6. Power Over Sickness

Real Human Being

Welcome Jesus In the Gospels, Jesus called himself a human being, a man. He said in John 8.40a, "As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God." H.P. Lidden (1829-1890 AD) wrote in "The Divinity of our Lord and Savior" about this verse. "The Son of Man, as applied to himself by Jesus, doubtless expresses real humanity, a perfect and penetrating community of nature and feeling with the lot of humankind." Jesus emphasized his fragility and said in Matthew 8.20, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." ✞

God And Man

Jesus Trial Jesus also said that he was God, as well as a man. The High Priest at his trial asked Jesus, "Are you the Christ, the ?" Jewish people used the "Son of the Blessed One" to mean "God" without speaking his name aloud, which tradition forbade. Jesus in Mark 14.62-64 used the "God name," which had a profound effect on his hearers. "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." ✞

Blasphemy Accusation

At this, the High Priest tore his clothes and said in Mark 14.64a, "you have heard this blasphemy." The High Priest, no doubt, would have recalled Moses' meeting with God in which Moses asked God what his name was. We read in Exodus 3.14, "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. [or "I will be what I will be"] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am sent me to you.'" This phrase 'I AM WHO I AM.' may mean "I will be what I will be." Jesus angered the crowd with his divinity claim so much that they picked up rocks to stone him. In yet another declaration of deity, Jesus said in John 10.30a, "The Father and I are one." ✞

Jesus Forgives

Jesus forgives sins and demonstrates this in the New Testament. We can know his power and experience his forgiveness in our lives today. In Mark 2.1-12, a group of people brought to Jesus a paralyzed man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw the faith of this little group, he said to the person with paralysis, "Son, I forgive your sins." Meanwhile, some law teachers were grumbling to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk?' But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.'" He said to the person with paralysis, "I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home." The paralytic man got out of his bed and carried it home to everyone's astonishment! ✞

Forgiveness

Forgiven Woman On another occasion in Luke 7.47-50, Jesus forgave a woman's sins and healed her. His words to the assembled company were again surprising, "Therefore, I tell you, God has forgiven her many sins — as her great love has shown. But whoever forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "I forgive your sins." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus continued by replying to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." ✞

Wind and Waves Obey

On a third occasion, as recorded in Mark 4.39-41, Jesus and the disciples were out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, notorious for sudden storms sweeping in from the valley to the North. The disciples became afraid of the crashing waves and high winds and woke up Jesus. Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" The one who forgave sins also demonstrated his power over the elements! ✞

Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law

Jesus shows people the reality of his power over disease by healing Peter's mother-in-law. Luke 4.38-40 tells us of Jesus' power over sickness. "Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Peter. Now Peter's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them." This recovery seems to have been instantaneous, and Peter's mother-in-law springs into action to show hospitality to those present in her home! The next verse describes how Jesus continues his ministry of healing even to the end of the day. ✞

Shouting Demons

"At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, and he healed them." Later we read, "Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, 'You are the Son of God!' But he condemned them and would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Messiah." He rebuked the evil spirits for identifying who he was. Jesus seemed not to be particular whom he healed and blessed all who came to him! He seemed to have been busy enough without further attention and wanted to preach also. Luke 4.42-44 tells us, "At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him, and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also because that is why God sent me.' And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea." ✞

Jesus Healing

Jesus showed his great healing power for the son of the widow of Nain. He had authority over illnesses of every kind. The disciples were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus Christ leading the way. The coming events that Jesus told them astonished them and made them afraid. Jesus took the twelve Apostles, the inner circle, aside and explained what would happen to them in Mark 10.32-34. "We are going to Jerusalem, and some will betray the Son of Man to the chief priests and law teachers. They will condemn him to death and hand him to the Gentiles, who will mock and spit, flog, and kill him. Three days later, he will rise." Jesus was instructing his followers about his power over death though they didn't seem to understand it! ✞

Compassion

In Luke 7.11-17, we read, "Soon afterward, Jesus went to Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, people carried out a man who had died. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow, and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, 'Do not weep.' Then he came forward and touched the bier (the coffin), and the bearers stood still. And he said, 'Young man, I say to you, rise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them, and they glorified God, saying, 'A great prophet has risen among us!' and 'God has looked favorably on his people!' This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country." "Soon afterward" is translated on some ancient manuscripts as "the next day," so this could have happened the following morning. Now the disciples had seen an example of Jesus' healing power over not only the sick but over death. This power is still available to Jesus' followers today! ✞

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