This week in John 5 we are back talking about another healing Jesus does while doing his ministry here on this earth. We have to love and appreciate the way Jesus so passionately reaches out to the poor and affluent alike and gives this gift of healing. In this case healing wasn’t just a great relief, but it was a life changing experience to be able to now walk. Remember, we are talking about a time in history where accommodations for disabilities were almost nonexistent.

Psalm 103:3 (NLT) He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

When I read Psalm 103:3 I’m moved by what Jesus has done in my life – He has forgiven my sins and healed my diseases. My sins were abundant, and he took the penalty of each and every one on the cross of Calvary. Yes, my diseases were less frequent, but no less significant, as He healed my stage 4 cancer in 2016. At the time I had a quiet trust that He was going to do what He did but I wasn’t one to talk about it like I was sure I knew. Afterall, there have been people I know personally who have bravely fought cancer and didn’t make it. I wasn’t thinking that I was any more deserving of a healing than they but for reasons I can’t explain, God in his mercy chose to answer the prayers directed for me.

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT) He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

By His wounds we are healed. I have used those words so many times as I prayed for others to receive their healing. For me repeated words or phrases can sometimes lose their meaning as they become a way for us to pray a little more mechanically as we struggle to know what new words to say that will move the heart of God. As we approach the passion week the crucifixion of Christ is made more real to me knowing how difficult it must have been for Jesus to give his life for us all. As I thought about it, It’s interesting how we can’t earn our salvation from God our Father as mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-9. I see healing much the same way in that our salvation and healing was essentially paid for by the blood and life of Jesus. We have everything to be thankful for as we read the story of Jesus healing the lame man in John 5 – knowing the same compassion Jesus had for him, he has for us. The lame man wasn’t required to pay a price for his ability to walk nor did he do anything to earn that gift Jesus gave him. He and I have similar stories to share with anyone interested in hearing. We were both simply sinners in receipt of the goodness and grace of God. Nothing more, nothing less. As a Pastor my position in life doesn’t entitle me to extra grace as evidence to the many Pastors who lost their lives over the years at a much earlier in age.

One conclusion I do take away from my own healing is that we may never know this side of heaven why some receive healing and why others don’t. We know from scripture that faith plays a role in healing as said in Mark 5:34 (NLT) and he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” 

I would say believing faith is necessary for any of us coming to God asking for anything. But what I struggle with is when someone is thought to have lost their healing because they lacked faith and as a result became sick again or experienced some sort of a relapse. When you think about it, isn’t that hard for us to judge? I certainly wouldn’t put that guilt on anyone I know.

I would rather say to someone waiting on their healing that God ultimately heals everyone. For the believer some on this side of heaven and for others they’ll experience it the moment they step foot in heaven.

Why healing isn’t experienced every time we pray is one of those questions we’ll not know in this lifetime. For me, I’m not comfortable questioning God as to why he hasn’t given me something such as a healing but grateful that He has extended His grace on me by including me into His family. That’s a healing from the disease of sin we all have to be ecstatic to receive, knowing the pain of eternity spent in hell is comparable to no other disease we can imagine. Ultimately the length of my days here in this earth are determined by the Lord (Psalm 37:23) and my hope is that I will be obedient to the plan he has made for my life however long it will be. Praise the Lord.