SALVATION AND HEALING

SALVATION AND HEALING

Luke 18:18–43 KJV (WS)

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Christ came to help man both spiritually and physically. He wants man to have a healthy soul and body. Christ brings divine health. By accepting Christ, we have a healthy soul. By God’s touch, we have a healthy body.

I. SALVATION—vv. 18–27

1. Concern—v. 18. What must I do that I may have eternal life?

2. Christ—v. 19. Jesus says, Don’t call me good … there is only one who is good! What humility!

3. Commandments—vv. 20–21. Five commandments are listed and he claimed he had kept them from his youth. (He didn’t keep the first commandment, which puts God first in one’s life.)

4. Consecration—vv. 22–23. Jesus asks three things of the ruler: (1) Sell what you have. (2) Give your riches to the poor. (3) Take up your cross daily and follow Me. The questioner goes away filled with sorrow.

5. Comparison—vv. 24–25. It is hard for rich people to enter heaven since money comes between man and God. Christ must be first!

6. Christian—vv. 26–27. Who can be saved? With man things are impossible. With God, all things are possible.

II. SACRIFICE—vv. 28–30

1. Consecration—v. 28. Leave all to follow Christ.

2. Compensation—vv. 29–30. He who leaves all and follows Christ will be rewarded, both in this life and in the life to come. God keeps very good records.

III. SORROW—vv. 31–34

1. Prophecy—v. 31. Jesus now faces the end of His life. He knows the prophecies which point to His death, and how they must be fulfilled.

2. Punishment—vv. 32–33. Suffering, death upon the cross, and the resurrection now await Him.

3. Problem—v. 34. The disciples, although with Him for three years, do not understand the words of Christ.

IV. SEARCHING—vv. 35–43

1. Person—vv. 35–37. A blind man hears that Jesus is coming to his town.

2. Pleading—v. 38. He cries out to Christ, asking that He heal his blindness.

3. Problems—v. 39. He is told by the crowd to keep silent.

4. Personal—vv. 40–41. Jesus takes a personal interest—He stands still. He asks the blind man what he wants.

5. Praise—vv. 42–43. The blind man is healed. He praises God, along with the other people.

As Jesus “stood still” for this blind man, so He stops to listen to our needs. He could have passed this blind man and shown no interest. But He is concerned and interested in all of man’s needs.