November 18, 2018


Jesus Heals

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
– Matthew 9:35

Jesus heals. Jesus always heals. Sometimes He heals by restoring a person’s health on this earth. Sometimes He heals by taking a person home.

But the hardest part isn’t always the healing, however it comes. Perhaps the hardest part is in the not knowing. It’s those moments when the doctors don’t quite know what’s wrong. The pain, the illness, is real. But there’s a limit to what doctors know.

Jesus doesn’t have those limits. So we pray for answers. We pay for healing. We pray for relief from what we do not know. Answers. Yes, we want answers. But, mostly, we just want it all to go away.

I spent much of this afternoon in a doctor’s office waiting for answers that never came. It was just another trip to see another doctor on a never-ending journey for relief. The illness comes on at odd moments. Each time is a little worse than before. The fever, well, it’s not normal. The muscle aches, the chills. Nothing is normal.

It’s not the flu. It’s not strep. That gets ruled out every time. We know what it’s not. We just don’t know what it is. Jesus knows.

My friend was willing to suffer at home in silence. He’s tired of the journey, tired of not knowing, tired of needle pricks and tests that rule out things but never seem to find the answer. One more step forward into the unknown.

Jesus heals. Jesus beckons us onward, drawing us closer to Him. When no one has the answers, who do we turn to? Jesus. We cry out in pain. We cry out for answers. We cry out for healing.

Several years ago a friend was in a horrific accident that almost cost her a leg. As the doctors struggled to find the bleed and save her life and her leg, we could only pray to the One who already knew the answers. Doctors are limited but Jesus isn’t. Only her scars tell the story of that awful night and the miracle of healing.

We are blessed to have access to such wonderful medical care. We are blessed to have caring people in our lives. We are blessed to have a Savior who heals both the seen and the unseen. Because sometimes what troubles us the most is the sickness that lies deep inside in that dark place only Jesus sees.

What hurts you today? Is it a physical illness that will soon be a part of your past? Is it an ongoing disease that lingers, stealing your strength and your future? Is it a hurt that won’t heal? Maybe it’s an unknown that weighs on you as the days continue onward with no answers?

Jesus heals. It doesn’t matter what you’re facing. He’s there. When you need answers, turn to Jesus. When you’re hurting, turn to Jesus. When you’re afraid, trust in Jesus. He never, ever leaves you alone.

Answers for my friend may come. I certainly pray that they do. But whatever happens, I know that Jesus is on this journey with him. Jesus has all the answers. And Jesus always heals.

No comments: