Healed

March 7:24-37

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

 ²⁴ Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. ²⁵ In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

   ²⁷ “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

 ²⁸ “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

 ²⁹ Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

 ³⁰ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

 ³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. ³² There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

 ³³ After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). ³⁵ At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

 ³⁶ Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. ³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute 

Reflection

Every chance I get; I attend Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Irvine High School and Woodbridge High School. Everyone other week, FCA has a local youth pastor or youth leader speak at what is known as a “huddle.” During these lunchtime activities, teens flood the gym or classroom to hear “the gospel” as they stuff their faces with free pizza.

A few weeks ago a local 25-year-old volunteer youth worker came to share the gospel, but this message was a little different.

After I became a Christian in High School, I heard a lot of people share “the gospel” at youth events or outreaches. It got to the point that when a youth pastor or leader would stand up and share “the gospel” I could basically recite every phrase, Biblical passage, and cliché. I had learned it so well that I would even make it a game with my friends, we would try to figure out what cliché the speaker would use this time.

Then in college, “the gospel” took on a larger meaning.

When many people think of “the gospel,” they think about how God sent his Son to earth in the form of a man to call disciples, teach, die on a cross for our sins, and resurrect three days later. While that is all true and amazing, Jesus came to bring something totally bigger and do something so much greater than just “die for our sins.”

Now back to that FCA meeting. On that Thursday afternoon a 25-year-old Christian stood up and asked a question, “What would you do if you only had a year left to live?”

As the speakers story unfolded he began to tell his story of how he had won a 2 year battle with cancer. Sometime after his cancer was gone, he became a Christian when he encountered God in a sermon. Now, a year-and-a-half into his Christian faith he found himself barely able to breathe and in pain. Returning to the doctor’s office after a check-up, he found out that he had stage-4 melanoma and only had about a year left to live. If he wanted to pursue treatment, the doctors gave him a 3% to 4% chance of living.

As the speaker told the story he said, “I looked down and just decided, I am okay. I am ready to meet God.”

The speaker went home still in pain and just prayed, trusting in God. At night he would wake up in pain and just pray and throw on some worship music. Soon he found that if he did that, his pain would go away enough so he could fall back asleep.

Four months after the speakers meeting his doctor, he now stood in front of 200 students in no-pain, but with a lot of faith.

As the speaker ended, the FCA leader and I gathered the students to come lay hands on the speaker to pray for him. As I prayed I was reminded out the gospel of Mark starts with Jesus preaching the gospel saying, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Throughout the gospel of Mark, Jesus presents and shows that “the Kingdom of God,” “the gospel” of our LORD, has come through the healing of the sick and the casting out of demons. By doing these actions Jesus is showing that “the gospel” of Christ not only saves us from our sins, but also overcomes evil and sickness and casts out all evil. In that way, Jesus is bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. Jesus is showing that the future reality of Heaven coming to Earth is now happening in glimpses of healing.

On April 11^th I received a text of good news from the leader of FCA in Irvine. The speaker that spoke at Irvine had gone into the doctors for a check up and after receiving a body scan the doctors could not find any cancer in his body, he was completely healed by God!

That, my friends, is the gospel: the good news that takes away our sins, casts out evil, and offers healing for the sick. Even for those we love who might not be completely healed in this life, the gospel offers the promise of healing in the life to come.

That is the message of Jesus. That is why he came to heal and cast out evil. He came to show us that the future hope of Heaven is here now and promised that the reality of Heaven will one do completely cast out all evil, sickness, and sin.

Questions

1.     Why did Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons?

2.     What Kingdom did Jesus show had come to earth when he did these things?

3.     What is the promise that God gives us for the future? For those who are not healed on this side of eternity?

4.     Does this message provide you with any hope? If so, talk about it. If not, why?

5.     In what area do you need healing? In what area of the world do you see need healing?

6.     Pray for healing and for each other.