Showing posts with label healing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healing. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Good morning! Have you ever tried to type while an insistent cat rests in your arms? It's challenging at times, but it can be done. Max isn't always a people person -he prefers being outside most of the time- but now and then the mood strikes him and he is determined to be held. He's like a yo yo. I put him down and he comes right back, usually with a disdainful look. 
  We aren't here to discuss my cats though, are we? Today we begin chapter 5 of John. Verses 1 to 18 are what we will look at. I want to read the rest of the chapter a time or two more before I write about it tomorrow. 
  There was another feast time for the Jews, and Jesus was in Jerusalem again.  In those days there was a sheep market, and by that was a pool called Bethesda. At a certain time an angel would be sent down to the pool and he would trouble the water. The first person--lame, ill, blind, or other infirmity--to step into the troubled water would be made whole. There was a man at the pool who had been infirm for 38 years. He could not walk on his own because when Jesus asked him if he would like to be cured, answered that he had no one to help him into the water and always someone else would enter the water first. 
  Jesus told him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. He immediately got up and walked. When asked at first who had cured him, the man did not know, for Jesus had cured him, then slipped off into the crowd.  Later in the temple, Jesus saw the man again. He told the man, you are made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee.  He wasn't threatening the man but simply telling him that sin equals death.
  The man told his fellow Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him, and of course they were angry because it was the Sabbath, and no work, even healing someone was supposed to be done on the Sabbath. Jesus answered, My Father works today, and I work now.
  This made them angrier and they wanted to kill Jesus because he made himself equal with God by calling him his Father. 
  Humans tend to want to destroy that which they do not understand. They were more interested in keeping to laws than actually doing God's will. Jesus had a lot to say to them, and we will get to that tomorrow. Until then, have a great day. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A Morning Cup of Tea: A Ruler at Capernaum

Good morning! Happy Valentine's Day! My husband and I have already celebrated last week but it's still a special day. I had wanted to cook a special breakfast today but we have a doctor appointment for J. What plans have you got for today?
  Today we are finishing up chapter 4 of John. Jesus and his disciples had gone back to Galilee, and stopped in Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. A ruler met them there, whose son was sick at Capernaum. The man's son was going to die. The man asked Jesus to come with him and heal his son.
  Jesus said, Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe (v 48). But the man insisted that Jesus should come or his son would die. Jesus then told him, Go thy way; thy son liveth  (v 50).
  As the nobleman was returning home, his servants met him and told him that his son was alive. The man asked when his son got better. They told him the seventh hour of the previous day. The man knew that was the very hour in which Jesus had told him, Thy son liveth. The man and his whole household believed in Jesus then.
  John tells us that this was the second miracle that Jesus did.  

Sunday, January 15, 2012

A Morning Cup of Tea: The Parable of the Feast

Good morning! Being the first day of the week many of you are probably at worship at the time of this writing. I usually try to have it written earlier but I over slept. Today I am home. My husband is working. 
   Today's lesson is Luke 14:1 - 25.  Jesus has been invited to dinner at the home of the ruler of the Pharisees. A man with dropsy was there. Dropsy is what we know as edema, or swelling, usually the legs and such, oftentimes due to congestive heart failure. Although no one said anything about it being the Sabbath, Jesus obviously knew what they were thinking because he reminded them that if an ox was in the ditch they would pull it out, no matter the day of the week. 
 Jesus then began to talk with them about not automatically sitting in places of honor at gatherings, but to sit in a lesser place. That way their host can choose to ask  them to move up to a better place instead of asking them to give up their seat to someone of more importance. Those who try to exalt themselves usually find themselves humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted (v 11).
  Then he spoke to them about not inviting friends or family to feasts, who can and will repay with invitations to dinner, but to invite the poor and others who cannot repay. 
  Jesus told them a parable of a man who decided to have a great feast. He invited all his friends. One by one, they all sent their regrets. One said he had just married so he could not come. One just bought a piece of land and needed to go see it. One bought 5 yoke of oxen and needed to test them. Lame excuses indeed!
  When the master heard these excuses he was angry. He sent his servant out to the streets and told him to bring in the poor and the lame and the maimed and the blind. The servant did so and reported to the master there was still room at the feast. The master sent him even further out, to the highways and the hedges to bring people to the feast. 
   This one made me think, how often do we make excuses not to go to worship or to do what God wants us to do, such as visiting the sick, or simply writing a note to someone in need of encouragement?   I can't go because little Johnny is sick. I can't do it because I don't feel good. We all know the excuses. Some may be legitimate reasons but sometimes its because we just plain don't feel like it.
  Also, I think there is a parallel between the feast and our command to go and teach. Many of our friends and loved ones may give excuse as to why they cannot come to worship with us, or why they can't do a bible study with you. We are to move on to others whom we don't know, and teach them. We should continue further outward to bring others in. 
  What are your thoughts on this? I'd love to hear your comments and questions. If I don't know the answer right away I can surely find the answer. Until next time, have a great Lord's day.

