jesus as a healer reflection

Those who desire to be healed or to have a loved one healed must exhibit faith. BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH (Eph. When she was about eighty years old, my grandmother began to feel just a little less than well. REFLECTION: Jesus the Healer In today's scripture reading, people are lining up and waiting to see Jesus, a scene somewhat similar to scenes of people lining up to receive COVID-19 vaccines at immunizations centres. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp. I, therefore, want to become His disciple and Him to become my Lord. Global Sisters Report a project of National Catholic Reporter, Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Rejoicing was the appropriate response. They may be Muslim and we wonder if we are safe. The faith of the centurion is vastly superior. Maybe the blessing is a delicious warm cup of coffee or an encouraging phone call. With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. Nathan Stone writes in his book, Names of God,that this name means "to restore, to heal, to cure . We are grateful to accompany you on your journey of personal conversion. In our culture, one's name means little, most often merely as a way of identifying and distinguishing people. Are there areas of your life that still need to be "included" in your experience of God's grace through Jesus? Above all, ask the Holy Spirit to help you develop a heart of gratitude. Let us listen well to these words which can stimulate and strengthen our faith. (1) Faith honors and pleases God. The centurions faith serves both as a stimulus and as a model for Christians of all ages. He, like Naaman, could have attempted to secure healing for his servant by using his political connections, but he laid all these things aside. Heal and restore my wounded soul to live in the freedom of your love. Jesus authority was greater than the centurions. God's blessings! From Isaiah and the fact of Jesus' curing of the person with paralysis tell us that ultimately God does not stand for hunger, war, suffering, fear, and disease, nor even for infertile land, drought, and thirst. 3. What Does Jehovah Mean as a Name for God? Jesus was an equal opportunity healer, confidently healing unexpected people in unpredictable ways. Jesus heals a paralytic who was let down from the roof. Jesus the Healer | All Reflections | Feed Your Soul | Dynamic Catholic In this Gospel account the crowd is seeing a woman who has suffered the severe consequences of exclusion. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. In our day and age, we have the benefit of alarms on our phones. This Gospel passage invites us to a twofold reflection. Why did Jesus heal people? He is Savior. Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. What the Bible says about Jesus Christ as Healer - Bible Tools It implies that we revere what God's names stand for. The same may be said for the daughter of Jairus. The centurions petition was a request for grace, and thus he totally rejected any worthiness on his own part (although the Jewish elders thought he was worthy). Everything here was upbeat. May our faith be out-going, rather than ingrown. Yet Jesus did not reject the man. We cannot let ourselves feel as though we were behind the door when the gifts of God's Holy Spirit were handed out. We perhaps lack the patience or the faith, and we back away from the challenge that He has put before us. "I am willing," he said. Develop a morning and evening rhythm of giving thanks so that it becomes a lifelong pattern. He speaks of mercy instead of legalistic interpretations of prevailing norms. What is difficult to grasp is why Lukes gospel makes a point of telling us that the centurion never personally spoke with Jesus, while Matthews account clearly gives us this impression. (Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48), literally means "Go into peace." Jonah Pollock, O.P., Associate Director, Dominican Friars Health Care Ministry of New York The ninth chapter of the Gospel of John relates a healing encounter between Jesus and a man born blind. They acted out of self-interest, for very selfish reasons. If we hear the President's name, we instantly mentally conjure some of his characteristics. She was not only disheartened by the physical state of her illness, she was perhaps more troubled by the mental and social state of her existence. The Jewish elders, however, saw the centurion as very worthy. What greater compliment to the character of God than to have men demonstrate that they have confidence in Him. The centurion was preoccupied with the person of our Lord, not his possession of faith. He is affirming the goodness and blessings of life. Reflect, today, upon these two facts. Naaman was a military man, too, like the centurion. We tell others not to cry because it makes us uncomfortable. We are in constant need of him. But to a Hebrew, the name of "Yahshua" or "Jesus" would not just identify the Person of Jesus, but he or she would take the name to indicate what He isHis character. The restoration of an individual from sin to spiritual health parallels this woman's physical healing. It is the difference between God as the gift and God as the giver. Jesus is aware of this woman's suffering and of her faith from the moment she touches Him, feeling power leave Him. But before I jump into any act of charity I will first visit with you in prayer, listening for your voice to guide me as your instrument of love. This healing is notable, however, because of the way Jesus performs it. Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. Mark 1:40-45 NIV - Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy - A man - Bible Gateway Used with Permission. His faith was focused on the right object. Yet, Jesus treasured each one, even the Samaritan, heard their cries, and healed them. Too often, we focus our attention on our faith, rather than on God, who is the object of our faith. The Lord said to him: "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well" (Lk 17:19). Luke 5:17-26 NIV - Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed - Bible Gateway Isaiah 53:4-5 adds another piece to the picture: Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. The centurion was a man of authority himself, but he was quick to recognize that his authority did not extend to the healing of dying men. He speaks of mercy, and we lean in to hear more of what he is saying. Its clear that, from the start of His public ministry, Jesus was a healer far beyond what the people had ever seen. They said to the blind man again, What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. [Again] they said to him, What did he do to you? You know where I avoid talking about, dealing with, or bringing to you the sorrows and wounds of my heart. In a market-driven healthcare system, Jesus would have passed by the unnamed woman and gone to assist the synagogue ruler in a home visit. Worship music is a great tool to prompt our praise and thanksgiving. God knows every need you have and will answer those needs when it is best for you. Christ Himself is named Jesus, Savior. God's names likewise identify His character traits: He is Eternal, Creator, Almighty, our Banner, our Healer, our Sanctifier, our Peace, our Righteousness, our Shepherd, our Master, etc. This story, like that of the healing of the centurions son, also brings to mind the healings of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. What am I seeking in asking for his favor to heal or intercede for someone in need? And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. Was the healing gradual or did it happen the moment they turned and obeyed? Jesus casts demons into a herd of pigs. How interesting to contrast the humility of the centurion with the hypocrisy of the Jewish elders, who pled his case before Jesus. And demons also came out from many, shouting, You are the Son of God. But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. And if our faith in the person of God is sufficient, we hardly need promises, for we know that God is greater than those promises He has given. The lepers had taken Jesus at His word. We are told: Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, Who has touched my clothes? The woman admits that she has touched his robe and tells him of her bleeding illness. John Wesley described the intervention of sin into Gods creation as that which brought disease and death to humanity. He knew that Jesus was not only able to heal from afar, but willing, because of the great suffering of his servant. Introduction The story of the healing of the centurion's servant can best be understood in the light of the Old Testament account of the healing of Naaman, as recorded in 2 Kings 5. Her newest Bible study, Our Father, comes As a result, we feel our fears put to rest, our spirits being healed and our faith encouraged. He worships Jesus as his Lord. (3) Faith anticipates and asks for great things from a great God. Not one of us escapes these realities. Martin G. Collins She is terrified because she had broken the purity laws and, in touching Jesus, she had made him ritually unclean as well. It was a powerful gift. The first great section of the Gospel has been concluded. Did He compel Himself to heal because the people expected Him to do so? He once had a client who was involved in a traffic accident. A great song to get you started is, How Good He Is by Vertical Worship. At first, he doesnt know who his healer is. God is faithful and true to what Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:13, that He never gives us a trial that is too great for us. Many people pray for Jesus to perform healings now just as he healed the man born blind. Another explanation is simply that Matthews account is the more abbreviated, and that he meant us to understand that the centurion appeared before Jesus and appealed to Him by means of his representatives. As they went, they were cleansed (Luke 17:14b). The centurion not only asked our Lord for a miraculous healingthe boy was about to diebut also for a healing that was out of the ordinary. Whats interesting is that Jesus didnt heal them first! For the man born blind, this is his second encounter with Jesus, but he sees Him for the first time. The two crowds met head-on, outside the city of Nain. The demands, pressures and stress of work can put a huge strain on relationships with our coworkers. You know where I avoid talking about, dealing with, or bringing to you the sorrows and wounds of my heart. Jesus stretches out His hand and commands the leper to be cleansed, showing God in action as the Eternal-Who-Heals. It is not difficult to conclude that the accounts in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 are a record of the same incident. Perhaps they had another fund-raiser planned and were hoping to hit this man up for another donation. Are they suspicious in our minds because they cause fear? . Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to thank God for His gifts. In Matthews account especially the condition of the servant is described as being very painful. Throughout his public ministry, Jesus gained popularity by moving about, dedicating as much time to healing as he did preaching and teaching. Also, when He bestows His grace on you, it will enable you to live in full confidence as His son or daughter. Although He puts the woman on the spot to confess openly what she had done, He encourages her by commending her faith. Gratitude is a core discipleship issue for the believer and its Gods will that we learn to be grateful in every situation. ], Stories of climate, crisis, faith and action. The issue which faces any conservative student of the Bible is the explanation for the apparent discrepancy between the two gospel accounts. Though the nobleman's human faith was limited and weak, it was still real. Will the crowd believe in Jesus or believe in the purity laws? This is a symbolic image of what grace does to us. A price had to be paid for the leper's cleansing. