“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”
(Matthew 4:23, ESV)
When people are sick, they need healing. They will normally go to a medical doctor or seek some sort of therapy that will deal with the issue. Unfortunately, there are some do not seek help and others who choose the wrong help.
When I was diagnosed with stage-4 bladder cancer, I began receiving all kinds of advice from people. An old Native American woman developed a miracle cure. One person was healed by drinking green-tea and eating celery. Another stated take ivermectin. Some told me which specific doctors I should use. I ended up in a state of confusion.
Yet unfortunately, one doctor was constantly left out of the conversation. No one mentioned the Great Physician, the Lord our Healer, Jesus. Why not? I think it is because we have become too secularized.
In Mathew we read the following regarding Jesus.
“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” (Matthew 4:23, ESV)
Note that Jesus healed “every disease and every affliction among the people.” No doctor or medical technician can make the claim of healing every person that came for help. Yet Jesus did. In the Old Testament we read that the Lord stated this about Himself, “I am the Lord, your healer.” (Exodus 15:26). The Psalmist wrote that it is the Lord who “forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,” (Psalm 103:3, ESV).
So, we must trust the Lord our healer. However, we must also realize the extent of this healing. Mathew recorded that Jesus healed every disease and every affliction among the people.” It is interesting that he mentioned both diseases and afflictions, which indicated the totality of Jesus’ healings. In context with this verse, we see that the healings included deliverance from diseases, pains, demonic oppression, seizures, and paralysis.
Jesus is not just our physical healer. He is our total healer. He is the Great Physician who heals people from every disease and affliction, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
So, if Jesus is the Great Physician, the question is this. “Why go to an earthly doctor or use medical technology?” This question has been debated in Christian circles historically. Yet it seems clear that there is a place for medical technology in our healing. Few will argue that modern medical technology has not beneficial.
I choose to look at it this way. The Lord has given certain people minds and abilities to innovate and implement new technologies which can benefit humanity. This includes medical technology. While these technologies are used by gifted people in the practice of medicine, it is the Lord who ultimately works through the practitioners and the technology to bring about His purposes. Therefore, when we experience affliction, we should proceed with treatments as we feel led of the Lord. However, we must remember to trust in the Lord for His healing and always give the glory to Him. Remember this, do not make medical technology and idol. Use it but trust the Lord for He is the Great Physician.
Renewing the Heart 