"That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons."
-Mark 1:32-34a
Summer after freshman year of college was spent at home working at various week long camps. In between camps, I watched a ridiculous amount of ER reruns. Dr Greene was my favorite character because he was just wonderful. There is this one episode where Dr Greene is frustrated by the amount of hospital policy and the growing number of patients in the waiting room who need attention. At the end of the episode a nurse walks out and sees him in the waiting room treating patients. Moving from seat to seat bandaging wounds and kneeling face to face with each patient. The nurse is taken aback that such an important doctor was in the waiting room dealing with such minor injuries. She asks him what he is doing. He says, "having fun."
I don't know what Jesus's disposition was to the sick people who were flooding him at the time, but I like to imagine it like the scene above. Jesus kneeling face to face with each of the sick and oppressed. Looking them in the eye and bringing them to health.
A pastor told me once that it wasn't so much that Jesus healed people, but that people caught his health. I don't fully understand that statement, but I like the idea that health is contagious. We see that in the world around us. That's why people go to therapy. Part of their healing is experiencing a healthy relationship. Part of our sanctification is experiencing the health of Jesus through the Spirit. As we come to know Him more, he heals us with His presence and Truth.
When I watched the scene of Dr Greene that summer, I wanted to identify with his character. To be going from person to person, caring for them. And, hopefully, by God's grace I will be enabled to love that way. But let's not miss the point. We aren't the healer. We are the wounded. The sick. The oppressed. We are the needy ones. The folks that need to be seen and healed by a merciful, tender and healthy Savior. And we can find rest in that relationship. That he will "make us lie down in green pastures." He will restore his children.
When I watched the scene of Dr Greene that summer, I wanted to identify with his character. To be going from person to person, caring for them. And, hopefully, by God's grace I will be enabled to love that way. But let's not miss the point. We aren't the healer. We are the wounded. The sick. The oppressed. We are the needy ones. The folks that need to be seen and healed by a merciful, tender and healthy Savior. And we can find rest in that relationship. That he will "make us lie down in green pastures." He will restore his children.
No comments:
Post a Comment