Jesus Shows Authority over Disease

Today we are going to talk about something that is highly misunderstood. People have varying opinions on its reality, the means in which is should be done, or even whether everyone should do it. In fact, entire church organization often argue about the logistics of this topic. I am talking about the topic of healing. Yet, healing miracles are at the center of the ministry of Jesus. Jesus uses them to demonstrate his authority, his power. Remember, The Second section of Marks Testimony of Jesus begins to reveal the struggle between competing kingdoms. Jesus breaks into the kingdoms of the World, specifically the Roman Kingdom and the Jewish Kingdom and the Kingdom of Darkness and declares that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus declaration is that His Kingdom is more powerful than any of the kingdoms of this world. Jesus has authority over sickness, disease and injury. In fact, the healing ministry of Jesus is going to be a major theme as we move through the testimony of Mark. And Im gonna be honest, there are a lot of differing ideas about this.Here's what I know for sure.

Jesus has the power to heal. This is going to be large part of our study in Mark this year. And his healing power is still available to us today!

Jesus didn't heal everyone. This is a point of struggle for many people. This is part that makes people a bit uncomfortable. Jesus doesn't heal on our command!

Jesus authority over disease is the same even when his means of healing is different!

Let's examine one of these miracles as a demonstration of Jesus Power.Mark 1:40-45 - 40 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. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.Let's look more closely at Jesus' encounter with Sickness, Disease and Injury

Sickness and disease was often seen as a judgment upon the life of the individual from personal and familial sins.

So any disease or sickness was generally looked down upon. Additionally, Sickness and disease caused a major financially struggle upon the individual and family.

Most people with sickness and diseases in Jesu day were begers and relied upn the generosity of others.

Many were carried to places of healing like the pool of Bethesda, or carried to Jesus as we see in the Gospel accounts.

Of those sicknesses and diseases none were more feared that leperacy.

"By all the cannons of common sense, the encounter between Jesus and the leopard should not have happened." Kernghan, 51

The Laws a Leper has to follow were well recorded in the Book of Leviticus

They were outcasts who had to call out unclean, unclean when in the general populace.

Leperacy was a dreaded disease.

It was socially, communally, and religiously isolating.

So when the Leper approached Jesus this day and said,"If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean" he had everything on the line.

Jesus could have scorned the leper and reminded him of the proper way lepers were to live in general society.

But instead, How does Jesus respond...

Mark 1:34

And Jesus, moved with compassion,

put forth his hand, and touched him,

and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

"for Jesus to heal, the leopard on these terms is to put himself above the law and the priest." Kernaghan, 52

We will be talking more about this reality over the next three sermons.Y

But something utterly unusual happens in the exchange that is worth noting.

"Jesus not only healed the leper, He stretched out his hand and touched him. We know what happens when something clean touches something unclean: both come away dirty. This time, however, both came away clean." Kerghan p 53

Jesus was not afraid to enter into this man's sickness. Usually to touch a leper meant increased risk of contracting leperacy. But this did not stop Jesus' from entering into the persons realm and having compassion upon him.

Jesus was motivated by his compassion.

Jesus did give into the pressure for personal preservation, his own health.

Jesus didn't cave to sociatal norms, the way other around him were reacting

Nor was he afraid of the religious osterization that often comes by engaging the unclean.

His love for the hurting, and his authority over disease, lead him into action/

Jesus displayed his power, His authority, over disease by healing the Leper.

I must confess this topic is a bit tough for me

As a Father with a daughter with a life altering injury, i am. a bit uncomfortable with all this talk of healing.

It's not because I don't believe God can heal.

It's because he hasn't healed my daughter as I have prayed.

But I want to say something as kind of a confession.

God does not have to heal my daughter like I want him to to reveal his authority, his power in my life and in our families.

He is still God, and He is still powerful, and he still has healing for her, even if it doesn't look like I want it to look!

So I wan tot share with you. Three ways God's power brings healing

Three Ways God's Power brings healing:

Immediate, Miraculous Healing over Sickness, disease or injury

This is what we mean the most when we speak of God's healing.

It is what we see in our text today.

But it is no the only healing that God preforms over Sickness, disease or injury

We need to take caution when God gives healing in different ways that we expect.

Our Faith dictates that God is in charge of the method of healing he provides.

If he choses to provide healing in another way than we expect, It is still an act of his authority, his power. And thus is no loess powerful! And is no less praiseworthy!

The Provision of his Presence in the midst of Sickness, disease or injury

This is the healing that we dont really like. Sometimes God's healing does not come in the form we think.

We limit God's healing by thinking it can only come in the way we think is should.

Sometimes God doesn't deliver us from the fire, but through it.

Sometimes God doesn't deliver us from the trial, but in the midst of it.

It is just as much the power of God when he says to Paul that His Grace in sufficient in the midst of Sickness, disease or injury.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 - 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When I think about this, I think of Joni Ericsontada

God did not deliver her from the presence of her physical injury, but he did deliver her from the power of her physical injury.

She is not defined by her injury.

Does her injury limit her. Certainly.

But She is not powerless.

A testimony to this happened this last week through story right here in CT. A couple has collected over 2000 wheel chairs for Joni and Friends that will be shipped around the world and given to those in need.

Are You struggling under the weight of a sickness, or diagnosis, or injury. That does not define you. Nor does it limit the power of God's grace in you!

God is healing you are you find his presence, His power, in the midst of your diagnosis.

Ultimate and Final Victory over Sickness, disease or injury

Brethren, there is coming a day when all sickness, disease and injury will be healed.

Revelation 21:1-5 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, gcoming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Our encounter with Sickness, Disease and Injury

Lessons we should learn and emulate from Jesus' encounter with those who are sick, diseased and injured.

Have compassion!

Be hands on!

Pray for Healing!

CONCLUSION: I can't think of any better way to close our time today than with the word of Scripture. Jame 5:13-16 - 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much