, that Jesus did not accomplish either of these miracles without an ordinary passing of mortal time with travel on foot through crowds of followers. (First, a context of some passing time, growing crowds and place:)

    Luke 8:

    Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities…

    And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed…

    26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee…

    Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter

    40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house,42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

    • a man named Jairus 
    • ruler of the synagogue 
    • falling at Jesus’ feet 
    • he had an only daughter, age 12 
    • she was dying

    As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.

    43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.

    • woman had discharge of blood 12 years
    • spent all her living on physicians
    • not healed by anyone
    • healed the moment she touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment

    44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

    45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?”

    When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”

    • Again, crowds pressing in on Jesus
    • Peter and the Apostles are with Jesus

    46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”

    47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.

    • Like the ruler of the synagogue asking for Jesus to heal his daughter; the woman had the faith to press through the crowds to touch Jesus so that she might be healed.

    48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

    49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”

    • Jairus undoubtedly knew that his 12 year old daughter was near death when he finally came to Jesus.
    • Now Jairus’ daughter has died. (Too late to heal her…)

    Will you also be near death in your sin before you will come to Jesus Christ in faith?

    50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

    51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

    Do some of us laugh at Jesus when He says we are dead, but He can heal us?

    Are we sleeping in our sin?

    54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.

    Your spirit will not return to you while you sleep. Is your flesh yet alive, while your spirit is dead?

    Make no mistake about it. Jairus’ daughter was dead physically, neither breathing nor alive any more than the boy in the casket at Nain. It is the spirit that gives the body life!

    God created us body and soul. Jesus Christ commanded her spirit to live once more and her spirit and life returned to her body.

    And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

    Jesus commanded her parents to give her something to eat. Feed your body. Drink water for your flesh and blood. Be nourished in the flesh and live well.

    Yet God alone commands your soul, gives being in your creation and conception. God alone measures the days of your body and soul, appointed to a time to die… for your soul to sleep until the day we are revived for the Judgment.

    • A woman in continual pain comes to Jesus in faith for just the touch of His healing.
    • A father of a dying girl comes to Jesus in faith for the laying on of His hands of healing.

    Will you, dear fellow sinner, come to Jesus in faith, which bids your soul to awake to eternity?

    Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

  • My Blessing

    My Blessing

    The Choice of Life or Death

    Deuteronomy 30:11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.

    Psalm 34:18

    The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

    A woman has put off her dreaded appointment – the one with the cancer doctor.

    Finally after some urging she makes the call and goes into the hospital for those tests. Now all there is to do is wait for the results – the call from the doctor.

    A hopeful call the same afternoon is unsuccessful. No word. We must wait until tomorrow.

    Morning. No call. (How could these medical people be so unfeeling for one waiting for an answer that seems like a choice of life or death? How can they take so long?)

    Finally late in the afternoon the doctor calls.

    Conversation. Sounds good. (He asks her some questions about what she eats.) NO cancer.

    What a blessing had been given to her just six years ago in answer to her prayer.

    She did have cancer, then. She had treatments and love and patience for the patient. She had the answer of blessing to her prayer. The Lord healed her brokenness. The Lord healed her cancer. The Lord blessed her.

    Now… after receiving the freeing news once more, the Lord has once more kept her from cancer.

    It is the Lord who has kept her, though she did not witness His power and love.. though she never mentioned her Great Healer… though she rejected His blessing.

     

    Deuteronomy 30 

    New King James Version (NKJV) excerpt

    The Blessing of Returning to God

    “Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you…

    and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today…

    And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

    For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10 if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

     Mark 1:

    32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

    34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

    35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

    Jesus likely thanked our Heavenly Father for healing these who were sick and for His casting out the demons from their tormented souls.

    Do you pray?

    What is your prayer?

    Do you ask for blessing and not curse? Do you ask for casting out of your demons or do you rely on those who have brought curse into your house? Are you friend of the world? OR Do you really pray to God for the blessing and healing and grace to free you from your cancer of sin?

    And what, therefore, do you do when the Lord answers your prayer?

     

    Matthew 12

    For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

    Return of an Unclean Spirit

    43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

    Luke 17

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    Temptations to Sin

    And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

    Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

    11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

    18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

    I was once a blessing to one with cancer. The Lord sent me.

    Then the Lord also sent cancer to me. (Surely it was a curse.)

    But then the doctors removed my tumor. For this I thank the Lord for healing.

    Thank you, Lord. (It is small offering for the great blessing from your love and mercy, the blessing of your healing grace.)

    I am witness to Christ Jesus and praise Him for His great mercy.

    Yet what of my Blessing? (For I am greatly grieved.) We do love her.

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