We live in a world of hurt, pain, and suffering. No doubt, much of this hurt and suffering is caused by sickness. There is a story in scripture that is found in Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8. According to Colossians 4:14, Luke is a physician, so we will look at his account.
The Cause
“Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her” (Lk. 8:40-43). Notice in this passage that one who was sick was a child and one was an adult. The child’s father was a leader of the synagogue and the woman was forbidden to go to the synagogue because she was ceremonially unclean. No one is exempt from sickness. What does the Bible say about sickness, suffering, and healing? Original sin brought sickness and death in the world (Rom 5:12). In the broadest sense, we can say all sickness and death is the result of original sin. Aging, wrinkles, arthritis, loss of eyesight and hearing, are all part of this fallen world. Sometimes there is a direct link between personal sin and death (1 Cor. 11:30), just like there is a connection between smoking and lung cancer. Saul is an example of this. Sometimes, however, there is no relationship between personal and sin and sickness (John 9:1-4). No matter the cause, notice that both people in this story went to the feet of Jesus. Thank God for the difficulties that drive us to Jesus.
The Care
“She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you. But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me’” (Lk. 8:44-46). Even in the crowd, Jesus saw this woman. He sees you now, wherever you are. Mark 5:26 tells us, “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” Everyone who has had chronic illness or pain can identify with this woman. In this case, she was immediately healed. In other stories we read that Jesus healed by speaking the word, using spit and clay, telling a man to go wash in the pool, etc. God can heal through many different methods. He can use medicine, chemo, radiation, treatments, PT, doctors like Luke, surgery, etc. What do you do when you are sick? Take the medicine, have the surgery, and pray. All healing is from God!
The Cure
As we continue reading this story, we read that Jairus’ daughter died. Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (v. 50). The devil will tell you it is too late. There is no hope. Don’t listen to the devil’s lies. We he arrived, Jesus did not let the faithless people go in with him to the little girl. He only took His inner circle, those who knew what Jesus could do! You have to put the negative thoughts and comments out! When you are sick you need encouragers not discouragers, you need the faithful not the faithless. Jesus told her it was time to get up! He raised her back to life! Jesus does not halfway do anything. His delays are not His denials. Jairus saw a woman healed who had been sick 12 years. How old was his daughter? Jesus was building his faith!
What Jesus did for this woman and this little girl, He can do for you. But I remind you, whether or not God heals you in this life, you will still die. We see in other stories that it is not God’s will that everyone be healed of every disease in this life. Ultimate healing is in Heaven! Heaven is a place with no more sickness, sorrow, or death. It’s where Jesus will wipe away all tears. In Exodus 15:26 God said, “I am the Lord who heals you.” One of the names for God is Jehovah Rapha, meaning the Lord who heals. Run to Him today for healing. Nothing is impossible for Him! Take heart that even if you are not fully healed in this life, if you are in Christ, you will be ultimately healed in the next!
