Sickology - Part 2 Series

Sickology

Part 2

An Ophthalmologists deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An Oncologist is a physician that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. An anthropologist studies humans and their ancestors. There are hundreds of physicians and scientists in these fields. However, there may only be one Sickology major that ever lived. Jesus was the greatest Sickoligist who ever lived. His life was surrounded by interaction with, touching, talking too and dealing with sick folks. The interesting thing about Jesus is that he wasn’t restricted to understanding or healing just one kind of sickness. He specialized in them all. Another interesting aspect of the Sickologist’s legacy is that He seems to have been particularly adept at resolving long standing sickness. Remember He dealt with a man who had been sick for 38 years, a man who had been lame since birth, and a boy who since birth had thrown himself in the fire and then we come to today’s text which again shows Jesus dealing with a long term sickness. Let’s learn some Sick Truth!

The Sickologist squares off against sickness in Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48

25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, 26and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. 30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

1. Our Issue will define us if we are not careful.

Have you ever noticed that this woman’s name is mentioned nowhere? Was her name Sue, Betty, Mary, and Amber? We just don’t know. Did you notice that she was known by the following description, “The woman with issue of blood?” That was all the information needed and everyone knew whom the writer was talking about. In other words, this woman was defined by her issue. Everyone knew her as the woman with the issue. She wasn’t known by her name. She was known by her ability to cook. She was known by her great singing ability. She was totally defined by her issue. Like Blind Bartimaeus was defined by his issue.

How many of us are defined by our issue? That’s the woman with the bitter spirit. That’s bitter Barbara. That’s the man who was hurt by the pastor. That’s jacked up Jim. That’s the boy whose dad beat him. That freaked out Freddy. That’s the couple that got divorced. That’s crushed Carl and depressed Debbie. That’s the girl who had an abortion. That’s angry Amanda. That’s the guy who tried to commit suicide. That’s suicidal Steve. That’s the woman that sleeps around. That’s loose Lucy. That’s the man that cheated on his wife. That’s wild Willy. We become defined by our issue. We walk around wearing our issue like a nametag. We become known by our issue. We are become totally wrapped up in what happened to us. Our current issue defines our attitude, our actions, the way we talk, the way we behave and the way we believe. The hurt we suffered 10 years ago defines us. We have no future because of our history.