Healing is central to our Christian faith and to our calling as Christian people. Jesus’ promise is one of healing. God provides for our healing and recovery.
In the Gospels there are 58 references to healing: Jesus is seen as healing someone, on his way to heal someone, or on his way back from healing someone! Jesus as God makes clear that healing along with salvation are at the center of God’s relationship with mankind. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to inquire of Jesus if he was the Messiah, Jesus answered: “Go back and tell John what you see … the blind see again, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them (Luke 7:22). We are saved not only from sin and death but also from sickness and suffering.
Jesus commanded his disciples to heal. The practice of healing is presented in concrete terms. “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:13). Every Christian is called to exercise some from of healing ministry: It might be praying for the sick, publicly or privately. It might be putting prayer into action by giving someone a smile, a word of encouragement, a moment of comfort, a helping hand, a gift of love, joy or peace.
God also provides for our healing through the calling of health professionals: doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and others who care for the sick and suffering. Special training and experience is the “anointing oil” of the skilled physician or counselor. God wants us to actively seek the care we need. God wants us to be healed. That’s the promise of Jesus.
(This article was prepared by the Samaritan Counseling Center of the Fox Valley, 886-9319, to support the mental health and family care ministries of congregations.)
In the Gospels there are 58 references to healing: Jesus is seen as healing someone, on his way to heal someone, or on his way back from healing someone! Jesus as God makes clear that healing along with salvation are at the center of God’s relationship with mankind. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to inquire of Jesus if he was the Messiah, Jesus answered: “Go back and tell John what you see … the blind see again, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them (Luke 7:22). We are saved not only from sin and death but also from sickness and suffering.
Jesus commanded his disciples to heal. The practice of healing is presented in concrete terms. “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:13). Every Christian is called to exercise some from of healing ministry: It might be praying for the sick, publicly or privately. It might be putting prayer into action by giving someone a smile, a word of encouragement, a moment of comfort, a helping hand, a gift of love, joy or peace.
God also provides for our healing through the calling of health professionals: doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and others who care for the sick and suffering. Special training and experience is the “anointing oil” of the skilled physician or counselor. God wants us to actively seek the care we need. God wants us to be healed. That’s the promise of Jesus.
(This article was prepared by the Samaritan Counseling Center of the Fox Valley, 886-9319, to support the mental health and family care ministries of congregations.)
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