What Is Up With Sickness?

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed. [Matthew 14.34-36]

What is up with sickness?

Even more so than wealth, health is a universal problem. It is now and it was in Jesus' day. It is quite likely to continue to be a huge problem until this world as we know it ceases to exist.

It is only fitting that Jesus would remedy, among other things, the universal problem of health among people.

It is only fitting that we would remedy, among other things, the universal problem of health among people!

For us to quickly surmise that we have much better health care today than Jesus and His contemporaries had (and therefore don't need God's miraculous healing) is an adulterous and idolatrous conclusion. I do not deny that medical science has advanced, but has the quality of life itself really ever overcome sickness? No. And, to confound the problem of healthcare even further, insurance has made it not only a physical struggle, but a financial one as well.

The one thing that makes all humans the same is our vulnerability to sickness. Cancer, diabetes, dementia, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and the likes, know no social boundaries. Sure some can afford treatments more readily than others, and, in some cases may even afford to prolong their lives to some degree, but still, even all the money in the world cannot guarantee immunity to death by sickness.

Is it any wonder that Jesus healed the sick?

It should be no wonder then that we (who are Christ's) heal the sick also. 

The Kingdom Jesus preached has not changed. The Father God, that Jesus claimed relationship to, has not changed. The need of the world has not changed - people are still sick and in need of healing that only the Kingdom of God (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit at work in believers) can afford. That healing, according to Jesus (I am not making this up!) leads people to repentance - Matthew 11.21 proves it: 

What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. [Matthew 11.21]

Healing got people's attention in Jesus' day and healing gets people's attention today. But that kindness (healing) is a catalyst for repentance.

Maybe, just maybe, we see so little repentance today because we see so little healing and miracles by those who claim Christ.

Let me just say it for you and myself, "Ouch!"

Father, please keep speaking to my heart. I know You are doing just that and I know it is challenging me to change - to change my thinking, to change my conversations, and to change my actions.