To spread his Kingdom Jesus created a team. His small community of leaders received a charge: reach out to those of the same culture and announce the Kingdom is near. They too were to act on the prophetic marks of the Kingdom: heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the incurable, and cast out unclean spirits. Healing, such an important evidence of the Kingdom, included every part of the body, every type of illness.
Reading the gospels one cannot help but notice that Jesus spent a great deal of time healing people. In addition to teaching, claiming to be the coming King, miracles that showed control over the natural world, ongoing conflicts with religious leaders which led to his death, the acts of healing dominate the story. Many passages explain that he healed many, and there are at least 20 specific stories of healing, more if we include the psychological/spiritual healings of removing evil spirits.
As modern Christians, we may be tempted to relegate the task entrusted to disciples, to health care professionals and feel we have no part. But community health advocates tell us that a wide array of things contribute to health: cleanliness, clean water, clean air, access to open spaces, positive sense of belonging to others, cultural identity, intellectual stimulation, physical stimulation, spiritual stimulation, sufficient and nutritious food, appropriate temperature through shelter and clothing, an opportunity to share the burden of things that distress us with others, care by adults of infants and elderly who lack complete mobility or ability, emergency care of temporary illnesses, appropriate medicine, a sense of physical safety, and general social stability. The list offers many opportunities for each of us to contribute to the health of others.
Does God heal supernaturally today? In our own extended family we have had at least five remarkable interventions. One sister was raised from a coma which doctors predicted would be fatal. She has had several near death experiences with cancer and has survived and thrived. Another sister came near death after hemorrhaging after her child’s birth. My niece was not expected to survive infancy due to her lack of digestion, and while not always an easy path, she has thrived to college age. My husband and I experienced dramatic relief from psychological illnesses.
Jesus told us to be servants, which provides sufficient motivation for community
work. But the call to offer healing provides
even stronger motivation. Those who do this work share a vision of healthy,
happy people in wholesome communities. My
former work in community development in
It’s remarkably easy to “make a difference” and to find avenues for contributing to others in ways that satisfy everyone, ways that we all learn from one another.
The fact that those with no particular religious beliefs can find great joy in service tells me that it is a way of opening hearts to love and potentially God’s love. The fact that many Christians are “too busy” to engage in service tells me that we need to come much closer to the heart of Christ. His love in our hearts cannot help but come out in a desire to heal.
