PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 8:14-17
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” (Matthew 8:16)
In Genesis 1-2, humans rule creation with, like and for God, and it is ‘very good’.
But in Genesis 3 humans surrender to Satan’s lies, and become his subjects.
They are oppressed and possessed by evil, and their lives are cursed.
The ‘demon-possessed’ are those whose lives have become controlled by Satan’s lies.
The result is sickness, suffering, isolation, shame, misery, pain, and ultimately death.
We all experience it in some way, but for some it becomes debilitating and destructive.
Here Jesus is reversing the curse and relieving the consequences of the curse.
“With a word” Jesus brings order out of chaos, life out of death, like God in Genesis 1.
These are signs, meant to show us Who Jesus is, and to increase our faith.
Despite what we see in the world, Jesus is in charge, and we reign with Him.
We do not need to surrender to sickness, or suffering, or Satan’s lies.
We still experience them, but Jesus takes up and bears them with us, like us, for us!
When Satan attacks me with lies and hardships, I can reply “with a word”, Jesus reigns!
And then wait for how the Lord will work out His help and healing in my life.
PRAYER
Lord, saying this “with a word” is easier said than done. Help me to make a habit of it, even when I do not feel it. And give me eyes to see it when it is hard to see!
A simple touch or a simple word – is all it took for Jesus to heal, drive out demons. Reminds me of how God spoke and it was – he created all that there is.
Yet, Jesus is right there – personal and touching – not stand offish! “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases” – he lived among us – and wants to live in us with his Holy Spirit – he is God up close! And like Peter’s Mom – it empowers us to serve! In Christ, we can stand up to the evil one. Thanks be to God – for enables us!
Once again, Jesus does what is contrary to the customs of the day. Healing by touching a woman and making her whole. And she did what we all need to do, serve Him. It is He and only Jesus who can put us in the right relationship with God. And He still does that today – heals people working through His instruments of peace making people whole. At times He takes the disease out of the people and other times He takes the people out of the disease. He continues to heal and make His people whole to be in His presence serving and praising Him.
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases’
Lord Jesus you bore all our sins and the curses of sin on your body on the tree that we might die to sin and live for righteousness and by your stripes we are healed.
Thank you Father for the health care in Canada. Billion dollars and time are spent for research and cure of cancer, dementia, alzheimers, and mental health. And I doubt if Jesus is invited as the leader in this research and cure–most probably not.
Lord may the nurses and doctors who are your followers constantly take you along as they serve the people. You are our Great Healer Jesus Christ Jehovah Rapha.