Jesus and Sickness

There was a picture going around on social media that was striking to me as a prepared this sermon. It was from a hospital in Italy, where the coronavirus has been wreaking havoc. The place was packed, the rooms were full, and there were makeshift beds -- basically just a blanket and a pillow -- on the hallway floors. Sick people everywhere.

This pandemic is a reminder that we’re all sick. We will all die. We’ve become very good at prolonging our lives, at numbing ourselves to avoid pain, at convincing ourselves that we are the exception to the rule. But we’re all dying.

In this sense, the pandemic isn’t something new, it’s simply highlighting and emphasizing something we don’t like to consider. Sickness has always been with us, and will continue to be with us until Jesus makes all things new.

Jesus came into the sick world -- we’re going to read about that in the section we’ll be studying this morning. The passage we’ll read is filled with those oppressed by demons, those sick with fever, and those sick with leprosy. And what we’re going to learn as Jesus encounters the brokenness of our world.

What do you think the world needs most right now? You might say a vaccine or a strategic plan or a swiftly healing medicine. You might say better government or wiser citizens or strong infrastructure. Jesus comes -- sent by God on a mission of love for his people into a sick and dying world. What does Jesus do? What do we learn about Jesus as we walks among the sick?

Let me read the whole section. Read along at home.

First, Jesus power is displayed.

In his teaching.

Vs. 22 “And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.”

Vs. 24 - the demon says his name -- a way to try and assert dominance; vs. 25 “Jesus rebuked him, saying ‘Be silent and come out of him!”

Vs. 27 “a new teaching with authority!”

The teaching was powerful, compelling. The scribes would always cite their sources, Jesus spoke on his own authority, and he demonstrated his authority over demons.

In his healing.

Vs. 25 - he healed the man with the unclean spirit. Jesus is demonstrating his cosmic authority over spiritual forces.

In our modern world, we don’t recognize the reality of demon possession, but it’s real, and I wonder how many modern ailments are demonic.

Vs. 31 “and he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.”

Vs. 34 “And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.”

We think about over inundated hospitals -- Jesus was clearly inundated with sick and diseased and oppressed people.

Vs. 42 he heals the leper -- again, demonstrating authority over the physical creation, he is healing body tissue, banishing viruses.

The Jesus we encounter in Scripture is powerful. His teaching is authoritative and life changing, and with his word he commands sickness to leave.

What’s happening in these opening accounts is Mark is showing you why Jesus is the Son of God. Remember 1:1? “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Really, the whole book is aimed at convincing you of this reality.

Have you paused recently to consider that right now, Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth? Do you believe it?

There are powerful features of God’s creation. We see an ocean wave and see power. We see Niagara Falls and we think power. We’ve seen explosions that are powerful. Christ is infinitely more powerful. Compare a hiccup to a atomic bomb -- that’s the most powerful force on earth compared with the power of Jesus Christ.

Have you worshiped Jesus for his power? Power over demons? Power over sickness?

Second, Jesus’ pity is deep

After casting out the demon, he leaves the synagogue and goes into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John.

“Immediately” (29, 30)

The previous section shows amazing power over the demonic realm. This section shows tender care for a sick individual.

His fame is growing (vs. 28). For some, as the crowds get larger, their concern for the individual shrinks. Not Jesus -- the crowds begin to grow into masses -- and here’s Jesus showing compassion to a sick woman.

Not the slightest hint of impatience. Not any sense of hurry. In fact, Jesus is there the rest of the day and spends the night with the family.

Friends, this is true today. Jesus is worshipped by large crowds all over the world. And in glory, Jesus will be worshipped by multitudes upon multitudes -- but he will still be interested in you.

He cares for the individual. This is noted with the leper: verse 40-41 “And a leper came to him, imploring him, and keeling said to him, ‘If you will, you can make me clean!’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will, be clean.”

First of all, the leper came very close, within touching distance. This was taboo. But his boldness and desperation brings him to do it.

Jesus was “moved with pity.” Moved -- Jesus is the fullest, truest man. And his heart is moved. There’s an emotional response to this leper’s suffering.

The word entails the deep, gut-wrenching feelings; the kind parents have watching their child suffer. Pity is when you embody someone else’s suffering. You don’t run from it, you feel it. Pity exists when the bond of love is so deep, the pains and sorrows of the beloved are your own.

Jesus sees this sick, isolated, dying leper, and he’s moved with compassion. He heals him.

Could you imagine Jesus today? His heart holds bottomless depths of compassion. Could you imagine how gut-wrenching it would be for him to walk through hospitals? It’s no wonder he’s called a “man of sorrows” -- he doesn’t distance himself from sorrow, he takes sorrow upon himself, feels it in full.

