Weekly Message: Jesus took up our infirmities and carried our disease
By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music 8/27/2017
The power of Christ Jesus had performed and approved by the prophets and all His disciples as witnesses. In O.T. Isaiah said, “He took up our infirmities and carried our disease.” had confirmed by Apostles in N.T. All these narrative were written by Apostle Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John. The proof of the king that Jesus Christ is Messiah, there are few factors and evident as followers,
First, Jesus’ power over defilement- he was cured of a man with leprosy (Matt.8:3).
Second, His power over distance- when a centurion’s servant lies at home paralyzed, Jesus said a word according to the centurion’s faith, who asked for healing, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘go, and he goes and that one, ‘Come’ and he comes. I say to my servant, “do this and he does it” (v.8-9). Jesus was astonished about his great faith, and healed his servant by commanded, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” (v.13). Jesus with all authority and divine power performed the miracle, centurion’s servant was healed.
Third, Jesus’ power over disease- when Peter’s mother in-law lying in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand and the fever left her. And many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
Fourth, Jesus’ power over the deep- when Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him, without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves. It was completely calm.
Fifth, Jesus’ power over demons – when he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him, and said, “ Son of God…have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” the demons begged Jesus, “ if you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” Jesus said to them, “Go!” so they came out and went into the pigs.
Sixth, Jesus’ power over darkness- when there were two blind men followed Jesus calling out, “have mercy on us, Son of David.” Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” they replied, “Yes, Lord”. Jesus touched their eyes and said, “according to your faith will it be done to you.”( Matt.9:29) And their sight was restored.
Seventh, Jesus’ power over death – a ruler came and knelt before Jesus and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples, on the way, a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak she said to herself, “if I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter…you faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.(Matt.9:20-22). When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, Jesus said, “Go away, the girl is not dead , but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. (Matt.9:23-26).
These factors and events approved the power of God and approved by all His disciples as witnesses. All these narrative were written by Apostle Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John. Many sicknesses came to Jesus, demonstrated great faith and belief, so the miracles were preformed. “Some called Him “Son of God” which is Jesus’ divine name. (Matt.8:29). Some called Him, “Son of David”, His Jewish name (Matt.9:27). But “Son of Men”, the name that signifies Jesus on the earth and His mission which emphasizes His lowliness and humanity (Matt.8:20) His suffering and death. (Luke19:10) and His future reign as king”. (Matt.24:27).[1]
In this era, Jesus’ healing power and comforting are still the same. His words are still powerful in this day to those who believe in Him, by the powerful name of Jesus, and our faith with persistent prayers and fasting, Jesus unveiled himself to the individual who had faith in Him.
In Feb. 1999, my mother had hypertension, asthma attacked, Leukemia, during the dialysis, because of fever persistent, asthma attacked, and poor infection control, she was asleep, and unconscious, her skin was turned to dark. Even nurse said, “Sorry, your mother has passed away.” But I prayed without ceasing and countless fasting, “O Lord, let her come back to me, I led her to local church and baptized, but she had not yet learned Bible, let her back, and let me serve her not mother, but sister in Christ.” and I called for prayers support from local church and TIC prayer group, she had experienced Jesus’ healing and rose from death during June and discharged in August 1999 in Taiwan. And she went with me to testify that Jesus’ healing power at hometown local hospital and walked with me to the church in Sep.1999. She shared her faith with my old sister over the phone, and told her to pray in the name of Jesus in March 1, 2000. Jesus prolonged her life four and half years, she had never learned Chinese, after she rose from death, I taught her Bible in Hakar language and Chinese writing. She wrote four notebooks, “Heavenly Father”, 天父 “Son of God神的兒子”, and “Jesus loves you耶穌愛你”. She passed away in thanksgiving 2003. Indeed, Jesus’ power over the disease and took up our infirmities and carried our diseases (Matt. 8: 17). Each crisis produced an opportunity to serve the Lord, and each worship song I composed and sung out from the heart under the circumstances. It became the songs of deliverance and songs of salvation in my life and Christian ministry journey.
My friends, when there is no hope and no physicians to go, call upon the name of Jesus, praise Him, and petition your weakness, and sickness to Him. Jesus can heal and grant you inner man’s peace. Jesus’ comforting and healing are still powerful in this era, who said, “Take heart daughter, your faith has healed you; according to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matt.9:29). “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”; “don’t be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed.”(Luke.8:48, 50). Jesus loves you and His comforting is the same in A.D. 60-50, who said, “come to me all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest. (Matt.11:28). He is Messiah Christ, the great “I am”, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.
[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1327.
Bibliography,
Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.
Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.
Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the
Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.
Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.
Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.
[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1327.
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1327.