Rely on Jesus Christ for healing-1

우리의 전한 것을 누가 믿었느뇨 여호와의 팔이 뉘게 나타났느뇨 ² 그는 주 앞에서 자라나기를 연한 순 같고 마른 땅에서 나온 줄기 같아서 고운 모양도 없고 풍채도 없은즉 우리의 보기에 흠모할만한 아름다운 것이 없도다 ³ 그는 멸시를 받아서 사람에게 싫어 버린바 되었으며 간고를 많이 겪었으며 질고를 아는 자라 마치 사람들에게 얼굴을 가리우고 보지 않음을 받는 자 같아서 멸시를 당하였고 우리도 그를 귀히 여기지 아니하였도다 ⁴ 그는 실로 우리의 질고를 지고 우리의 슬픔을 당하였거늘 우리는 생각하기를 그는 징벌을 받아서 하나님에게 맞으며 고난을 당한다 하였노라 ⁵ 그가 찔림은 우리의 허물을 인함이요 그가 상함은 우리의 죄악을 인함이라 그가 징계를 받음으로 우리가 평화를 누리고 그가 채찍에 맞음으로 우리가 나음을 입었도다 ⁶ 우리는 다 양 같아서 그릇 행하여 각기 제 길로 갔거늘 여호와께서는 우리 무리의 죄악을 그에게 담당시키셨도다. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? ² For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one-- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53:1-6)

¹⁴ 예수께서 베드로의 집에 들어가사 그의 장모가 열병으로 앓아 누운 것을 보시고 ¹⁵ 그의 손을 만지시니 열병이 떠나가고 여인이 일어나서 예수께 수종 들더라 ¹⁶ 저물매 사람들이 귀신 들린 자를 많이 데리고 예수께 오거늘 예수께서 말씀으로 귀신들을 쫓아 내시고 병든 자를 다 고치시니 ¹⁷ 이는 선지자 이사야로 하신 말씀에 우리 연약한 것을 친히 담당하시고 병을 짊어지셨도다 함을 이루려 하심이더라. ¹⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." (Matt. 8:14-17)

FCF: We tend not to rely on Christ’s suffering for healing.

주제: 그리스도는 십자가에서 우리의 질병을 짊어진 구원자이기에 치유를 위해 그리스도를 의지해야 합니다.

Theme: We must trust Christ for healing because He is our Savior who took our diseases on Himself on the cross.    

Introduction: Some habitually boast about their good health, saying, “I have never been to a hospital”, or “I have never caught a cold, not even once in my lifetime.” When we hear them making such statements, most of feel envious of their perfect health. Most of us know from experiences how painful it is to suffer the burdens, pains, or inconveniences of physical or mental weaknesses and illnesses. When we overwork and skip meals, we know we get weak and sick. If we don’t take care of our bodies and minds, we are so vulnerable to all kinds of disease. We have experienced through the Covid-19 that we are very vulnerable to deadly viruses, infections, or diseases. We are living in such a world where we have to face threats of deadly diseases. In the midst of it, we read the healing stories of Jesus in the Gospels. I

In fact, divine healing is still real. This doesn’t mean that every disease Christians suffer in this world is healed. Many faithful Christians die of incurable diseases such as cancer, diabetic complications, kidney failures, heart attacks, etc. Even though they pray for divine healing, some never experience miraculous healing. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pray for divine healing. We still need to pray for healing even though we may not experience it. We still need to pray for one another for healing. Prayers and intercessions for healing are part of Christian ministry. The apostle James says, ¹⁴ 너희 중에 병든 자가 있느냐 저는 교회의 장로들을 청할 것이요 그들은 주의 이름으로 기름을 바르며 위하여 기도할찌니라 ¹⁵ 믿음의 기도는 병든 자를 구원하리니 주께서 저를 일으키시리라 혹시 죄를 범하였을찌라도 사하심을 얻으리라. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (Jas. 5:14-15). Christians, in particular, Christian pastors should pray for healing of their weak and sick members in the church. Also, they should pray for healing by faith. We have the promise the Lord will raise them up and they will be forgiven.

