This Sunday is St. Luke the Physician Day. It is also the day when the Health and Healing Prayer will be offered in our worship. It is interesting that we have a physician who became a gospel writer and, of course, brings us examples of healing in the ministry of Jesus.
My message will be focusing on the healing ministry of Jesus as foreshadowed by the prophet Isaiah. We have these words:
"Surely, he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed." Is. 53:4-5
The prophet is writing about a suffering servant, which the church later would see as a description of Jesus. Yes, Jesus did heal the sick; yet he himself was connected with our diseases. Do you capture those words about bearing our infirmities and diseases? Jesus came to bring us wholeness, whether it is healing our illnesses and also dealing with our sin. Where we should have suffered; Jesus took our place and suffered.
This Sunday the prayer for the healing of body, mind, and spirit will be offered. You might be afflicted with a physical illness, be suffering from some kind of mental illness, or feel fractured in your relationship with God. This prayer is for you!
I would invite you to reflect on these words of the prophet in terms of Jesus' healing ministry. He came to proclaim the kingdom of God, to teach us, and now we must recognizing healing as an important part of his ministry.
Pastor Marty
My message will be focusing on the healing ministry of Jesus as foreshadowed by the prophet Isaiah. We have these words:
"Surely, he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed." Is. 53:4-5
The prophet is writing about a suffering servant, which the church later would see as a description of Jesus. Yes, Jesus did heal the sick; yet he himself was connected with our diseases. Do you capture those words about bearing our infirmities and diseases? Jesus came to bring us wholeness, whether it is healing our illnesses and also dealing with our sin. Where we should have suffered; Jesus took our place and suffered.
This Sunday the prayer for the healing of body, mind, and spirit will be offered. You might be afflicted with a physical illness, be suffering from some kind of mental illness, or feel fractured in your relationship with God. This prayer is for you!
I would invite you to reflect on these words of the prophet in terms of Jesus' healing ministry. He came to proclaim the kingdom of God, to teach us, and now we must recognizing healing as an important part of his ministry.
Pastor Marty
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