Healing

by Bryan Craig

Day 4: Ultimate Healing

I was raised in church, but I was never exposed to this theology of Healing.  I have a friend who grew up in a small country church, and they absolutely believed in healing and expected miracles.  He exposed me to a verse which changed my life.

“Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” 
James 5:14-16

How can we read this verse, if we believe in the authority and sovereignty of Scripture and ignore it?  Once again, God is telling us, this time through James, that we are to be portals of Healing for others.  We can quibble over the part about “the elders” but nevertheless, the Word says, “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.”

I’ve studied this passage many times and asked the Lord for insight.  I believe it is much like Baptism.  God seems to like it when we show a public proclamation of our faith in Him.  James says that sick people should request prayer from men of Faith, and he says anointing oil should be used.  I believe oil is a healing balm, but I also believe it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.  Just like they anointed Kings with oil, which transferred power upon them, we are to anoint the sick with power from above.

One thing that puzzled me a bit was the part about confessing of sins and forgiveness. However, then the Spirit reminded me of Jesus and one of His interchanges with a sick person, a paralytic.

“Some men brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’  At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…’ Then He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’  And the man got up and went home.” Matthew 9:2-7

What’s more important- temporary Healing or eternal Healing?  Jesus died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins so that those who believe can have eternal life.  I believe He cares more about people getting right with Him spiritually than He does about physical healing.  Sometimes, he uses an affliction to bring someone into salvation.  This is ultimate healing.

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4