"This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:4)
"When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered them, 'Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Rise and walk?" But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'--He said to the man who was paralyzed--'I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.' And immediately he rose up from before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. and amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen extraordinary things today.'" (Luke 5:22-26)
Yesterday, OneVoice, the singing group Janie has the privilege to be a part of, sang at Providence Baptist Church (More on that another day!) It was a WOW day. So beautiful and such a gift to hear not only the girls all singing together (and they sounded wonderful) but then to hear Dave Owen's sermon on the healing of the paralytic from Luke 5.
Remember the story? Four friends carry their paralyzed buddy on a stretcher, cut a hole in the roof of a house, and lower their friend in front of Jesus... all because they had faith that Jesus was the answer. And He was... and is.
But what they didn't realize is that the Savior was the answer to a much deeper and far greater problem than paralysis of the body--He can heal paralysis of the soul. Only Jesus, only Jesus has the power to forgive sin--mankind's most desperate need. It is sin that destroys families, peace, hope, and joy. It is sin that separates us forever from the perfect, holy God who made us and loves us. It is sin that creates and feeds guilt and hate and fear and addiction and worry and regret and despair and loneliness and war.
Of course Jesus has the power to heal bodies. He can raise the dead and restore sight and repair limbs
... and heal damaged brains of teenaged girls. We have seen Him do the impossible firsthand. I will never doubt the omnipotent power of our Sovereign Lord to do the unimaginable and unthinkable.
But more importantly, these kinds of healings are for one purpose--to show forth the glory of Almighty God so that we will see Him high and lifted up and capable of not only healing our bodies, but infinitely more importantly, of healing and restoring our souls.
I love how Dave O. put it: "Jesus is showing that our deepest need is not to be able to walk again but to be born again.... Jesus did the miracle which they could see that they may know that He had done the greater miracle which they could not see."
Dave O. quoted Tim Keller on this. And he said something to the effect that we love to rejoice over the miracle which we can see, but the point of the miracle is not to show us Jesus will meet all our physical needs. The point is to show us that Christ can meet all our spiritual needs.
All this is to say, we should be constantly amazed by the stupendously miraculous work of the gospel that saves to the uttermost all who come to Jesus by faith! Yes, we praise the Lord for His miraculous work on this planet in healing and restoring broken bodies. May I never ever grow immune to the wonder and amazement and joy over His miraculous healing of Janie! To God be the glory over and over and over again!
But may our awe move us to see His infinitely greater work in coming to this broken and hopeless planet to save and redeem sinners. Might His grace--His truly amazing, remarkable, beautiful, perfect, and scandalous grace--move us to amazement every single day. He saves the sick: sometimes--in His mercy and by His sovereign plan--physically... but always spiritually. And that is the greater deliverance.
If Jesus is your Savior, then you are a miracle. Live today in the astounding wonder that He chose to heal you spiritually. Might we all stay amazed at our amazing Lord! He is worthy!
To God be the glory.
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