The Healings of Jesus

Tonight we looked at four of the Healings of Jesus portrayed in the Gospel of Mark.  We learned about:

 - the healing of the leper    Mark 1:40 - 45
 - Jairus and the raising of his daughter  Mark 5: 21-24, 35-43
 - healing of the sick woman     Mark 5: 25 - 34
 - blind Bartimaeus     Mark 10: 46 - 52

 When we look at all of these readings at once several similarities become apparent.  In these stories and in other miraculous healings of the Gospels there are four recurrent similarities.

 In each case the person who is healed or who requests the healing, has faith in Jesus’ ability to cure them.  As always, faith is the most important aspect of our relationship with the Lord.

 Jesus also asked those involved to keep the miracle a secret, or he would perform the healing in such a way as to attract as little attention as possible.  When you think about it, this seems like a strange way for Jesus  to act when he is trying to convince people that he is the Son of God!  But Jesus wanted his followers to have faith in him because of his message of love, and not because of his ability to entertain them or meet their physical needs with miracles.  He didn’t want people to follow him for the wrong reasons.  He performed miracles out of his own love and compassion, not as a publicity stunt!

 Those healed were often asked to do something with their gift such as show themselves to the priest.  Our gifts and talents are from the Lord and should always be used to love and serve him.

 Jesus often instructed witnesses to give the healed person something to eat.  Perhaps this was intended to demonstrate that the Healed were indeed alive and well.  It is also another powerful sign that it is Jesus alone who is our Spiritual Food.
 
 Do you believe that God really has the power to heal?  The same Jesus who healed so many people 2000 years ago lives today as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He hears our prayers and has the power to answer us.  As our loving Savior, he longs to make us whole.  Turn to the Lord with hearts of faith and experience the joy of being a fresh, new creation in him.

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Challenge of the week!

Do you know someone in need of physical or spiritual healing?  Pray for him or her earnestly each night this week and perhaps you will see that miracles still do happen.  Do not be disappointed if there is no apparent change.  Jesus still does His best work in secret!

Memory Verse

Jesus said to him,
“Go, your faith has made you well.”   
Mark 10:52