Fourth Sunday in Lent - The Power of Healing

The Power of Healing

A woman named Sarah who had been struggling with chronic pain for years. She had visited countless doctors and tried every treatment under the sun, but nothing seemed to work. The constant discomfort had taken a toll on her emotional wellbeing as well, leaving her feeling exhausted and hopeless.

One day, Sarah came across a new form of therapy that focused on the mind-body connection and aimed to address the root cause of her pain. Skeptical at first, Sarah decided to give it a try out of desperation. To her surprise, the therapy worked wonders for her. As Sarah continued with the therapy, she began to notice significant changes not only in her physical pain but also in her emotional state. She felt lighter, more optimistic, and less anxious. Her relationships with others improved, and she found herself enjoying life again.

Through her journey, Sarah learned that healing is not just a physical process, but an emotional one as well. The mind and body are interconnected, and when one is unwell, it affects the other. By addressing the underlying emotional issues, Sarah was able to not only alleviate her physical pain but also improve her overall quality of life.

Sarah's experience is not unique. Many people who have undergone healing, whether through traditional medicine, alternative therapies, or a combination of both, report feeling a significant improvement in their emotional wellbeing as well. This is because healing is not just about fixing a physical problem, but also about restoring balance and harmony to the mind and body.

Dan Nevins, a U.S. Army veteran who lost both his legs in combat. After struggling with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Nevins discovered the healing power of yoga. Through his practice, Nevins was able to not only improve his physical strength and mobility but also reduce his symptoms of PTSD and find inner peace. He now shares his story and the benefits of yoga with other veterans and individuals who have experienced trauma.

Nevins' story is a powerful example of how healing can have a profound impact on both our physical and emotional wellbeing. By addressing the root cause of his pain and trauma, Nevins was able to not only heal his body but also improve his mental and emotional health.

Sharron "Kay" Thornton, a woman from Alabama who was blind for 20 years due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa. In 2000, she underwent an experimental treatment called optic nerve regeneration, which involved implanting stem cells into her eyes. After the procedure, Thornton gradually began to regain her sight. At first, she could only see light and dark, but over time her vision improved to the point where she could recognize colors and shapes. Eventually, she was able to read and write again, and even got a driver's license.

Thornton's case is an example of how advances in medical technology and stem cell research can lead to remarkable improvements in quality of life for people with vision impairments. While not all cases of blindness may be reversible, Thornton's story provides hope and inspiration for those who are struggling with vision loss.

Therapies, exercises, and medical technological have certainly advanced over the years. Success stories like these above are miraculous aren’t they? But the vast majority of us live with, or know of someone suffering from acute or chronic injuries and diseases; who live in despair, longing for healing. And for those of us who fit this category: I invite you to celebrate the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to heal us from all forms of blindness. As human beings, we are prone to various forms of blindness, and it is only through the grace and power of our Lord that we can be healed.

Physical blindness is one of the most obvious forms of blindness. It is a condition where a person is unable to see or has impaired vision. Physical blindness can be caused by a variety of factors such as disease, injury, or genetics. But we know that our Lord Jesus Christ has the power to heal even physical blindness. In the Gospels, we see several instances where Jesus healed the blind. For example, in John 9, Jesus healed a man who was born blind. The man was able to see for the first time in his life, and he became a witness to the power of God.

Emotional blindness is another form of blindness that many people suffer from. It is a condition where a person is unable to perceive or express their emotions. Emotional blindness can lead to a lack of empathy, compassion, and understanding. It can also cause a person to feel disconnected from their own emotions and those of others. But we know that our Lord Jesus Christ has the power to heal emotional blindness. In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares that he has come to "proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free." This includes emotional blindness, and we can turn to him for healing.

Spiritual blindness is perhaps the most dangerous form of blindness. It is a condition where a person is unable to see the truth of God's love and salvation. Spiritual blindness can lead to a lack of faith, hope, and purpose in life. It can also cause a person to reject the message of the Gospel and to turn away from God. But we know that our Lord Jesus Christ has the power to heal spiritual blindness. In John 8:12, Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." We can turn to him for spiritual healing and enlightenment.

