One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. [Luke 11.14-16]
Here again, we see Jesus bringing remedy to a condition today we would call "medical." Whatever this condition, physical or mental, it was treated by Jesus as a demon. Jesus cast it out and the man was healed and began to speak. Focus on the word "authority."
So, let's rewind and look at a previous account of Jesus doing another miracle:
One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” [Luke 5.17-26]
The first thing I want to point out is that Jesus saw forgiveness and healing as one and the same. This is important. In a world gone terribly secular, Christians will find themselves faced with a daunting task to see healing as Jesus saw it instead of seeing it only from the physiological perspective that our education and knowledge make it today.
So, from the two accounts of healing or deliverance discussed here, I want to explore how Jesus did what He did. How did He heal these two men? Well, by Jesus' own clear admission in Luke 5, He exercised and therefore proved His "authority" over the situation. It just so happens that that authority was exercised by forgiving the man. In Luke 11, Jesus demonstrated that authority by casting out a demon which, was an act of forgiveness too because, as a man - a descendant of Adam - the man was in sin giving the demon every right to occupy him.
What?? Yep, forgiveness healed the men. And, it got the religious leaders' attention in a big way! “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” was their arrogant and therefore blind response. And, while "blasphemy" seems a harsh judgment, consider the Luke 11 response by the folks who witnessed that miracle: “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” ...And why did Jesus get railed on in these two accounts? For healing and deliverance? No, but for forgiving?
I think we should all consider the miracles of Jesus. I think we would see a pattern of 'not condemning' but ...healing people. THINK! If He didn't condemn, then He ...FORGAVE! That forgiveness manifested in healing.
But let's look further at the Luke 5 account of healing. What had the guy let down through the roof done to Jesus that would require forgiveness? Nothing! But he, as a man - a descendant of Adam - was 'broken' (a curse upon sin) - so Jesus forgave him. And, that forgiveness healed the guy.
Perhaps we, like the folks around Jesus in Luke 11, are so interested in Jesus proving His "authority" to us (to heal) that we are overlooking the whole concept of forgiveness in the process! Perhaps then, we should stop being like the crowds around Jesus and start just being like Jesus! And what would that look like? FORGIVENESS!
This is just too big to miss... If we are to BE and LOOK like Jesus in the earth today, then we are to DO the things Jesus did! (and Jesus specifically even said we should do the works He does...) If then we are not looking like Jesus, then something is missing! What could it be? Could it be forgiveness? Could it be that we have such an ignorance of forgiveness that we are powerless in ministry to others? Could that be why we see so few actual miracles of healing and deliverance today?
AND COULD THAT BE WHY SO MANY OF US ARE NOT HEALED OURSELVES????
How do we get forgiveness? BY FORGIVING! If healing and forgiveness are one and the same, that explains a LOT! There is a principle of reciprocity seen here and basically in every teaching of Jesus!
How do we get good done to us? By doing good to others. (the Golden Rule)
How are our needs met? By putting the Kingdom first. (Matthew 6.33) (Luke 12.31)
How do we get forgiveness? By forgiving. (Matthew 6.12)
How do we prevent being judged? By not judging! (Luke 6.37)
How do we get life? By dying to ourselves. (Mark 8.34-37)
The first thing I want to point out is that Jesus saw forgiveness and healing as one and the same. This is important. In a world gone terribly secular, Christians will find themselves faced with a daunting task to see healing as Jesus saw it instead of seeing it only from the physiological perspective that our education and knowledge make it today.
So, from the two accounts of healing or deliverance discussed here, I want to explore how Jesus did what He did. How did He heal these two men? Well, by Jesus' own clear admission in Luke 5, He exercised and therefore proved His "authority" over the situation. It just so happens that that authority was exercised by forgiving the man. In Luke 11, Jesus demonstrated that authority by casting out a demon which, was an act of forgiveness too because, as a man - a descendant of Adam - the man was in sin giving the demon every right to occupy him.
What?? Yep, forgiveness healed the men. And, it got the religious leaders' attention in a big way! “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” was their arrogant and therefore blind response. And, while "blasphemy" seems a harsh judgment, consider the Luke 11 response by the folks who witnessed that miracle: “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” ...And why did Jesus get railed on in these two accounts? For healing and deliverance? No, but for forgiving?
I think we should all consider the miracles of Jesus. I think we would see a pattern of 'not condemning' but ...healing people. THINK! If He didn't condemn, then He ...FORGAVE! That forgiveness manifested in healing.
But let's look further at the Luke 5 account of healing. What had the guy let down through the roof done to Jesus that would require forgiveness? Nothing! But he, as a man - a descendant of Adam - was 'broken' (a curse upon sin) - so Jesus forgave him. And, that forgiveness healed the guy.
Perhaps we, like the folks around Jesus in Luke 11, are so interested in Jesus proving His "authority" to us (to heal) that we are overlooking the whole concept of forgiveness in the process! Perhaps then, we should stop being like the crowds around Jesus and start just being like Jesus! And what would that look like? FORGIVENESS!
This is just too big to miss... If we are to BE and LOOK like Jesus in the earth today, then we are to DO the things Jesus did! (and Jesus specifically even said we should do the works He does...) If then we are not looking like Jesus, then something is missing! What could it be? Could it be forgiveness? Could it be that we have such an ignorance of forgiveness that we are powerless in ministry to others? Could that be why we see so few actual miracles of healing and deliverance today?
AND COULD THAT BE WHY SO MANY OF US ARE NOT HEALED OURSELVES????
How do we get forgiveness? BY FORGIVING! If healing and forgiveness are one and the same, that explains a LOT! There is a principle of reciprocity seen here and basically in every teaching of Jesus!
How do we get good done to us? By doing good to others. (the Golden Rule)
How are our needs met? By putting the Kingdom first. (Matthew 6.33) (Luke 12.31)
How do we get forgiveness? By forgiving. (Matthew 6.12)
How do we prevent being judged? By not judging! (Luke 6.37)
How do we get life? By dying to ourselves. (Mark 8.34-37)
This is Waaaaay deeper than I have even touched on today... Bottom line though: If we cannot forgive, then we will not go to heaven.
Father, You have spoken clearly to me today. I repent of unforgiveness in my life.
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