Matthew 8.10 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and
said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have
I found such faith. (ESV)
One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry was the healing
of the sick. This was especially important because the Levitical Law said, “…None of [Aaron’s] offspring throughout
their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God.
For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who
has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an
injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or
an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. No man of the offspring of
Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the Lord's food
offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of
his God..." (Leviticus 21.17-21 ESV)
God healed His people. God made them pure and He made them whole; He took away
their infirmities, and healed all of their diseases (Cf. Isaiah 53.5). It was
part of the Divine relationship with Israel. There were no other cures, there
were no hospitals, or medicines, or health insurance; when one got sick, most
of the time it ended in death. So, according to the Scriptures Jesus healed the
children of Israel.
But when a (Gentile) Roman army officer showed up and
asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus rewarded the Gentile because of his
faith. All along God had asked the people of Israel to trust Him. It takes
faith to do so. The centurion in Matthew 8 knew what Jesus was capable of and believed
He would heal his servant (apparently from afar); just say the word, Jesus.
Faith puts no limitations on God. Faith trusts God when
He is present and when He is afar.
Faith knows confidently God will do as He has said. The centurion was an
example to the people of Israel that God had come to make them whole and clean
so they could come into His presence without fault or blemish. They just had to
believe that truth. It required
faith.
In these days of grace it is no fun to be sick. In these
days of grace it is no fun to be diseased or crippled, or lame, or afflicted.
But in these days of grace faith is still
the most important thing because in these days of grace, relationship with
God is steadfast and enduring in sickness and in health, in poverty or in
wealth, for better or for worse; until death do we go home forever. Faith still
puts no limitations on God; but faith doesn't waver in the face of sickness or
affliction: what God has promised, He has
promised and no thing or no one will ever take that away.
Yes, when I am sick I want to get better but it doesn't mean I have failed God or that He loves me less if the sickness persists. It doesn't mean I have been defeated even if I die as a result. I cannot and must
not put such demands on God to make me better because He said to Paul (and I
think to us): “My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12.9a ESV)
It takes faith to believe that, and God rewards those who do (Cf. Hebrews
6.1ff).
Father, I am forever Yours in sickness or health, in
poverty or wealth; for better or worse until I get to come home forever. Your
grace is sufficient and Your power is made perfect in my weakness… Amen.
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