When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them. Â Â Â Â Â Luke 7:37-38 (CEV)
Who is Jesus? He is certainly a healer to me. The gospels tell of many who were healed from blindness, leprosy, seizures, paralysis, bleeding, and fevers. The gospel doesn’t say why Lazarus died the first time but he also was healed from whatever killed him.
It is this story that is my favorite healing story. This is a story of total healing to me. This woman was self-destructive and trapped in a position in her community that had no escape and no one to help her make a change – except Jesus. She is a sinner. We don’t know what her sin(s) but I can bet that everyone in town knew or thought they knew what it was. In Jesus she found forgiveness for the “terrible†sins and the courage to make a change. I know this because of the depth of her love for Jesus. She came, uninvited, into a Pharisee’s home and, unapologetically, expressed her love for her Savior.
At this season in my life, I have learned not to fear disease or death. This life is so fragile, fleeting, and without guarantees. When I am sick, I certainly ask Jesus to relieve my pain and restore strength and His good health to me. But as I grow older I face the truth that I will pass from this life to an eternal life one way or the other. And so I seek healing from un-forgiveness and pride and accusations from Satan and his storm troopers. It is the healing of my spirit that means the most to me. It is the acceptance of the refiner’s fire and launderer’s soap in my life that brings healing of far greater importance than what is happening in my physical body.
2 Chronicles 7:14. God said that if we humble ourselves and pray and look to Him that He will “heal our land.†Does that mean we will have good crops? I believe He was speaking about a bigger picture. If we humbly pray, righteousness, truth, unity, and His love will be restored to us.
Mark 3:2. Why is the scenario of Jesus healing on the Sabbath told in three gospels? I believe it is about compassion and love which is not found in a religious heart. Jesus wants me to respond to suffering immediately with compassion and His love. He wants the person suffering to know that they are important to Him.
Luke 5:20. Why did Jesus speak forgiveness of their sins to someone and then heal their physical body? Because He knew that if they were healed physically but remained broken in spirit, they would not really be healed, would they? He told the disciples not to worry about being killed in their physical bodies but to make sure they were in good relationship to the one who could throw them into hell (Luke 12:4-5).
James 5:15. James tells me to call the leadership of the Church together if I am sick and have them anoint me with oil and to repent of any sins. Healing in the body is only part; it is only the beginning.
Revelation 1:17-18. Jesus is the First and Last. He was once dead but is now alive! AND He holds the keys (has control) over death and hell. No fear of what is to come because Jesus says that I am in the Father’s hand and no one, no one can remove me. I eternally healed!
My Jesus is the Healer. He wants me to be whole and well so I can be about Kingdom work. He wants me to be whole and well because He loves me forever and ever.
Hallelujah Chorus by written by Handel and sung by The Food Court Chorus