The powerful truth is that Jesus can transform our lives and bring healing to our bodies, minds, and souls. That truth is this: Jesus is the source of all healing, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

We see evidence of this truth throughout the Bible. In 1 Samuel 16:1-13, we read about how God anointed David as the future king of Israel. But before David was chosen, the prophet Samuel had to choose him from among his brothers. And Samuel was struck by how different David was from his brothers. The text tells us that David was "ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features" (1 Samuel 16:12). But more than his outward appearance, it was his heart that made him stand out. The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

David's heart was what made him the right choice for king. And it was his heart that made him a man after God's own heart. It was through David that God would establish the lineage that would lead to Jesus. And it is through Jesus that we find healing. In Psalm 23, we see a beautiful picture of Jesus as our Shepherd. The psalmist writes, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul" (Psalm 23:1-3). Jesus is the one who leads us to places of rest and peace. He is the one who refreshes our souls and restores us.

But Jesus does more than just lead us to places of rest. He is also our protector. The psalmist writes, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). Jesus is with us in our darkest moments. He is our comfort and our strength. He is the one who protects us from the evil one and leads us to safety.

Let us take heart in the knowledge that Jesus is the source of all healing. Whether we are struggling with physical ailments, emotional pain, or spiritual brokenness, Jesus is the one who can bring healing and restoration. Let us turn to him with open hearts and trust that he will lead us to places of rest, refreshment, and healing.

The healing miracle of Jesus, as recounted in John 9 is a powerful story shows us how Jesus demonstrated his power to heal not only physical blindness but also spiritual blindness. Through this miraculous event, Jesus revealed himself as the source of spiritual sight and offered a message of hope to those who were lost in darkness.

The story tells us of a man who was born blind. This man had never seen the world around him, and his blindness was a great source of suffering and shame. However, when Jesus saw him, he did not see a man to be pitied or ignored. Instead, he saw a person in need of healing and compassion. Jesus then did something that amazed everyone around him. He spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread it on the man’s eyes. He then told the man to go and wash his face in the pool of Siloam. When the man did as he was instructed, he was healed, and he could see.

This healing miracle was not just a physical healing; it was also a spiritual one. By restoring the man’s sight, Jesus was demonstrating that he was the source of spiritual sight as well. The man who was once blind could now see the world around him, but more importantly, he could see Jesus for who he truly was. He recognized that Jesus was more than just a man, but a powerful messenger from God.

This healing miracle offers a message of hope to those who are spiritually blind. We may be able to see the world around us, but without spiritual sight, we are lost in darkness. We may be able to see the physical things around us, but we cannot see the deeper truths that are hidden from us. We need the healing touch of Jesus to open our eyes to the spiritual realities of the world. Through faith in Jesus, we can see the truth, and we can find our way out of the darkness. The healing miracle of Jesus in John 9 shows us that he is the source of spiritual sight. Through his compassion and healing touch, he can heal our physical and spiritual blindness.

My friends I want to talk to you about the importance of accepting Christ’s offer of salvation and living according to his teachings. Our salvation is not something that we can earn by our own efforts or good works, but it is a free gift of grace that God offers to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. And it is up to us to accept this gift and live a life that reflects our gratitude for this amazing act of love.

In Ephesians 5:8-14, we are called to walk in love and accept God’s grace. The passage states, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” As followers of Christ, we are called to live a life that reflects our new identity as children of light. We must strive to live a life of goodness, righteousness, and truth, and avoid the fruitless deeds of darkness. And when we do fall short of God’s standards, we must be quick to confess our sins and receive his forgiveness.

But our acceptance of Christ’s offer of salvation is just the beginning of our journey with him. We must also open our hearts to God’s love and accept his offer of healing. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).

We all have areas in our lives that need healing and transformation. Maybe it’s a habit that we can’t seem to break, a relationship that is broken, or a past hurt that we can’t seem to move past. But we can trust that God’s love is powerful enough to heal and restore us. We just need to be willing to let him into those areas of our lives and surrender them to him. So let us accept Christ’s offer of salvation and live a life that reflects our gratitude for his amazing grace. And let us open our hearts to God’s love and allow him to heal and transform us from the inside out. May we be children of light who shine brightly in a world that desperately needs to see the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

Let us turn to our Lord Jesus Christ for healing. He has the power to heal us of our physical, emotional, and spiritual blindness. Let us pray that he may open our eyes and our hearts to his love and mercy. Jesus has the power to heal us of our physical, emotional, and spiritual blindness. We must accept his offer of salvation, live in accordance with his teachings, and open our hearts to his love in order to experience the power of his healing and grace.

May we always remember that he is the source of our healing, and may we give him all the glory and praise. Amen.