Luke 4:14-44
Luke, known as ‘the Physician’, emphasizes the healing power of Jesus, the Great Healer.
This chapter pits Jesus’ home town of Nazareth against Jesus’ adopted town of Capernaum as two locations vying to be the healing capitals of Jesus’ ministry.
Capernaum wins hands down.
It appears that in his own town Jesus is not accepted, and therefore healing cannot take place. When Jesus pointed out to his friends and relatives, who had known Him since he came back from Egypt as a young lad, that His healing powers were somehow restricted because of their lack of faith, they became very angry, and even attempted to toss Him over a cliff.
However, faith seemed much stronger in Capernaum, which Jesus established as the centre for His mission. There Jesus healed many people, showing he had control over ‘demons’ by ordering them to ‘come out’ of the person, as well as laying His hands on individuals with ‘various kinds of sickness’ and healing them.
It would appear that healing has two requirements, the power of Jesus and a believing recipient. Healing could not take place unless both were present.
The same may be true today.
Maybe for God’s healing power to be effective in us we have to believe it will work and that God’s power is present. Even as I write this, I realize that healing can only happen within the bounds of physical limitations, and that healing may occur in our minds and souls in isolation from our bodies.
For example, the person who accepts their physical illness as a terminal condition, but whose mind and soul are at peace, both inwardly with oneself and outwardly with God and other people, may be experiencing the full benefits of healing.
Question – On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate the ‘healing health’ of your body, mind and soul (spirit)?
Tomorrow's reading: Luke 5:1-32
(Today's post submitted by guest writer Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)
posted by Allison Lynn @ 8:16 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Tues, 8:15pm,2/12/08 I was invited to participate in this lenten journey, from up north in TO., ON, Canada, taking an break from an 'hockey game', and very bad winter storm. Mind, Body, and Soul you say....I would like to come back to that another day soon in Lent. But, 'Healing', is often mis-interpreted by many, to be an sort of 'finalty', or immediate recovery from disease. and the 'diseased', as atypical exercised by Jesus, of the Pauline Gospel's. Well, it is that too. But, 'Well-Being', as the medical's doctor's consider treatment, they primarily 'look for and identify', SYMPTOM's. If, their are none acute, or chronic your disparagingly dismissed. Even, in your worst malady, "go home take aspirin, drink an lot of water, and get some rest", you will be OK, I'm Ok, your Ok.
If, your talking about mental illness that's one thing, if your talking about physical that quite an separate issue, if your talking about 'illness of the soul or spirit', that quite another issue of importance. I certainly, believe in healing of all sort's, but before a person, or an lay-person, can 'discern' if their 'really-sick'....as alluded to here. You, had better contact the right person, to help you diagnose your problem. For, the solution may not be for the appropriate problem. For some espouse, that all sickness is the result of sin...many would debate that wildly. What is sin, I have my view but I'd like to get another insight on that important issue. It's so difficult, to assist another person, 'spiritually', when neither, [albeit-good-church- going-christian's] or not, can adequately, honestly come to grip's, with the fact, that they and maybe their parent's as well, are 'actually sinner's'. For, 'ME', now well known amongst my friend's, and family, was my biggest challenge. Now, that mind-set, ingrained over many year's, makes it very difficult, for 'any-person', to get on an permanent path to, 'any- healing'. God is Love, but if you don't Love yourself, or your neighbour...then your separated from both God, and your own-hard -heart. I don't mean, the five lb's of heart muscle, surrounded by an peri-cardium, pumping away, never letting you down, keeping you active all day/night long. Oddly, enough and part of the mystery alluded to here, is the other heart, more easily identified, as the soul, or an aspect of the soul. An hard heart, is an 'selfish heart', an person that simply want's to exercise their own will, by constantly wishing to do their own thing. That is the most popular, and acceptable