March 13, 2011

I recently saw an ad from 1888 for Dr. Pierce’s galvanized chain belt. Let me quote from the ad, “The electric magnetic chain belt will positively cure nervous disability, pain in-back, rheumatism, dyspepsia, diseases of the kidney and  bladder, and weaknesses of the sexual organs.” What is it?  It’s a belt wth two batteries that send an electrical sensation into your body.

Sales records suggest that consumers purchased tens of thousands of electric belts between 1880 and 1920.  Regionally, belts sold more in the Midwest than on the coasts, but by the 1920s, one could purchase an electric belt in Cincinnati, San Francisco, Kansas City, Dallas, and New York.  Of course these belts didn’t heal any of these things, but since electricity was new, it seemed scientific.  In fact, it was quackery.

Quackery has always been with us and I’m sure it’s still w us today.  Why do we fall for it?  Because we want to be cured of whatever illness we have.  Of course, in the Bible we read about a cure for spiritual illness, illness of the heart.  We also read about how Jesus Christ brought physical healing to many people.  Jesus is the most amazing person who has ever walked this earth.  Because he is God in the flesh he is the ultimate doctor, the ultimate healer.  This morning I want ask: Have you experienced the healing deliverance of Jesus?

I. THE HEALING MIRACLES OF JESUS REVEAL HIS COMPASSION. Mt.8:1-17

In these verses we read about three different healing miracles of Jesus.  In the first case we see a man who had leprosy.  There were numerous skin diseases that were called leprosy, so we don’t know if this was Hanson’s disease.  Whatever it was, this man was shunned from society, because after he was healed he had to show himself to the priest so he could go back into society.  This man would’ve been considered unclean.  the second case involved the servant of a Roman centurion.  The servant was paralyzed. The centurion would’ve been a gentile.  The third case involved a woman, Peter’s mother-in-law.  She had a fever and was confined to her bed.

These stories help us to see the gracious compassion of Jesus. Each of these people were looked down on by society. A leper, a gentile, and a woman were all second class or less in the Jewish culture. So we observe how Jesus interacted with these people. When the leper came and knelt before Jesus, you note that he didn’t ask Jesus to heal him. Instead he affirmed his belief that if Jesus was willing, he certainly could heal him. Jesus said, “I’m willing.” When the centurion came to Jesus, he came asking for help. “My servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Note that Jesus says, “I’ll go and heal him.” In v.16 it says that many demon-possessed were brought to him and many sick were brought to him and he healed them all. You don’t get the impression that Jesus was judging people. You don’t get the impression that Jesus was trying to decide who he should or shouldn’t heal. You don’t get the impression that Jesus was forced or coerced into healing these people. He was willing. That’s who Jesus is. He’s a willing healer

What is more, his willingness transcends all social barriers. He didn’t care if it was a leper or a gentile or a woman. In fact he did what no one else at that time would do. He touched the leper. Touching a leper would’ve made a Jew religiously unclean. But in the case of Jesus he doesn’t become unclean; He cleanses the leper. He has no qualms about extending himself to Peter’s mother-in-law. And think about the centurion. No Jewish person would think of going into the home of a gentile, and yet Jesus was willing to go. Later in the book of Acts we find Peter going to the home of Cornelius, another gentile centurion.

Now there’s something here for all of us, and esp those who have taken the 12/12 challenge. We must ask ourselves, are we willing and ready to take Jesus to anyone and everyone? Are there some people you wouldn’t want to be seen with? Are there some people you just don’t want to talk with? Christians have no business making judgmental distinctions among people. Jesus had compassion on all people. This truth cuts across all racial and ethnic lines. Jesus loved people and we can do no less if we are his followers.

II. THE HEALING MIRACLES OF JESUS REVEAL HIS AUTHORITY. Mt.8:5-13

In an article from, The Dictionary of the Later New Testament, it says that in the ancient world there were multiple means of seeking healing. 1. There were a number of healing cults with their shrines. 2. There were various magical means that one could use, such as spells, amulets, special oils and sacred inscriptions. 3. There were various physicians, trained to some degree in a combination of the healing arts of the Greek or Roman type. These methods held true for Judaism as well. While there are records of some wandering miracle workers, they employed various medicines and magic.

Obviously Jesus was different. We see from both the leper and the centurion that they had no doubts about whether or not Jesus could heal. The question was would he. They had no doubts because they had either heard the testimonies of others who had been healed or they saw the results of Jesus’ healing. This is most clearly brought out in the story of the centurion. The centurion astounds JC with his understanding of Jesus’ authority. All of us enjoy some level of authority. You may have authority over others at work or maybe your level of authority is limited to your organizing your bed room. But we all have some area over which we can determine what’s what. This centurion understood what it means to be under authority. His authority came from the Roman emperor. When he gave a command it was with the authority of the emperor, so if anyone disobeyed him, he was disobeying the emperor in Rome. The centurion could give commands and they would be obeyed. Well Jesus also has authority. Jesus’ authority comes from God. Jesus has all authority and by merely speaking, amazing things happen. In Rm.4:17 Paul refers to God as, “The God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” This is the kind of authority that Jesus has. In Jn.5:19 and 21, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. Verse 21 says, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he’s pleased to give it.” You see how closely the Son’s authority is tied to the Father’s. After all Jesus is God in the flesh. Clearly, God the Father is as willing to bring healing as God the Son is.

Now let me say a wrd about healing. I believe Jesus healed people out of kindness and compassion. But he also healed to show his authority and power as God. The healing miracles of Jesus show us that the kingdom of God is about being cleansed and made whole by Jesus. After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus we see the Apostles also healing people. But after the Apostles, healing miracles seem to become less frequent. As far as I can tell, the New Testament doesn’t give us reason to think that healings will take place today in the same way as they did when JC was on the earth. James 5:14-16 says, “Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the Church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Here the emphasis is on prayer and confession of sin. What is more, the prayers take place in the context of the local Church. We are well within our authority to pray for healing, recog-nizing that it is God who heals, but who hasn’t promised to heal every sickness during our life on earth. The healing miracles of Jesus were meant to show us that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed deliverer.

But there’s something else. Note how Jesus was astonished at the understanding and faith of the gentile centurion. The centurion was poor in spirit. “Lord I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof…just say the word.” Jesus points to the centurion as an example of the many gentiles that will enter the kingdom of God.  Jesus holds all authority in heaven and earth. I wonder if we are as impressed as the centurion. Do we believe that God is really interested in bringing about spiritual and physical wholeness in the lives of the people we know? Think about it. The centurion wasn’t asking for himself.  He was asking for his servant.  Do we come to God in faith asking for spiritual cleansing and deliverance for the people in our lives? More importantly do we have faith in the authority of Jesus to just speak the word and see lives changed? We are not the healers; God is the healer. We have the privilege of sharing Jesus with others with confidence that God and his son are always willing to save.

III. THE HEALING MIRACLES OF JESUS REVEAL HIS MISSION. Mt.8:16-17