I wonder whether we have actively participated in intercessions for our brothers and sisters who undergo physical, spiritual, or relational weaknesses and sicknesses. We should not limit our prayers to physical frailties or illnesses. As I said before, I feel a greater need for such prayers because I see many of us suffering various kinds of weaknesses and sicknesses. Having told us the three healing stories of the leper, the centurion’s paralyzed servant, and the fever-stricken mother-in-law of Peter, Matthew concludes from these three cases this way: 이는 선지자 이사야로 하신 말씀에 우리 연약한 것을 친히 담당하시고 병을 짊어지셨도다 함을 이루려 하심이더라. “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases" (v. 17). Matthew sees Jesus’ healing ministry as a fulfillment of the Messiah’s suffering on the cross. In other words, Jesus’ vicarious death on the cross is the ground for divine healing, which includes not only our sins but also our maladies. All three healing stories serve as a sign to display what Jesus is and what He does for us. We learn from them that Jesus Christ is our Savior who took our diseases upon Himself on the cross. He delivered them from their sicknesses with His divine authority over all. This is a foretaste of what He would do on the cross, that is, vicarious atonement of our sin and condemnation. Therefore, we should rely on Jesus Christ not only for our salvation but also for our healing. We need to pray not only for forgiveness of sins but also for healing of diseases. We are certain we will be forgiven. We are certain we will be completely healed in heaven. With this confidence in mind, we must still pray for healing by relying on Jesus Christ. I have three points, but I will deal with the first point, which is… 

I.               치유를 위해 그리스도의 만지심을 의지하라.

Rely on the touch of Christ for healing.

We need to view the healing narrative of Peter’s mother-in-law in the whole context. Jesus came to Capernaum. On the Sabbath, He visited the synagogue where He taught the word of God and cast out an unclean spirit from a man with a firm rebuke. This episode reveals Jesus had the divine authority over evil spirits. Then, he left the synagogue and went into the house of Peter and Andrew along with James and John. They found out Peter’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a high fever. They told Him about her immediately. Then, Jesus came to her and brought her up from her bed by healing her of the fever.

We find minor differences in the accounts of the same event by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Such differences do not imply there are errors in the Bible. Rather, they provide different perspectives for the healing event, enabling us to have a whole, composite picture of the story. Such discrepancies never repudiate the authority and inerrancy of the Scripture. Rather, we can interpret the synoptic accounts of a certain event properly by comparing them.

To understand the healing story of Peter’s mother-in-law properly, therefore, we should consider the accounts of the other synoptic gospels, Mark and Luke. Matthew writes Jesus touched Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. Mark records Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up (Mk. 1:31). And Dr. Luke says that Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever (Lk. 4:39). Taking their accounts into consideration, we may say Jesus came and stood over her, then rebuked the fever, and touched her, took her by the hand, and lifted her up. Then, the fever immediately left her. And she began to serve Jesus and the others, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  

On the Sabbath day, Jesus raised up Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick with a high fever. To do so, He rebuked the fever first with His divine authority. As He cast out the unclean spirit from a man on the Sabbath by rebuking it, so Jesus rebuked the fever to cast it out of her. Then, He touched her to show mercy to her and see her how feverish she was. See He was not rebuking her at all. Rather, He sympathized with her suffering from the fever. Instead of saying, “Rise up and walk!”, He took her by the hand and lifted her up out of her bed. This pictures a scene that Jesus raises people out of the pits of sickness, despair, and helplessness. This series of action reveals the concern and care of Jesus for the sick.

Let’s take up His rebuking voice. Luke describes the first action Jesus took before He cured her. Jesus stood over to examine how serious her condition was. Then, He rebuked the fever. The Greek word “epitimao” used here refers “to express strong disapproval of someone, rebuke, reprove, censure also speak seriously, warn in order to prevent an action or bring one to an end” (BDAG). The EDNT gives another definition to it: “overcome with a powerful word, rebuke.” From these senses, we may say that Jesus considered the fever as His foe. Certainly, the fever was attacking her, trying to kill her. She was fighting it with all her strength. However, she was too weak to overcome it in her own power. Knowing all this, Jesus was fighting it on behalf of her, rebuking it with His powerful word. He did it so that it wouldn’t come back to her.

If it were our rebuking voice, the fever wouldn’t obey it. But Jesus’ voice was a voice of God which fought for His own people. One time, He rebuked the storms and raging sea. They obeyed the voice of the Creator. He rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and falsehood. He rebuked evil spirits and cast them out. Sometimes, He rebuked sicknesses. He rebuked false teachers. Sometimes, He rebuked His disciples for lack of faith. From all this, we find that Jesus rebukes something sinful, false, hypocritical, evil spirits, or opposing the kingdom of God. Such things are our enemies. We need to fight them in the name of Jesus Christ. We shouldn’t welcome sins, false teachers, evil spirits, or diseases. They are not our allies. Jesus fought them on behalf of His people. The apostles fought them in the name of Christ. We need to fight them in the name of Jesus Christ.

