He Sent Forth His Word and Healed Them - Part 990

"He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)

Why? So that through the healing and deliverance that can only come from Him, others would praise the Lord for His goodness and grace. There are several examples of healing and deliverance shortly after the people who listened were astonished at Jesus' doctrine -- because He taught with authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29) Indeed, the people were astonished at His doctrine, "for His Word was with power." (Luke 4:32) Even the authorities charged with capturing Jesus said, "Never any spake like this man." (John 7:36)

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. (Matthew 8:1) This does not come as a surprise, because often, Jesus was met with crowds. In this example, behold, there came a leper and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, "I will, be thou clean." Immediately, his leprosy was cleansed. Jesus then said unto the man, "See thou tell no man, but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Matthew 8:1-4)

The same example was repeated by Mark, who wrote: "And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him,  and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." And Jesus, moved with compassion put forth [His] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, and he was cleansed. And He straightly charged him, and forthwith sent him away, and said unto him, "See thou say nothing to any man, but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Mark 1:40-44)

And repeated again by Luke who also confirmed the man's healing. "And it came to pass when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy; who seeing Jesus fell on [his] face, and besought Him saying, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." And He put forth [His] hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be thou clean." And immediately the leprosy departed from him. (Luke 5:12-13)

But the man who was healed went out and began to publish the news, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into that city, but was without in desert places. Even though Jesus charged him to tell no man, "but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them" the man could not keep the miracle quiet. (Luke 5:14)

Note that this latter command was given because "in the day of his cleansing," the Law (under the old covenant -- which still applied because Jesus had not yet ascended) states that a leper shall be brought unto the priest and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and behold if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper, then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop, and the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water, and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field." (Leviticus 13:1-3; 14:1-57) There is more to the rituals than explained here but suffice it to know, that there was a prescribed process to undertake as a consequence of healing.

However, the good news was that Jesus healed the man, and the man wanted everyone to know of his miraculous healing. So much so that as the news spread abroad of Jesus, great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. This is not the only example of healing in the scriptures, but it is interesting to note what happened next. That is, Jesus withdrew Himself into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:15)

Pray always. Pray evermore. Pray without ceasing. Just as our Lord God and Saviour did when He walked the earth. Jesus is our example. And similar to when many of the people believed on Him, we are to do the same, trusting Jesus for our daily sustenance. Indeed, Jesus said, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or I speak of Myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh His own glory; but He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the same is true and no unrighteousness is in Him." (John 7:16-19)

Therefore, believe in Jesus today, for He is the resurrection and the life. He said, "He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) Moreover, Jesus is the healer, provider, and comforter. He never fails.

Jesus asked, "Believest thou this?"

Stand in the offering plate.