"The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 8:16-17,
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him [Jesus], and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.'"
When Jesus was here he healed many people. Matthew observes it was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4. The New International Version of the Bible translates that passage as, "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." Later, in verse 5 we read, "... by his wounds we are healed."
Entire denominations have developed around the belief that God loves us and so does not want to see us suffer illness, infirmity and pain in this life. The passage in Isaiah is often referenced as the basis for this doctrine.
Here is an interesting question: When Jesus was here and witnessed the pain and suffering of those with diseases and infirmities, why didn't he just eradicate all illness, pain and suffering from all mankind? More to the point, why is it that those who are given to the teaching that physical healing is provided for in this life through the atonement of Jesus Christ get the flu like the rest of us, get arthritis as they age, just like the rest of us, get cancer like the rest of us, or eventually die through the infirmities that old age eventually bring on all who survive that long?
Something appears amiss with this doctrine. Much confusion is added by those who believe this doctrine by accompanying it with the notion that if we harbor some un-confessed sin or our faith wanes a bit, this is what accounts for the apparent abrogation of this feature of the atonement.
Without going into great detail, Paul points out that as long as we are in this life, our bodies are not yet redeemed, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:22-25. In verse 10 of that chapter we read, "... if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness."
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him [Jesus], and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.'"
When Jesus was here he healed many people. Matthew observes it was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4. The New International Version of the Bible translates that passage as, "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." Later, in verse 5 we read, "... by his wounds we are healed."
Entire denominations have developed around the belief that God loves us and so does not want to see us suffer illness, infirmity and pain in this life. The passage in Isaiah is often referenced as the basis for this doctrine.
Here is an interesting question: When Jesus was here and witnessed the pain and suffering of those with diseases and infirmities, why didn't he just eradicate all illness, pain and suffering from all mankind? More to the point, why is it that those who are given to the teaching that physical healing is provided for in this life through the atonement of Jesus Christ get the flu like the rest of us, get arthritis as they age, just like the rest of us, get cancer like the rest of us, or eventually die through the infirmities that old age eventually bring on all who survive that long?
Something appears amiss with this doctrine. Much confusion is added by those who believe this doctrine by accompanying it with the notion that if we harbor some un-confessed sin or our faith wanes a bit, this is what accounts for the apparent abrogation of this feature of the atonement.
Without going into great detail, Paul points out that as long as we are in this life, our bodies are not yet redeemed, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:22-25. In verse 10 of that chapter we read, "... if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness."
Jesus healed many when he was here to communicate his love and compassion for us, as well as establish his bona fides as the Son of God, that we might place our faith in him.
James teaches us that God may heal us of illness if we pray in faith, and that prayer is effective, yet we are never taught a prayer for healing is always guaranteed. See James 5:13-16. Until the second coming of Jesus Christ, it is God's will that we all die at some point.
An illness might possibly indicate God is trying to get our attention, however, it might also indicate we were simply exposed to a virus.
Yes, healing is provided for in the atonement. However, that healing for us all does not take place in this life. It comes by way of the new resurrected bodies the faithful will receive in the resurrection.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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