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. Pope Francis is a person in todays world who has this healing effect on a crowd as more people become skeptical about their faith. Lord, increase my faith in you and your saving grace! Do you want to become his disciples, too?. Also, though, there is conveyed the great respect which the centurion had for Judaism and for the Jews, which caused him to send a delegation of Jewish elders to petition Jesus for the healing of his servant. But we don't know this for sure. This 4-day plan from Theology of Work Project and Workmatters provides simple steps you can take to be more loving to your coworkers that will transform those relationships and increase both joy and productivity at work. He wanted to give meaning to our sufferings and restore our hope. May our Lord in the day to come be able to commend our faith, as he did the faith of the centurion. Sometimes He told everyone not to say a word about the healing, and sometimes He told them to spread the word. This is significant for us. This did not exclude Him from being Messiah, though neither did it acknowledge Him as such. Where are the other nine? Even more than the measure of our faith, God cherishes gratitude. When she admits she touched him, Jesus replies, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.. Matthew 8:5-13 And when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him, 6 and saying, Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering great pain. 7 And He said to him, I will come and heal him. 8 But the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Everything. May I be open to all that you would do in and through me, for your glory. She got up immediately and waited on them. Jesus does not claim that he healed her; rather, it was her faith. Seventh, the centurion had a grasp of the meaning of authority. An Infant Rejoices in the Presence of the Lord! His life and ministry were firmly founded in his core relationship with the Father. A strange inversion it might seem, that the Judaean Gospel should contain what the Gentile account omits, except for this, that St. Matthew argues with his countrymen the real standing of the Gentiles, while St. Luke pleads with the Gentiles for sympathy and love with Jewish modes of thinking.. There was no joy, no hope, no expectancy. Going to a deserted place and listening to the Father to know how to answer the needs of those around him were constant and essential activities of Our Lord throughout the Gospels. We will submit. Have faith and God will bless you. (John 9: 17, 26-27) The man who was healed of his blindness is repeatedly questioned about the identity of the one who healed him. As part of the crowd listening to Pope Francis, we love him because it feels as if he sees us and our thoughts and fears. This is the healing that Jesus comes to accomplish in us. Naaman decided that it was worth the effort to make the trip to Israel to seek such a healing. Luke 7:1-17 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. We can learn that God values the least, He honors faith, and He cherishes gratitude. So, too, it was humiliating to be instructed by the prophet through the servant that he must dip himself seven times in the Jordan river if he would be cleansed. Illness is no respecter of persons; at some point in our lives we will all seek healing. I believe that this is for several reasons. They flash before our minds. Lord, today by your grace I will reach out to those in need by visiting them, sending them a note, or picking up the phone and calling them. Life-changing lessons on faith and gratitude are woven throughout the story. Dying to sin and living for righteousness are a kind of healing through Jesus Christ. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Those who believe in Christ's name will be saved. Jesus Heals - Catholic Daily Reflections See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Knowing the malfunction of the light cleared up all of the discrepancies in the two accounts. With no ceremony, Jesus simply instructed the boy to arise, which was immediately evident by his sitting up and speaking. As you are reminded of His goodness, thank Him. He instructed the man to "go to the priest and let him examine you. This desperate woman made her decision and was healed by her faith. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:Cookie Policy. Jesus wants to make us whole, not just by saving us eternally, not just by healing us physically, but also by renewing our inner selves and restoring our relationships. Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind 9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. Comparing these two verses from Proverbs suggests that a certain chastening is required for cleansing. The centurion did not trust in his (great) authority, but in Christs. The story of the healing of the centurions son is a remarkable one, but let us focus on some of the critical features which Luke and Matthew include in their accounts of this event. He is Creator. This man was a Gentile, not a Jew, and yet he put the Jews to shame in this matter of faith. How, then, can we explain the apparent contradictions in these two accounts? Then, a person and his or her name were bound together, the name representing the person's essence. Sixth, the centurion must have had a fair understanding and appreciation for the Jews religious beliefs. Eighth, each of the accounts of the healing of the centurions servant in Matthew and Luke have a unique emphasis. You eagerly and lovingly want to share with me the good news of your kingdom. Open your Bible to the gospel of Luke, chapter 11, and take a look. A man of authority need only speak the word. Widow: (a) she was apparently not rich; (b) she was a Jew; (c) she was a woman; (d) Jesus healed her son; (e) the son was dead; (f) no request was made for healing; (g) The widow exercised grief; (h) Jesus was present and touched the body; (i) great response described. This is the health care we all need most. The other party insisted that his light was green, and he had two deputy sheriffs to testify to this, who were standing on the opposite corner. Jesus calms a storm on the sea. He viewed this as a political ploy, giving the Syrians a pretext for another attack on Israel. So far as we know, these two never met. He also answers our prayers when He uses doctors and nurses and medicines to bring about healing, just as He used spittle and clay and water in the healing of the man born blind.
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