Acts: The Gospel Unleashed Part 17

Christ has authority over disease.

Acts 9:32–35 ESV

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

All healing is from the Lord.

Exodus 15:22–26 ESV

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

A compound name of God combining the personal name and a word referring to healing

Jehovah-Rapha “The LORD who heals”

This is one of the great themes of the bible is the them that the gospel ultimately triumphs over sickness and death.

Revelation 22:1–2 ESV

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Healing is not an end in itself - it points us beyond the healing to the healer.

“Jesus Christ heals you”

All healing points to Christ.

Acts 9:35 ESV

35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

The second story shows us another side to Christ’s power.

It shows us that...

Christ has authority over death.

Acts 9:36–43 ESV

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Maps

View of Joppa & Lydda

Notice Petter’s Path - Jerusalem to Lydda to Joppa where he will have an enounter to Corniliaous

Question

Does the love of Christ flow from you into the lives of others?

Is my life marked by kindness and compassion for those in need?

Is my life tangibly beneficial for the kingdom of God?

The death of a believer is always punctuated with the joy of resurrection.