Healed to Wholeness
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Key Verse: “I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Selected Scriptures: |
AFTER JESUS’ TEMPTATION in the wilderness, he had traveled throughout Galilee proclaiming the message of good news and casting out demons. Now he had returned to Capernaum and, when news spread that he was there, so many people came to the house that there wasn’t even standing room left in front of the door. Within the house, Jesus was speaking the good news to those present, and, as he taught, something was happening outside. Four men came up carrying a crippled man on a mat, but because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus, so they made a hole in the roof above him and lowered the sick man down in front of our Lord.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick one, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mark 2:5) Some scribes were sitting there reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone? Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—He said to the paralytic, I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out of sight of all, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”—Mark 2:6-12, New American Standard Version
On another occasion the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath Day. “When he went into the synagogue, there was a man there whose hand was shrivelled, and they were watching Jesus closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, so that they might bring a charge against him. Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, ‘Stand up and come out here in front!’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it right to do good on the Sabbath day, or to do harm? Is it right to save life or to kill?’ There was a dead silence. Then Jesus, deeply hurt as he sensed their inhumanity, looked round in anger at the faces surrounding him, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand!’ And he stretched it out and the hand was restored. The Pharisees walked straight out and discussed with Herod’s party how they could get rid of Jesus.”—Mark 3:1-6, Phillips Translation
At another gathering of a multitude in the wilderness no food remained after three days. Jesus questioned the group and they brought forth seven loaves of bread. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and brake them. Distributing them before about four thousand people, they all ate, were filled, and the remaining seven baskets collected. (Mark 8:1-8) These were just a few of the miracles that Jesus performed. They were pictures of the greater miracles of healing, and feeding, to be done in his coming kingdom. These will be greater because, not only will man’s physical diseases be healed and his literal hunger satisfied, but in addition Christ and his Church will bring about the healing of man’s mental and moral illnesses, and will provide the spiritual food necessary to satisfy mankind’s hunger for Truth and righteousness. Such benefits will be available to all who desire them.