The rebuking voice of Jesus is not a mere human voice. It is a divine voice. We should tremble before it. The whole creation trembles before the voice of Yahweh. Psalm 29 describes it this way: ³ 여호와의 소리가 물 위에 있도다 영광의 하나님이 뇌성을 발하시니 여호와는 많은 물위에 계시도다 ⁴ 여호와의 소리가 힘 있음이여 여호와의 소리가 위엄차도다…. ¹⁰ 여호와께서 홍수 때에 좌정하셨음이여 여호와께서 영영토록 왕으로 좌정하시도다 ¹¹ 여호와께서 자기 백성에게 힘을 주심이여 여호와께서 자기 백성에게 평강의 복을 주시리로다. ³ The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. ⁴ The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty….¹⁰ The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. ¹¹ May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! (Ps. 29:3-11).

The psalmist sings of the glory of the voice of God revealed in a great storm, exalting God for His power and glory. The Lord’s voice against sin, disease, or evil spirits are solemn and fearful. Such things cannot but to obey it. But the Lord’s voice for His people brings comfort, healing, strength, and peace. Jesus fights our weaknesses and illnesses with us. He fights for us. He is our Divine Warrior, who fought the Egyptian army during the exodus, and who is always with us to the end of the world. Thus, we must rely on the warm, tender-hearted voice of our Lord Jesus Christ who rebukes our illnesses and drives them out of us with His dreadful voice. No one can stand the rebuking sound of Jesus. Jesus’ rebuking of our sicknesses is His caring voice for us. Let’s keep this in mind as we fight our weaknesses and sicknesses. Knowing Jesus is fighting for us brings us great strength and comfort into our souls wearied of our elongated battles against diseases.

Second, the touch of Jesus reveals His personal concern and care. I Jesus’ touch is a symbol of divine love. His touch refers to His concern and care. Indeed, there was nothing Peter’s mother-in-law could do for her healing. We do not know whether her fever was common or uncommon. We do not know whether or not it might go away sooner or later. We do not know whether there was a natural cure for that or not. But Dr. Luke mentions it as a high fever. He knew it was a serious problem. If the fever would go away naturally, Jesus wouldn’t need to do anything for her. But the fact Jesus intervened for her implies her fever could be fatal. So, some say she had malaria. It could have been fatal. So, His four disciples told Jesus about her trouble. Jesus had to exercise His authority to restore her to full health.

In fact, she didn’t come to Jesus first. She must have been bed-ridden. He was unable to leave her place. So, His disciples even asked the Lord to take mercy on her and cure her. She was lying helpless with the fever. We don’t know how long she had been lying sick with the fever. Having heard about her pain, Jesus first came to her. After a hectic day, Jesus may have wanted to take rest in Peter’s house. Even though He may have been wearied, Jesus immediately paid attention to her. He didn’t care He might be infected with the fever. Instead, He cared for her. So, He touched her.

This is what Jesus is all about. Jesus cares for the sick. He has compassion on them. He rebukes our illnesses with His thunderous voice. He extends His loving, powerful touch to them. Many doctors emphasize their professionalism. They charge a lot of money for giving their few minute-medical diagnosis or counsel to the sick. Instead of truly caring for their patients, they care more about how much they will make out of their medical practice. In contrast, Jesus cares for His people, in particular, the poor, the weak, and the sick. Instead of being concerned to meet His needs, He is more than willing to meet their needs, physical, psychological, and spiritual.

Therefore, we should rely on His gentle touch when we are under hot waters. When we are pressured with fever of disease, disappointment, depression, or despair, we should rely on His gentle touch to rise up from them. Most of us know how painful it is to suffer a high fever. We sweat profusely. We can’t get out of our beds. We wriggle ourselves in pain, crying for a relief. Fever takes away appetite for food, talk, study, or work, from us. We are ready to take anything to bring the temperatures down. Now, we can understand a little more the pain and agony of Peter’s mother-in-law. When we are sick with various kinds of physical, mental, or relational weaknesses and illnesses, our bodies and souls cry out for mercy and healing.

