Jesus Comforts & Heals — Weekly Encouragement – June 21, 2020

Greetings Friend,

John the Baptist – JOHN THE BAPTIST! – sent word to Jesus from prison asking if He was the Messiah, the Expected One. Look at Jesus’ reply:

       “…the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” (Matthew 11:2-6)

       Did you notice in this week’s reading how many times Jesus associated Faith – Trusting Jesus and His Kingdom – with healing? Here are just a few:

       A centurion wanted healing for his servant and said Jesus did not need to come to his house, “just say the Word and my servant will be healed.” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such GREAT Faith with anyone in Israel.” (Matthew 8:5-13)

       A woman who had blood hemorrhaging for 12 years touched Jesus’ robe and Jesus said, “Daughter, take courage; your Faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:20-22)

       Two blind men wanted their sight, said they believed Jesus was able to heal them. Jesus said, “It shall be done to you according to your Faith.” (Matthew 9:27-30)

       I recently watched a “Christian Gospel” documentary that proclaimed a Great LACK of Faith by stating it is not God’s will to always heal and rather that God is “allowing” suffering (by illnesses, etc.) to make us better, stronger Christians. This “taking offense at Jesus” is nothing new, even in Jesus’ day the religious officials were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” (Matthew 9:34)

       But, here’s the Encouragement: The Lord is the one comforting and healing in the midst of any suffering – we need to Trust and have Faith in Him! He said, “Come to Me, ALL who are weary and heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” (Matthew 11:28) That’s a promise of God we can count on.

God bless,

Dave