Daily Devotions
And He (Jesus) went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them. Matthew 4:23-24
A week or so ago, the U.S. Senate put out a report which said that, because of the millions of people who will soon be getting health care, America needs 16,000 more primary care physicians.
The good news is that a panel, the National Health Care Workforce Commission, has been designated to meet that need. The bad news is that, as of this writing, the commission has not been funded, nor have they met.
Sometimes that is the incomplete way a bureaucracy can work or — in this case — not work.
That is not the way it was for Jesus. In the fourth chapter of Matthew, we hear of how Jesus’ health care system did its job. The evangelist wrote that Jesus healed “every disease and every affliction.” Then, lest anyone miss the impact of his words, Matthew got specific. He says they brought Jesus all the sick, that is, those who had various diseases and pains, those who were oppressed by demons, those who were epileptics, and those who were paralyzed.
Then Matthew simply states, “And He (Jesus) healed them.”
Period.
There was no time set aside for recuperation, no ongoing medications prescribed, no long-term recovery, no occupational or physical therapists called in, no follow-up visits with the doctor. To show to everyone He was the promised Messiah, Jesus healed all those who were brought to Him.
Today He continues to offer spiritual healing to all who come to Him in faith. Do you have a troubled conscience brought on by some sin? Do you feel unappreciated and unloved? Do you worry about what will happen after you die?
When the Holy Spirit brings people who are burdened with such questions to Jesus, they will find the Savior heals. Those who are troubled become confident their sins were carried by Jesus and have been erased. Those who feel forgotten know their Lord not only remembers them, but loves them. Those who wonder about eternity are reassured Jesus has died, risen and welcomes believers into heaven.
The Bible says, “They brought Him all the sick … and He healed them.” Today, as believers we can add, “The Holy Spirit brings sinners, whose souls are sick with sin to Jesus, and He forgives them.”
It is a miracle for which we should give thanks. It is a miracle that explains why Jesus is a primary health care physician unlike any other.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for being the great Physician of both body and soul I give thanks. May I bring all my cares before You and know that You will take care of me completely, totally, eternally. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.