↑ THEY SAW THE SIGNS HE DID: Illustration of Jesus healing a sick man. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.” (John 2:23)
“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?”
The Bible quotation comes from Jeremiah 8:22. In the time of the prophet Jeremiah, help for the sick was in very short supply. God asks: “Is there no physician there?” Here the talk is about both spiritual and physical healing. About Jesus it says:
“And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:14
The word “heartfelt compassion” is the strongest expression for care found in Greek. It means “to put your feet in another person’s shoes and feel how it hurts,” “to know where the shoe pinches,” as we say. Prayer for the sick must therefore never become an impersonal “thing” rolling off the assembly line in a factory! People are human beings with feelings, and they suffer.
In our work, the foundation Jesus Heals Ministries, I feel that we stretch ourselves very far to help the sick. I believe it pleases the Lord that we have a center and a mission focused on what Jesus placed so much emphasis on. From this perspective he focused on faith and the necessity of salvation, which of course ranked highest in his life. He had “come to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.”
John 2:23
He used miracles as a lever for salvation. People saw the miracles and came to faith. Many like to say: “Thank you for being here!” “What would we have done without you?” Researchers have found that two-thirds of what Jesus spent His time on was healing the sick and casting out demons from the demon-possessed. Only one-third was devoted to preaching and teaching (Matthew 4:23–24; 9:35; Luke 13:32).
Have you thought about it: Jesus is best known as a healing preacher! This side we heard most about in Sunday school. Theological research establishes: This side of His ministry is the most discussed of all the topics the Gospels focus on. More than a fifth of all that the Gospels mention are miracles, signs, and wonders! In our time it is the exact opposite: Lots of preaching and church activities – and a few times just a tiny bit of practicing prayer for the sick. (Of course there are exceptions.)
If the world were to be saved because of sermons, it would have been saved long, long ago! By comparison: Who buys a vacuum cleaner or a car without first testing the product? Miracles are the test of authenticity in the Gospels!
Now I pray 12 times for the sick each day in our new prayer chain: “Prayer Chain 150”. People voluntarily take part in supporting the venture by giving 150 kr each Monday, plus a fixed monthly support. Thanks to everyone who signs up and takes part in this work. Please feel free to contact us if you want to join this group. I thank God for everyone who shows interest in what Jesus valued so highly. As in Jeremiah’s time, as now, God asks: “Is there no balm in Gilead?”
P.S.: I applaud the Christian newspaper Norge IDAG, for daring to focus on miracles, signs, and wonders! I believe that the angels read it with great interest!
“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?”
The Bible quotation comes from Jeremiah 8:22. In the time of the prophet Jeremiah, help for the sick was in very short supply. God asks: “Is there no physician there?” Here the talk is about both spiritual and physical healing. About Jesus it says:
“And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:14
The word “heartfelt compassion” is the strongest expression for care found in Greek. It means “to put your feet in another person’s shoes and feel how it hurts,” “to know where the shoe pinches,” as we say. Prayer for the sick must therefore never become an impersonal “thing” rolling off the assembly line in a factory! People are human beings with feelings, and they suffer.
In our work, the foundation Jesus Heals Ministries, I feel that we stretch ourselves very far to help the sick. I believe it pleases the Lord that we have a center and a mission focused on what Jesus placed so much emphasis on. From this perspective he focused on faith and the necessity of salvation, which of course ranked highest in his life. He had “come to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.”
John 2:23
He used miracles as a lever for salvation. People saw the miracles and came to faith. Many like to say: “Thank you for being here!” “What would we have done without you?” Researchers have found that two-thirds of what Jesus spent His time on was healing the sick and casting out demons from the demon-possessed. Only one-third was devoted to preaching and teaching (Matthew 4:23–24; 9:35; Luke 13:32).
Have you thought about it: Jesus is best known as a healing preacher! This side we heard most about in Sunday school. Theological research establishes: This side of His ministry is the most discussed of all the topics the Gospels focus on. More than a fifth of all that the Gospels mention are miracles, signs, and wonders! In our time it is the exact opposite: Lots of preaching and church activities – and a few times just a tiny bit of practicing prayer for the sick. (Of course there are exceptions.)
If the world were to be saved because of sermons, it would have been saved long, long ago! By comparison: Who buys a vacuum cleaner or a car without first testing the product? Miracles are the test of authenticity in the Gospels!
Now I pray 12 times for the sick each day in our new prayer chain: “Prayer Chain 150”. People voluntarily take part in supporting the venture by giving 150 kr each Monday, plus a fixed monthly support. Thanks to everyone who signs up and takes part in this work. Please feel free to contact us if you want to join this group. I thank God for everyone who shows interest in what Jesus valued so highly. As in Jeremiah’s time, as now, God asks: “Is there no balm in Gilead?”
P.S.: I applaud the Christian newspaper Norge IDAG, for daring to focus on miracles, signs, and wonders! I believe that the angels read it with great interest!
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