31Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
35"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
38Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
40When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
42At 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. 43But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." 44And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Luke 4:31-44 (NIV)
15Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)
1He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. Luke 8:1 (MSG)
People still get healed miraculously today - in our BCBC Mid year celebration on Friday, we heard of one man who testified of being healed from cancer. That was powerful as he wiped away his tears thanking Jesus for removing the cancer. Moving to see the man alive and well during the dinner.
Then there are stories of people who don’t get healed.
Such as the experience of Philip Yancey who told the story ...
Even back then I was searching for hard evidence of God as an alternative to faith. And one day I found it--on television, of all places. While randomly flipping a dial, I came across a mass healing service being conducted by Kathryn Kuhlman. I watched for a few minutes as she brought various people up on the stage and interviewed them. Each one told an amazing story of supernatural healing. Cancer, heart conditions, paralysis--it was like a medical encyclopedia up there. As I watched Kuhlman’s program, my doubts gradually melted away. At last I had found something real and tangible. Kuhlman asked a musician to sing her favorite song, "He Touched Me. That’s what I needed, I thought; a touch, a personal touch from God. She held out that promise, and I lunged for it.
Three weeks later when Kathryn Kuhlman came to a neighboring state, I skipped classes and traveled half a day to attend one of her meetings. The atmosphere was unbelievably charged--soft organ music in the background; the murmuring sound of people praying aloud, some in strange tongues; and every few minutes a happy interruption when someone would stand and claim, "I’m healed!" One person especially make an impression, a man from Milwaukee who had been carried into the meeting on a stretcher. When he walked--yes, walked--onstage, we all cheered wildly. He told us he was a physician, and I was even more impressed. He had incurable lung cancer, he said, and was told he had six months to live. But now, tonight, he believed God had healed him. He was walking for the first time in months. He felt great. Praise God! I wrote down the man’s name and practically floated out of that meeting. I had never known such certainty of faith before. My search was over; I had seen proof of a living God in those people on the stage. If he could work tangible miracles in them, then surely he had something wonderful in store for me.
I wanted contact with the man of faith I had seen at the meeting, so much so that exactly one week later I phoned Directory Assistance in Milwaukee and got the physician’s number. When I dialed it, a woman answered the phone. "May I please speak to Dr. S_____," I said. Long silence. "Who are you?" she said at last. I figured she was just screening calls from patients or something. I gave my name and told her I admired Dr. S_____ and had wanted to talk to him ever since the Kathryn Kuhlman meeting. I had been very moved by his story, I said. Another long silence. Then she spoke in a flat voice, pronouncing each word slowly. "My...husband...is...dead." Just that one sentence, nothing more, and she hung up.
I can’t tell you how that devastated me. I was wasted. I half-staggered into the next room, where my sister was sitting. "Richard, what’s wrong?" she asked. "Are you all right?" No, I was not all right. But I couldn’t talk about it. I was crying. My mother and sister tried to pry some explanation out of me. But what could I tell them? For me, the certainty I had staked my life on had died with that phone call. A flame had flared bright for one fine, shining week and then gone dark, like a dying star.
Philip Yancey, Disappointment With God, Zondervan, pp. 38-40.
So how come God heals that man and not the other? What’s up?
The above texts of Scripture that we read suggest Jesus was concerned with in the context of healing is the advancement of God’s agenda i.e. the healing of relationships between God and people. That is what the word "salvation" is all about in the original language - His main thing is to spread the Message that there is forgiveness of sins, that lost people matter to God, and that hope for a better future is not some pie in the sky but attainable right now through Jesus. Jesus is not interested in the spectacular, his miracles are driven by a deep sense of mission – “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” That Jesus withdrew and pray instead of busily going about healing people, that He spent time and effort to travel to other places, underscores the Mission He was sent for, it is not about earthly kingdom, but God’s kingdom.
He demonstrates God’s love and acceptance through the healing miracles. Jesus declares boldly “I am the Way, the Truth the Life.” His life could have been about one sensational physical healing after another and yet when we read the Bible, it seems there is tendency in Him to downplay the healings. The demons could have given free publicity (see 4:41) but it seems Jesus would have nothing to do with that. He silenced them! Could it be that He does not want His message be garbled by the demons? Could it be that He did not want cheap sensational stunts that distract from the real reason He came? Could it be that there was an overriding Mission, rather than just about Him performing miracles? He could have just set up shop, build an office and get his disciples to line up appointments just like our medical doctors do and help one person after another but no he traveled to town after town, village after village, because of a deeper agenda...
Limitations of “Miracles”
1. Miracles, have never make people believers. If that were the case, Pharisees, and all of Palestine would have become believers. Miracles do not change the heart! All of the Israel during Moses days would not have rebelled! They saw all the miracles of Egypt and yet were they moved to faith when the tough times came?
2. Miracles of healing still end up with an astounding statistic: 100% mortality rate.
3. Miracles points to belief in Jesus, not just for the curing of the sick. (John 20:30-31).
4. Miracles are not always pointing to the good. 2 Thess.2:9-10 (NLT)
This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them.
Rev.13:11-14 (NLT)
1 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke with the voice of a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death-wound had been healed. 13 He did astounding miracles, such as making fire flash down to earth from heaven while everyone was watching. 14 And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world.
