Friday: Further Study: Discipling the Sick
Further Study: Read Luke 18:35-43; Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 6:1-2; Mark 6:5-7, Mark 6:54-56; Mark 7:31-37; Mark 8:22-26; Matthew 8:1-19; Matt 12:15-23. Ellen G. White, Our Example, pp. 17-21, and Healing of the Soul, pp. 73-85, in The Ministry of Healing; The Divine Plan in the Medical Missionary Work, pp. 25-29, in Medical Ministry.
The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. He needed health of soul before he could appreciate health of body. Before the physical malady could be healed, Christ must bring relief to the mind, and cleanse the soul from sin. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message,
Thy sins are forgiven.
The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can impart would restore vigor to the mind and health to the body. . . .
In the home of the paralytic there was great rejoicing when he returned to his family, carrying with ease the couch upon which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short time before. . . . Glad thanksgiving went up from that home, and God was glorified through His Son, who had restored hope to the hopeless and strength to the stricken one. This man and his family were ready to lay down their lives for Jesus.
-Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, pp. 77, 79.
Discussion Questions:
- How can healing ministries open hearts and minds otherwise closed to the gospel? How can Christians guard themselves against the error of thinking that healing is an end in itself?
- How can churches that are not connected with hospitals participate in healing ministry? How can Christians involved with healing ministry avoid association in the public’s mind with so-called faith healers?
- What do we say to those potential disciples who, reading about the healings in the Bible, come to our churches or hospitals in search of a healing that does not happen? What answers do we have for them? What answers do we have for ourselves as we seek to understand these situations? What answers are found in the Bible that can help us at times like these?
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Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins and performed all forms of wonders. And these miracles caught peoples attention and confirmed the devinity of Christ. The early christians also healed the sick and even raised the dead in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarath. They spoke and things happened immediately. They spoke with great authority and conviction. It was as if their life was dependent on the words they spoke. You can feel the faith they had in God that whatever they ask through Christ, they would receive. I still believe that even today, just like christians of old, we, modern christians, can attract the power of God through Christ to do greater things than what He did through the faith of the early christrians. I believe. I can do all things through Christ that give me stregnth
Jesus is the great physician, and He is always ready to heal us of any diseases, sicknesses and ready to recreate us into His image. There is no sickness, or sins that Jesus cannot heal. Any sickness, or sin you can take it to Jesus. I have seen so many people overcome by their sins, if only they knew Jesus. Ron Halverson says, Jesus told him to have a colonoscopy, he went to the doctor and had it done, his life was save from cancer. Miracles, miracles, Jesus wants to give us one today. Jesus healed me many times of all kinds of illnesses. I praise Him today for His mighty healing power in my life. Hope it is the same for you. God bless.
When Jesus healed the sick the praise did not not go to him, but rather they "praised the God of Israel....discipling them indeed. Healing physically, emotionally or otherwise should extract praise from the healed to God alone who is mighty to save.
The question comes to me as I have spent time with "Discipling the Sick" this week. "Which do we address first, 'felt needs' or 'forgiveness'?" It seems that sometimes Jesus healed than then said 'Come and follow Me' while other times He forgave sins and then fulfilled their 'felt needs'. As our church prepares to open a "Community Center" I pray that we will have the wisdom to know which approach is right for each individual so they will see God for who He truly is.