But only those who truly care for us are there for us. No one wants to or dares to touch us if we are infected with a high fever. No one wants to be infected with our fever. When we are ill, only a few are brave enough to touch us. But I know those who love me dare to put their hands upon me and pray for me. The Lord touched the leper who had been leprous for many years. No one wanted to get closer to him. His disfigured appearance and stench drove people out of his sight. But the Lord touched him. Again, His touch is a sign of His true love and care.

When I suffered a high fever during my childhood, my mother put her hand upon my head. She was not afraid of touching me because she was afraid of being infected with my fever. She soaked a tower with water and squeezed it. Then, she put it on my head for a while and wiped my body soaked with sweat. She repeated the same things, which was tiring and laborious. But she did it all for me. When I had a stomachache, she put her hand on my stomach and rubbed it with her hand while rebuking my stomachache. I still vividly remember what my mom did for me when I was fighting my sicknesses. Her touch was comforting, soothing, and peace-giving. In many cases, I was recovered with the help of medicine. But my mother’s touch played an important role in giving me comfort and strength to fight my sicknesses. In that sense, it was a healing touch.

But the touch of Jesus is divine. Anyone who experiences Jesus’ touch is transformed from unrighteousness to righteousness, from sickness to health, from helplessness to hopefulness. Some faith healers use this imagery of the Lord’s touch. They shout “Touch!” repeatedly to the crowd who come to attend their crusades for healing. When they do, people fall backward. They try to imitate the healing touch of Jesus by faith. In reality, however, they are money-driven, not truly caring for the sick. Instead of attending their healing crusades, we simply ask for the touch of Jesus by faith. Indeed, Jesus is always with us. We can talk with Him anytime. We can ask Him to touch our ailing parts so that we may be made whole.

I heard some testifying to the Lord’s healing touch. When they were praying, the Lord came and touched them. Then, they were healed. I myself was praying with my classmates in Korea years ago. My professor finished her last lecture on the first John thirty minutes early. So, she suggested that we spend it for prayer. So, I began to pray. At first, I couldn’t concentrate on praying because I was distracted by the noises of others. But I tried to focus on praying. I repented of my sins earnestly and asked for forgiveness. Then, I realized I was crying profusely. I felt a refreshing touch on my belly where the stream of joy welled up. I didn’t know what that was at first. But I knew it was the Holy Spirit’s working within the depth of my soul, filling me with joy of the Lord. I knew something happened to me. Next day, I realized my bad kidney, which caused me swelling on the lower parts of my legs, was healed. The Lord’s touch is refreshing and restoring. It is healing, giving us emotional and physical supports. We should rely on it for healing.    

Third, Jesus’ hand reveals His loving concern and care. Jesus is there for us, extending His hand to us. He is ready to take us by the hand and lift us up out of our beds. His hand is a symbol of divine power. He delivers us from sickness to health. The Lord’s hand is powerful enough to raise us from any sickness, spiritual, physical, or psychological. When He lifted her up out of her sick bed, she was immediately made whole. Technically speaking, if the Lord intends to lift us up out of our sicknesses, we will be made whole. But we still suffer a lot of physical, psychological weaknesses or diseases in our real-life settings. In such circumstances, we long for the Lord’s healing hands. I was once bed-ridden for many days. I couldn’t get up on my own. But the two of my sisters held each of my arms up and put me forward so that I could sit up on the bed. In life, we may often feel so powerless that we can’t get out of our beds due to my depression, despair, or disease. We have to remember the Lord who extends His hand to us to lift us up. We must lean on the Lord’s hand for healing.  

The Lord’s hand delivers us from despair to service. Peter’s mother-in-law, as soon as she got up from the fever, immediately began to serve Jesus and His disciples. By delivering us from sickness, Jesus enables us to serve Him and His people. Yahweh delivered the people of Israel with a strong hand and an outstretched arm so that they would serve and worship Him in the wilderness. The psalmist give thanks to the LORD for the exodus this ways: ¹¹ 이스라엘을 저희 중에서 인도하여 내신이에게 감사하라 그 인자하심이 영원함이로다 ¹² 강한 손과 펴신 팔로 인도하여 내신이에게 감사하라 그 인자하심이 영원함이로다. ¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; ¹² with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever (Ps. 136:11-12). The psalmist connects Yahweh’s deliverance by His strong hand with His steadfast love. He praises Yahweh for His enduring love. We see here why Jesus cares for us and delivers us from disease: SERVICE. If we regain health from sickness, then we are supposed to thank, serve, and worship the Lord God. We are to serve our neighbor.