Friends, this is why Jesus goes to the cross. He does not detach himself from human suffering, he enters into it. He touches lepers. He weeps with sinners. He is grieved at lostness. He is moved with compassion. And in the ultimate display of divine compassion, he goes to the cross to suffer in their place. Jesus took upon himself the sins of all his children, the punishment they deserved, because he did not want his people to bear that penalty. He did it for them.

He did that for us. And if you can look at that cross and see with the eyes of faith that he has done it for you, then you are saved and forgiven. Rejoice!

Jesus is filled with pity, compassion, and grace for sinners and sufferers.

Now, you may be befuddled about something. I’ve just said two things that some will find confusing or even contradicting.

Jesus is all powerful. Jesus is compassionate.

Some might be saying, “Well if Jesus is so compassionate, why doesn’t he heal all the sick? Why doesn’t he cast out all the demons?”

I want you to notice something.

He never initiates healing, but he always gives it.

Vs. 23-24, the man with the unclean spirit cries out.

Vs. 30 they take Jesus to Simon’s mother-in-law

Vs 32-33 they all come to the city and are gathering at the door, he heals them.

Vs 40: a leper comes “imploring him”

He’s not initiating any of this. What’s clear is that healing and exorcism isn’t his # 1 priority!

Listen -- read through the gospel of Mark -- you will not find him entering a city for the purpose of casting out all the demons and healing all the sick.

Verse 38-39 -- more healing to be done. “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out!”

Vs. 21 teaching in the synagogue

Vs 39 preaching in all synagogues in Galilee

2:2 “he was preaching the word to them”

2:13 “he was teaching them.”

Clearly, Jesus' priority was to teach. It was not to heal. If it were to heal, he would have healed everyone. But it’s not.

Jesus’ Priority is to Teach.

Humanity’s greatest need is not that they get their bodies healed, it’s that they are reconciled to God. And for people to be reconciled to God, they have to hear God’s truth.

People are saved when they learn they are sinners in need of grace, when they learn that God is gracious and has sent his son to pay for their sins through his death and resurrection.

But most people are don’t think of themselves as sinners in need of the grace of God. They see themselves as good people and that God is obligated to make their lives easier.

They’re like sick people unaware of their disease, unaware of the danger they’re in, or the danger they’re allowing others to be in. And Jesus, the doctor, has to tell them - no you’re spiritually sick, your sin makes you an enemy of God, your condition is grave, if you die in your sins you face judgment.

But God extends mercy. Repent -- turn from sin, turn from self-reliance, turn from religion, turn from thinking of yourself as “good” -- and cast yourself at the mercy of God.

It was far more important that they hear the news of salvation than they get well.

What do sick and dying people need? They need truth! Not bare, pity-less truth. They need full-hearted, gracious, compassionate, truth in love. A truth that gets its hands dirty helping physical needs -- but uncompromising truth.

What about you: do you agree with Jesus’ priority of teaching?

Could it be that we -- a sick and dying people -- need to listen more than we need to be made well?

What are you listening to these days? Jesus’ priority is to reveal truth, is your priority to hear truth?

The reason we Christians are sometimes bad listeners is because we think we already know. But could it be that still, right now, Jesus’ priority for your life is not that your world gets better, it’s not that you stay healthy -- but that you hear his Word, listen by faith, and obey?

The newsfeeds are non-stop. Who will you listen to?

Perhaps you’re still wondering: why doesn’t Jesus just heal all sickness?

Could it be that plague, pestilence, and pandemic are God’s shout to humanity? Could it be that God is calling you to wake up?

C.S. Lewis has said: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

The megaphone is on. We all face death. Jesus may not heal you, but he is speaking to you.

He tells you that he is over it all, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He tells you that what your greatest need is -- to have your sins forgiven before God

He tells you that you cannot save yourself, but you must entrust your soul to him.

He tells you that he died on the cross so you don’t have to die for your sins.

He tells you that he rose from the dead, the only one who faced death and conquered it.

He tells you to trust his Word, to listen and obey -- are you?

He is all powerful, he is compassionate, and he wants you to believe the truth.

During his first coming, Jesus previewed something that is to come. He cast out demons, banished sickness, healed disease. But he prioritized teaching. But to say that he prioritized teaching does not mean he is not going to heal. He is going to heal -- when he returns.

What Jesus did in part in his first coming he will do in full when he sets up his kingdom. He will banish all disease, he will banish all sickness, he will banish Satan and all his demons, and he will fix all that is broken. This is why we cry -- “Come Lord Jesus!”

Until he does, we devote our lives to listening to what he taught, obeying him, and helping others listen to him as well.