5. Miracle seekers may be seeking magic rather than Jesus of the Bible. Then Jesus is no better than a voodoo priest, mediums of Chinese temples that I was brought up in. (Matt.12:38-45)
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God.”
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now someone greater than Jonah is here—and you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is here—and you refuse to listen to him.
Then again Matthew 16:1-4 (NLT)
One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus’ claims by asking him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.
2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can’t read the obvious signs of the times! 4 Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.
11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came to argue with him. Testing him to see if he was from God, they demanded, “Give us a miraculous sign from heaven to prove yourself.”
12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply and said, “Why do you people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I assure you, I will not give this generation any such sign.” Mark 8:11-12 (NLT)
The reluctance of Jesus to perform miracles shows us that He has a deeper message to give, that He wants faith to be based on the greatest miracle of all that He is God, not just a miracle worker, that the sign of Jonah will give anyone who has faith permanent healing… the dead will be resurrected, just as He is now alive risen from the dead!
Many have missed the point of Jesus coming to the earth in those days, God is thought of in the way of Purolator or UPS express delivery guy, make it happen now or else I will go to the competitors such Federal express. Those who long for a sign, should first reflect on the Sign of signs – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Death, disease have no hold on the Master, shall we not place our faith then in one who can give life even if death overtakes us?
That the NT contains 4 recorded cases where believers are not healed
1. Paul 2 Cor.12:7-9 (NLT) I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.”
2. Epaphroditus Phil.2:25-30 (NLT)
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, a faithful worker, and a courageous soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 Now I am sending him home again, for he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow… 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while trying to do for me the things you couldn’t do because you were far away.
2. Timothy 1 Tim.5:23 (NLT) 23 Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.
3. Trophimus 2 Tim 4:20 “…and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.”
What does that tell you?
Could these cases serve as reminders that NT healing is not all about just physical healing? It’s main concern is healing of the whole person that comes as a a result of spiritual healing. Physical deliverance is not always the best and only answer to the debilitating effects of disease and sickness.
The New Testament contains specific instructions for healing in James 5:13-15.
a) Call for elders –
b) Anoint with "known medicine" –
c) Pray over him –
d) Confess sins one to another.
Fact that oil was used as a medicine is affirmation that when we ask for God for healing, we are totally correct and we are not showing a lack of faith by using medical techniques and doctors for healing.
Last year there was a story IN LA, of a Canadian couple who relied on prayer instead of medication have been ordered to stand trial in Los Angeles on a charge of manslaughter in the death of their 11-month-old daughter. Police officers testified that the infant’s parents, Richard and Agnes Wiebe, admitted their religious beliefs prevented them from obtaining a prescription and medical help that expert witnesses testified could have saved the life of their daughter, Julia.
The child is one of at least four members of the Wiebe family whose deaths have been linked to their church’s teaching on divine healing. The Wiebes are part of the Church of God Restoration, which hit the news last summer when the Children’s Aid Society removed seven children from a home in Aylmer, Ont., after complaints their parents had abused them because of church teachings on corporal punishment.
While the Aylmer children were being taken into foster care, 11-month-old Julia Wiebe was dying of treatable meningitis in a Los Angeles suburb. She suffered through three days of fever, vomiting and seizures before she died.
Don’t be foolish: Our God still use known medical treatments along with prayer for healing.
2 Chron.20 (NLT) illustrates it as well:
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 “Remember, O LORD, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4 But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: 5 “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will do this to defend my honor and for the sake of my servant David.’ ”
7 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil.” They did this, and Hezekiah recovered!
See even Isaiah used "ointment from figs!"
Story to end…
Tony Campolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Campolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Campolo felt terrible.
But she continued, "Don’t feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn’t take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence.
But the lady told Campolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, the last three days have been the best days of our lives. We’ve sung. We’ve laughed. We’ve read Scripture. We prayed. Oh, they’ve been wonderful days. And I called to thank you for laying your hands on him and praying for healing."
And then she said something incredibly profound. She said, "He wasn’t cured, but he was healed." (Tony Campolo, "Year of Jubilee," Preaching Today Tape #212) (The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, Swanlake@jam.rr.com September 30, 2002).
What could Jesus do with healing?
He will heal, never refuses when we come as a needy person, not just testing God, asking for a sign, when the sign is given by His miraculous feat of death-defying proportions His rising from the dead!
1. PLAN: Draw people to pin their hopes on the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is more concerned about whether you believe in the good news that lost people matter to Him, that He seeks the sinner, sick of sin, and wants a doctor. That is why He came! Despite the clamor for healing, Jesus set out town after town, village after village, never forgetting the main reason why He was sent – the Mission of spreading the Good News.
2. PRAYER: We can request of Him. But don’t forget to take medication too or not follow the doctor’s orders.
3. PURPOSE: But it is up to Him. Note that all believers were not healed… So no need to say that prayer was useless, nor because there wasn’t enuff faith.
4. PERMANENT: Finally all will be healed.
Read Rev.21:1-4
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”
Pin your hopes on Jesus, fix your eyes on Him, look to Him when you are sick, pray and ask God’s purpose be revealed, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,”
