The Great Physician

by Jill Rhodes

November 2004

"It is not those who are healthy who need a physician,
but those who are sick;
I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:17

"Why did Jesus Christ not remain alive and eliminate, generation by generation, all the evils which harass humanity?  Simply because He was the great Physician, and in the finest tradition of medical science, He was unwilling to remain preoccupied with the symptoms when He could destroy the disease.  Jesus Christ was unwilling to settle for anything less than elimination of the cause of evil in history."  (Richard C. Halverson)

What a mass of hideous sickness Jesus must have seen.  Yet He was not disgusted but patiently healed them all.  What a variety of evils He must have seen. ... Yet He was prepared for every type of evil and was victorious over its every form.  Let the arrows fly from any angle, He quenches their fiery power.

The heat of fever, the cold of fluid buildup, the lethargy of paralysis, the rage of madness, the filth of leprosy, the darkness of blindness: all knew the power of His word and fled at His command.  In every corner of the field, He triumphed over evil and received honor from the delivered captives.  He came, He saw, and He conquered everywhere.

He is the same today.  Whatever my case may be, the beloved Physician can heal me.  Whatever the state of others whom I remember in prayer, I have hope in Jesus that they will be healed.  My child, my friend, or my dearest one, I have hope for each and all when I remember the healing power of my Lord.

In my own situation, however severe my struggle with sin and infirmities, I too may be of good cheer.  He who on earth walked the hospitals still dispenses His grace and works wonders among His children.  Let me earnestly go to Him at once.

Let me praise Him as I remember how He wrought his spiritual cures.  He took on Himself our sicknesses.  "By His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).  The church on earth is full of souls healed by our beloved Physician.  The inhabitants of heaven confess that "He healed them all."       (Charles H. Spurgeon)

Come and See

His Responsive Touch

1.  What kinds of people were brought to Jesus for healing (Matt. 4:24, 15:30)?
     What was the result of these healings (Matt. 15:31)?

2.  What kinds of treatments did the Great Physician use in each of the following cases? 
     (Matthew 9:20-22;  Mark 7:32-35;  Luke 4: 38-39;  John 9:1-7)
     Why do you think Jesus used a variety of methods to heal?

Though the work of the Great Physician is evident in all four gospels, nowhere are the medical records more precisely transcribed than in the writings of Dr. Luke.  A physician himself, Luke went to great pains to emphasize the miraculous touch of the Saviour which far exceeded medical intervention.  The doctor describes the scope of Jesus' power to heal by using all four Greek words used to denote healing; and He highlights the success of the Lord's treatment by using the Greek work iaomai, depicting complete wholeness, no less than 15 times in his gospel!

3.  How did Jesus feel when He saw the crowds (Matt. 9:35-36)?
     How do you think He feels when He sees you hurting?

"The miracles of Jesus were the ordinary works of His Father,
wrought small and swift that we might take them in."
(George MacDonald)

His Reviving Touch

4.  Read Luke 13:10-17.  What was the condition of this woman, and what was the cause (v.11)?

5.  What did Jesus do when He saw the crippled woman (v.12)?  How did she respond (v.13)?

6.  How did the religious leaders respond (v.14)? 
     In what ways do we place limits on the Lord's work today by our own restrictions?

"Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God's plans,
but God is not helpless among the ruins.
  Our broken lives are not lost or useless. 
God's love is still working. 
He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously,
working out His wonderful plan of love."
Eric Liddell

His Refreshing Touch

7.  Read John 5:1-17 and describe the setting of this story as if you were there.  What might be the sights, sounds, and smells of this atmosphere?
     How would you feel in a place like this?

8.  What question did Jesus ask this man (v.6)?  Why?
     How would you answer this question?

9.  What did Jesus tell the man later at the temple (v.14)?
     Why do you think Jesus said this?

"Oh, my soul, knock hard and ask large things
of your generous Lord.  Do not be bashful
when Jesus invites.  No unbelief should hinder
when Jesus promises.  No cold heart should
restrain when such blessings are to be obtained."
Charles H. Spurgeon

His Restoring Touch

10.  In Luke 22:47-53, how did Jesus' attitudes and actions differ from the disciples?

11.  Why would Jesus stop to touch the man's ear in the midst of so much turmoil?

12.  Think of a time when you have been wounded physically or emotionally by the actions of someone else.  How is this story a personal encouragement to you?

"Humanity as a whole, whether or not there is a question of personal sin,
suffers the attack of the evil one.
Jesus offers amnesty and relief, translating out to the free proclamation
of forgiveness and healing to all who desire it."
Michael L. Brown

Come and Follow

13.  How have you experienced the healing of Jesus in your life?

14.  Which touch of Jesus are you most in need of today:  His reviving touch, His refreshing touch, or His restoring touch?

Take a moment and pray for the Lord to reach out and personally touch you today as only He can.

15.  What are some practical ways the Great Physician can use you to extend His hand of hope and healing to the hurting?

"Can we really expect such [healing] in our day? As long as God is God
and there is sickness and disease on the earth, the answer is certainly yes.
For no matter how many promises God has made,
they are "Yes" in Christ.  And so through Him the 'Amen' is
sounded by us to the glory of God."  (2 Cor. 1:20)

Name Above All Names

 "At the name of Jesus every knee will bow... and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."   Phil.2:10-11

~ The Lord Your Healer ~  Exodus 15:26

~  The Deliverer ~  Romans 11:26

~  Afflicted ~  Isaiah 63:9

~  Strength to the Needy ~  Isaiah 25:4

~ Balm of Gilead ~  Jeremiah 8:22

~ Ointment Poured Forth ~  Song of Solomon 1:3

~  The Sun of Righteousness with Healing in His Wings ~  Malachi 4:2