Our Ultimate Rescuer – Luke 4:38-40

Introduction

Sickness is a common and painful reality of the world today. There are many charlatans, so called faith healers who claim to have the power of healing. Jesus is the healer. He is God and the only one with the power to truly heal. In this pass we see, Jesus was standing over Peter’s mother-in-law. This signifies his authority over all things, including diseases and also his role as healer.

Christian’s also get sick because sickness is a universal problem. Due to the fall of creation through Adam’s sin and man’s sinful nature, everyone faces sickness and eventually death. However there are other more specific reasons for illness. Christian’s might get sick because of unrepentant sin. (Deut 28:22, Ps 119:67 ). Sometimes God afflicts Christian’s and we don’t know why but we know that is for God’s glory. (Exodus 4:11, John 9:3) Sometimes we are sick due to our neglect. Christians have a responsibility to take care of their body as well as their soul. Both the body and soul are connected and related and whether it is sin or physical harm it can cause sickness.

Even though there is sickness, Jesus heals miraculously. By one sentence Peter’s mother-in-law was fully healed. No matter the illness, it only takes a word from the Lord to heal it completely. God’s healing is his power and his miracle.

There are those that claim to heal in God’s name, we call them faith-healers, but it is not true healing. Let’s compare God’s true healing versus man’s faith healing. We will see man’s healing is a gimmick.

God’s healing is instantaneous and complete

The first difference is that Jesus heals instantaneously (John 4:52-53). Every time Jesus healed it was immediate, without delay or need to do something else or wait for something to happen. Secondly it was a complete healing, there was nothing else needed. Peter’s mother immediately got and waited on them as if she had never been sick. She went back to her duties and fulfilled her obligations as host. There was no further recovery, no physical therapy or rest required.

God heals everyone

In addition, Jesus healed everyone according to his will, whether they were Jew or Gentile, whether they believed or not, whatever sickness they might have had. Jesus can heal everyone with no effort at all. All healing happens according to his will. Doctor’s send the bill, but it is Christ who heals, meaning the doctors do what they can through their abilities but it is ultimately God who either heals or does not (James 1:17)

God’s purpose in healing

Another difference versus God’s healing and man’s faith healing is the purpose. Why does God heal? Is it to make those who are healed into believers? No. Most people who promised to believe if they are healed never actually do. Out of the ten lepers that were healed and sent to the temple, only two returned to Jesus to give thanks. The true purpose behind Jesus miracles was to confirm that Jesus is the Messiah. Miracle mainly happened in four parts of the Bible, the time of Moses, Elijah, Jesus and the Apostles. In all periods, miracles happened to confirm God’s Word, to confirm the authenticity of the gospel.

God cares more about our souls than anything else. Being healed from sin is the primary issue, not from sickness. (Mt 10:28) There were many who were healed physically but eventually went to hell. God wants to save your soul, which is why Jesus so determinedly went to the cross and even laid down His life for the forgiveness of our sin. Therefore it is in Christ we receive spiritual healing, we are made new, we are adopted, we are saved (2 Cor 5:17, Phil 1:21, 1 Pet 2:24)

God’s healing is not limited

Jesus even healed organic illnesses or illness that weren’t artificial but born defects or natural causes. For example, Jesus healed a withered hand (Lk 6:10). Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:39,43-44). The Apostles also raised people from the dead. But now, no one can heal like Jesus and the Apostles did. Faith healers do not claim to heal these sorts of illnesses nor are they able to.

God alone heals

Even today Jesus heals and He alone heals. The timing when Jesus healed Peter’s mother was ‘when the sun was setting’, when they were hopeless, the night was coming. Man is truly hopeless. No one is righteous and so no one can heal another, instead they are in need of healing. Only God has the right and the power to heal.

We must realize that God’s desire is not our physical healing which is temporary, but our salvation. So when you get sick, we must be confident in our salvation first. After Lazarus was raised from death, many denied or disliked what happened. (John 11:45-46) Faith does not com from healing but faith comes from hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

Some questions around healing

Some people might misunderstand and ask if sick Cristian’s should go to doctors. Is going to a doctor for help a lack of faith? No. Go see a doctor! Even Jesus said it is the sick who need a physician (Mt 9:12). Luke, the writer of the gospel, was a beloved physician (Col 4:14**)**. Doctor’s do not replace God, but they do their work and God does the healing.

Sometimes God doesn’t heal and we might never know the reason why. Joni Erickson Tada, who is a quadriplegic, encourages everyone, “As many have said so eloquently, sometimes He delivers us from the storm, and at other times He delivers us through the storm. And even if the storm happens to take our earthly life, He delivers us safely into the best and most joyous place we could ever wish for in our most agonizingly beautiful dreams.” Whether God heals or not, the result and the end is the same. The believer will be safely taken home to heaven and all circumstances are for His glory. (2 Tim 4:18, 2 Tim 4:7-8) Life can’t be perfect and it won’t always go according to our wishes. But God’s gift is eternal hope and it is a gift worth much more than healing.

What to do when you get sick?

• Pray to God. James 5:13-15. Don’t hide your sickness but ask mature believers to pray for you.
• After praying, rest in the will of God. (Ps 23:1-3) God’s will is good for your soul. His will might not be what we wanted but it is good for our soul. This is the greater blessing and gain. A mature soul that rests in the will of God knowing God’s will is good.
• Expect challenges. We will never be free from all sickness but instead endure and rejoice through the trials. (Ja 1:2-5,Ja 4:7)
• Give glory to God. The most important thing in a Christian life is God’s glory. We are his masterpiece created to give Him glory (Ro 8:18).

Conclusion

Give glory to God now with the heavenly perspective, knowing our future glory be revealed. (Col 3:1-4) Do not enjoy the world too much but expect that there will be sicknesses and trials coming. During the time given to us, we are to give glory to God like a light (Mt 5:14-16). In the word of Martyn Lloyd Jones, “In our daily lives we must remember that the Christian does not call attention to himself. Self has been forgotten in this poverty of spirit, in the meekness and all the other things. In other words, we are to do everything for God’s sake and for His glory. Self is to be absent, and must be utterly crushed in all its subtlety, for His sake, for His glory.”