Jesus Meets Human Needs

GOLDEN TEXT: “And Jesus answering need not a physician; but they that are but sinners to repentance.” —Luke 5:31,32

LUKE 5:12-15, 27-32

IN ADDITION to proclaiming the good news of the coming kingdom Jesus also demonstrated the blessings it would provide for all mankind. The Old Testament prophecies of the kingdom describe these blessings, assuring us that blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, the lame restored to soundness of limb—in fact all sickness and even death itself destroyed. (Isa. 35:5,6; 25:6-8) Isaiah also wrote, “The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.”—ch. 33:24

The life-giving blessings of the kingdom will be so far reaching as to include the awakening of the dead. Paul informs us that Jesus gave himself a ransom for all, and Isaiah wrote that “the ransomed of the Lord shall return … with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (ch. 35:10) In prayer to his God, Moses said, “Thou turnest man to destruction; said unto them, They that are whole sick. I came not to call the righteous, and sayest, Return ye children of men.”—Ps. 90:3

It was in the Garden of Eden that God turned man to destruction, to death because of sin. Paul wrote, “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom. 5:12) Paul also wrote, “For since by man came death, by man [the man Christ Jesus] came [or will come] also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”—I Cor. 15:21,22

When Paul wrote that Jesus gave himself a ransom for all, he used a Greek word meaning a corresponding price. In other words, the perfect man Jesus became a substitute in death for the perfect man Adam who sinned and brought the penalty of death upon himself and his offspring. We see, therefore, that Jesus came into the world to meet human needs in a very large sense, and the miracles he performed during his first visit to earth illustrated in a small way the far reaching work of restoration which will be accomplished during his second visit, described by the Apostle Peter as “times of restitution of all things,” which, he adds, “God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”—Acts 3:19-21

If the meeting of human needs by Jesus was limited to the comparatively few miracles which he performed in Palestine, how meager would have been his accomplishments! True, it was a marvelous thing for each of the sick ones he healed, and how they must have rejoiced in the blessings received. But there were thousands in Palestine, even at that time, whom Jesus did not heal.

Millions prior to that suffered and died without benefit of his healing touch, and countless millions since have likewise suffered the afflictions resulting from the transgression of divine law. Human need has been great throughout all the ages, and thus far those needs have not been met by Jesus. But thank God for the assurance that during the thousand years of his reign, all will be awakened from death and given an opportunity to believe on him, be restored to perfection and live forever.

The curing of the leper, as recounted in our lesson, is a noteworthy example of what can be accomplished by the healing power of Christ, the Great Physician. In Jesus’ day leprosy was considered an incurable disease, and as a matter of fact, it still is. This makes it a fitting illustration of the malady of sin, which, so far as fallen mankind is concerned, is also incurable. Paul wrote that “the sting of death is sin.” (I Cor. 15:56) Beginning with Adam, all mankind has been stung to death by sin, the evidences of this venom being seen in all the myriad diseases which prey upon mankind and finally lead to the grave.

Just as Jesus healed the Ieper, so, through his redeeming blood, he will yet rescue all mankind from sin, and restore the ailing ones to life. But each individual of, the human race will have to co-operate in order to receive this blessing, first by repentance, and then by the acceptance of God’s grace through Christ, and obedience to the laws of his kingdom. Jesus said that he came to call sinners to repentance. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God—all are sinners, and individual repentance is the first step back to harmony with God and to life. This will have to be followed by full devotion to the will of God as it will then be revealed.

QUESTIONS

How did Jesus illustrate the meaning of the Gospel of the kingdom which he proclaimed?

Describe some of the life-giving blessings of Christ’s kingdom.

What is the meaning of the word “ransom” as applied to the redemptive work of Christ?

How far-reaching is the divine plan for meeting human needs?

Why is leprosy an apt illustration of the disease of sin?

What is the first step of a sinner in returning to God?

What invitation is extended to the repentant in this age, and what will be required of those who repent in the next age?

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