Healed
January 25, 2004
James 5:14
3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Galena-Warwick United Methodist Charge
Warwick & Galena, Maryland
Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Jameson
larry@larryjameson.com
back to our church home page
James 5:14
Are any of you sick? They should call for the
elders of the church and have them pray over
them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
When I hear the word "healed"
in my mind's eye
I see a Christian disciple
standing tall and proud.
The Christian isn't perfect.
There are still a lot of valleys to cross
and mountains to climb.
There will be temptations, heartaches, and sorrows.
But, in spite of all the crazy brokenness
of a sin-sick world,
God is giving his child the victory.
That is what it means to be healed.
It is a word which describes a basic Gospel truth.
Jesus IS a healer.
We are his disciples.
Like it or not, we are called to follow his example.
Here is an amazing thing!
Did you know that in the Gospel of Mark
209 out of 666 verses
are about the miracles of Jesus!
And the MAJORITY of those miracles were healing miracles!
Jesus of Nazareth is a healer.
He has a compassion and a love for troubled people
that is absolutely unique.
Everywhere that Jesus went,
crowds of hurting people gathered,
and the Bible tells us
that our Lord spent a great deal of his time
casting out demons, and healing the sick.
Why did he do it? Why did he heal people?
There are a number of reasons.
1) JESUS IS GOD.
He is all powerful.
There isn't anything that he cannot do.
Jesus let his disciples
watch him do the impossible
time and time again.
They saw his purity, and his holy might.
2) OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY INDICATED THE
MESSIAH WOULD BE A HEALER
In Luke 4.18
we see Jesus standing in the synagogue
reading the Hebrew prophecy
about himself which says,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release
to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Isaiah described a healer-Messiah by writing:
(Isaiah 53.4-5 NRSV)
"Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God,
and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed."
3) JESUS IS COMPASSIONATE AND KIND
Over and over the Bible describes
how Jesus was deeply moved
by the suffering he saw in people's lives.
Matthew 14.14 And when he came out, he saw a
great multitude, and felt compassion for them,
and healed their sick.
Matthew 20.34
And moved with compassion,
Jesus touched their eyes;
and immediately
they received their sight, and followed him.
Mark 1.41
And moved with compassion,
he stretched out his hand and touched him,
and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."
Luke 7.13
And when the Lord saw her, he felt compassion
for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
And he came up and touched the coffin;
and the bearers came to a halt.
And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!"
Our English versions of the Greek New Testament
translate the word splagch-niz-omai (Strong's 4697)
as feeling compassion, pity, or sympathy.
But splagch-niz-omai really comes from the word
splagchnon, "intestines".
Some of the older King James versions
used the term "bowels of compassion".
Actually, at least in this case,
the King James Version was right on target!
This tells us something very graphic about Jesus Christ.
When he saw someone suffering, or in pain,
he actually felt it in his guts.
Jesus is not cool and detached.
He really is wonderfully compassionate and kind!
4) THE HEALINGS ARE SILENT SERMONS
Actions speak louder than words.
The miraculous healing power of Jesus
confirmed his words
and proved that what he was saying
was true.
Consider Matthew 9.5-7 where Jesus said:
"For which is easier,
to say 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, and walk'?
But in order that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth
to forgive sins"
-- then he said to the paralytic,
"Rise, take up your bed, and go home."
And he rose, and went to his home.
But when the multitudes saw this,
they were filled with awe, and glorified God,
who had given such authority to men.
With his own words Jesus pointed out
part of the reason for his healing ministry.
His actions confirmed the truth of his words.
Does Jesus still heal today?
Yes he does.
He has the authority and the power
to give you
emotional, spiritual, physical, mental,
and relational wellness.
There is a lot more that I could say
about the legitimacy and the correctness
of healing ministry.
But, like I said earlier,
actions really do speak louder than words.
HEALING SERVICE
With The Laying On Of Hands, Anointing With Oil, & Prayer
PRAYERS FOR HEALING
PRAYER FOR ALL
Lord, we pray for all who have been outwardly anointed with oil this morning,
that they may have the inward anointing of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for
hearing us and for answering prayer. Thank you for wisdom, guidance, and
assurance that stays with us at work, at school, and at home. Protect us from
evil, and make us effective disciples.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray
by saying:
THE LORD’S PRAYER