personal thing in our society to-day. There all kind's of degree's, and condition's of 'illness'. I am an 'expert sinner', of long duration....but fortuneately....I can't stand being 'separated', from GOD. I have also been saved, and healed so many times, it make's my 'head-dizzy', but God in his Mercy....is alway's there for me. I live in constant fear-now, not unlike the alcoholic, or drug addict...that I'm Ok to-day, but maybe I'll fall off the wagon. Die from my 'illness-whatever', even the very next week. Will God turn his back on me then....I HOPE not, my Faith is strong. Perhap's you, not unlike, 'I', for an long time, was of the opinion...that God Loves me, because, I first loved HIM. If so, and your also sick, or an sinner....you had better re-examine your thinking,.....get straight with God, and He will get straight with you. For, the reverse is true. The best place to start to get serious about your, my illness, is not in my word. Rather, the WORD of GOD, so that you do not blunder or even an
collegial error as I've suggested is possible. For the reverse is true: Go to that Word, and my favourite---often posted on TV, behind the 'batter's box, by an fan or si'. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.......in that perspective, He Loved us First. It, is in this context, of an relationship with God, or Jesus. For some already, the 'start' is most essential, for other's it's the 'finish', that is most important. It's obvious, I haven't had time to study the isolated Luke version's recommended here, but I will, now. I didn't want this fleeting Tuesday evening to escape me completely. For God again, in his Mercy....has not let me 'down', he never has, he alway's stand's behind His promises. I find that very embarrasing, when he bless's me, my family, even my pet, canine-dog, WHOM, at this very appear's to being recovery of an serious 'cancer'...operation. I snow at 'home', from 2 week's in in an Veterinary Hospital. Daily, will be getting stronger, rid of cancer, by an skilled surgeon, his blood work showing favourable signs. Two more week's of this, and he will be near back to normal, physiology....mind you missingan few part's. But alive! NOW, that is an merciful GOD, an personal Jesus...sorry...but as on request and an 2 month vigil, and helpful prayer...an state of well, 'sentience-being'. NOW, that is my 'honest witness to-day, Max came home to-day', my stoic wife...is more than just an little surprised, he is alive. If, you wish to read where I got my strength for such an, spiritual adventure...go to C.S.Lewis-book, 1940, on 'PAIN'. He was kind enough to include an chaper #10, the second last chapter, on 'animal pain', where he deal's with the subject/concept known then as 'SENTIENCE'. Oddly enough,it relates not only to 'creatures', but human's as well. This, in effect I consider my finest hour, simply for identifying the sign's, and symptom's of 'disease', as I said....escaped me for decades, and is the most difficult task, but one your totally responsible for in aware of your own, WILL. Consequently, being 'right with GOD', at this very time, and place....in my life; enable me to call-up-HIM. Frankly, to see if he could/would help this good family house-hold, pet. Another time, I couldn't, another time he wouldn't.
Start someplace, start somewhere, start in your 'bed-room' to-night, get right with God, get right with Jesus, get right with your-self....pick up an old tattered-family bible, and start here anywhere in the book of Luke, maybe - chpt.3:21-4:1-13, for it's as good as anywhere. And thru this prescribed Lenten series...apparently known as simply 'Gospel Thoughts'; can save your life, can save your soul....even if your an 'down right sinner, like myself, trying ever so hard, to right myself with HIM. It's working for my 'MAX and Me', if you don't believe me, I'll post the vet bill, and, and now he in recovery on my couch. I am sure you wouldn't want the kind's of 'illness's', that came and went, our separate way. If so, you would be in dire straight's, even in the 'hand's' of good medical people, but all alone. I would, 'never' go down an daily path without Jesus, for I couldn't help myself, let alone you! So Long, and Blessing's from the an cold stark, Canadian evening place, but with the warmest heart, I've ever known. An gift, paid for by another, an long long time ago. I, we are so Thankful, but to-morrow is another hopeful spiritual, betterment day for us. Signed... wkeithscott + k
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