We are to extend our hands to the sick to bring them up from their weaknesses, disappointments, or troubles. We do not have power in ourselves. But Jesus works through us to demonstrate His power and mercy to the suffering. The apostles continued the preaching, teaching, and healing ministries of Jesus on earth. Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them (Acts 3:1-8 NLT).

            As Jesus has taken us by the hand and delivered us from sin and death, despair, or disease, we must grab His hand firmly by faith and continue to follow and serve Him. Also, we must serve our needy, painful neighbors. We need to serve as the Lord’s touch and hand to them. We need to pray and bless them in the name of the Lord Jesus. We need to bring them out of the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. We need to continue the Lord’s ministries in the world so that we may serve as His voice, touch, hand, and love. Then, the Lord will give us strength to serve Him and others.   

Conclusion:       I found the following excerpt in the book Unfinished Business written by Charles Sell: “No more convincing evidence of the absence of parental affection exists than that compiled by Rene Spitz. In a South American orphanage, Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact with others. Because of a lack of funds, there was not enough staff to adequately care for these children, ages 3 months to 3 years old. Nurses changed diapers and fed and bathed the children. But there was little time to hold, cuddle, and talk to them as a mother would. After three months many of them showed signs of abnormality. Besides a loss of appetite and being unable to sleep well, many of the children lay with a vacant expression in their eyes. After five months, serious deterioration set in. They lay whimpering, with troubled and twisted faces. Often, when a doctor or nurse would pick up an infant, it would scream in terror. Twenty seven, almost one third, of the children died the first year, but not from lack of food or health care. They died of a lack of touch and emotional nurture. Because of this, seven more died the second year. Only twenty one of the 97 survived, most suffering serious psychological damage.” 

This illustrates that man needs emotional touch for health. The Lord lovingly touches His own people. Have you experienced His gentle touch in your heart? All of us need the Lord’s healing touch. We need the Lord’s healing hand. We need the Lord’s healing voice. Many are deprived of such affectionate and intimate contacts with the Lord. So, they are wandering to find them in this sinful world, driving themselves to the wasteland of conflict, disease, worry, or despair. See the Lord is standing at the door of your heart and knocking on it. Please, open your heart to Him. He will gently touch you and lift you up from the mire of your sin, disease, or despair. The Lord’s loving touch is what we need to day. If we have a pet dog, you know what it means to touch your pet with your hand. You stroke your pet gently. You see how happy you dog is. Once in a while, we take care of the dogs of our neighbors for a few days when they go out of town. This week, we have been caring for a big German shepherd. I was afraid of such a big dog. But this shepherd is so gentle. She comes to me and lies down at my feet for my gentle stroking. I scratch various parts of her body. I gently touch her head. I stroke her furs so smoothly. I say “You are a good girl” while stroking her. Then, she wags her tail. I repeat the same. Then, she closes her eyes and enjoys every movement of my gentle touch. She feels calm and satisfied. When I go upstairs, she follows me and lies down at my feet. She sits there quietly. Once in a while, I touch her and stroke her gently. Then, she is happy with being with me. When I go downstairs, she follows me again. If I says, “Stay here”, then she stays there for a while. But if she misses me, then she comes upstairs and asks for my attention. Then, I stroke her. My touch is a way of communication. It is a way to convey my care and love to her. She enjoys every bit of it and trusts me.

            The Lord’s voice, touch, and hand convey the care and love of the Lord to us. When we suffer illnesses, we need the Lord for restoration and healing. We need to hear His thunderous voice rebuking our sicknesses. We need to enjoy the Lord’s gentle touch when we are wearied of our weaknesses and sicknesses. We need to rely on the Lord’s powerful hand so that we can get out of our beds if we are lying down there in sickness, anxiety, depression, or despair. The Lord’s touch is truly healing for us. The Lord Jesus died on the cross for us, bearing all our sins, death, and diseases. We must rely on Him for healing as we go through this turbulent world. Let me leave you with this Scripture: 여호와는 나의 힘과 나의 방패시니 내 마음이 저를 의지하여 도움을 얻었도다 그러므로 내 마음이 크게 기뻐하며 내 노래로 저를 찬송하리로다. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him (Ps. 28:7).  

Benediction: ²⁴ 여호와는 네게 복을 주시고 너를 지키시기를 원하며 ²⁵ 여호와는 그 얼굴로 네게 비취사 은혜 베푸시기를 원하며 ²⁶ 여호와는 그 얼굴을 네게로 향하여 드사 평강 주시기를 원하노라. The LORD bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.