Monday, December 5, 2011

A Morning Cup of Tea: Just a Touch

Good morning! Today we are finishing up chapter 8 of the book of Luke, beginning with verse 40. Jesus and his disciples are now back across the lake after being sent away from the people of the Gadarenes. Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came to ask Jesus to come to his home. His only daughter was ill to the point of death. On the way there, a woman who had suffered from an issue of blood for many years, and had seen physician after physician with no change in her health, determined that if she could just touch Jesus' clothes all would be well. When she touched the hem of his garment, the flow of blood stopped. 
   Jesus stopped also. Who touched me? he asked. He knew what had happened and knew that some of his virtue had gone out of him (v46). The woman had tried to hide, because first of all she was simply a woman, and second of all, she was considered unclean and should not have been in public. But Jesus saw her and told her Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
 Back on the way to Jairus' home, someone came from the house to tell Jairus not to bother with bringing Jesus there; the girl was dead. Jesus told him, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 
  At Jairus' house he only allowed Peter, James and John, plus the girl's parents inside. He told everyone to stop weeping, she isn't dead. They were scornful of him. But Jesus held the girl's hand and commanded her to arise. Luke tells us in verse 55 that her spirit came again and she arose straightway.
  In both instances, with the woman, and with the girl, they were healed with a simple touch. Jairus had faith that Jesus could heal his daughter, and the woman with the issue of blood had faith that just a touch of his garment could make her whole. However, had either of these people stayed home and not approached Jesus, nothing would have happened. They had to step out in faith and do something to get the healing they desired.   
 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Gratituesday: Good Health

For the past several months although I was not desperately sick, I was very often tired and depressed and slept a lot. I felt dizzy often, and could barely get any work done. I already knew that my thyroid and iron levels were most likely to blame because I had been through this before. Finally I went to the doctor and sure enough, my iron level was severely low. My thyroid must be doing well enough on the level of medication he prescribed so he very nearly insisted that I be put in the hospital for a blood transfusion. 
  I don't like hospital stays. They are expensive and it takes me away from my family. I have a son with autism, and there would be no one to care for him, which would force my husband to miss work while I was in the hospital. We told the doctor we'd rather not do that, but simply take the medication. The doctor wasn't happy about it, but he upped my iron dose to four times a day and I have a B-Complex multivitamin I have to take as well. 
  My dear husband did miss some time at work because of how ill I was, and it was a hardship financially. But he made sure I took my meds and got the rest I needed, and he cooked for me healthy foods that would build me back up. That included beef liver, which I am not very fond of, but I ate it, and he did too. Spinach is a big part of my diet these days too.
  I am very thankful for a doctor who cares enough to insist that I take my health seriously enough to have tests run to find out the cause of the low iron, and calls me personally when he sees the results of blood tests. I am thankful for the prayers of many who asked about me continually. And I am thankful for my husband who cared for me during this time and my mother in law who sent soup! I  still take the medication, and probably will for a long time. I'm not quite at the "normal" level iron wise yet but my doctor was happy with the improvement. It's easy, I think, to get into a rut of rush rush rush, and take care of everyone else to the point that even though you know how to eat properly you sometimes don't. While my eating habits hadn't been exactly stellar, I wasn't so far off the mark nutrition wise. There is another contributing factor, my doctor believes, and we will find it. 
  Each Tuesday Heavenly Homemakers  invites others to link up with her and share what we are thankful for. What are you thankful for today?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

A Morning Cup of Tea: A Gentille's Faith, A Deaf and Dumb Man Healed

Good morning! Today we are finishing chapter 7 of Mark. 
 My son has autism and sometimes he doesn't always understand what I tell him. And sometimes, like other teens, he just doesn't have the patience to wait for what he wants. But he does know that his dad and I love him very much, and he has faith that we will take care of him. Right now he's waiting more or less patiently for me to finish this writing so I will fix him breakfast. So let us begin, shall we?
  In verse 24 Jesus went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon, where a gentile woman - a Greek, Syrophenician by nationality --had heard of him. She had a daughter with an unclean spirit and wanted Jesus to cast the devil out. 
 Jesus answered her, telling her first the Jews were to be taken care of, as you would not take bread from children and give it to dogs.
 The woman however, showed her faith. She knew that just a little would heal her daughter. She answered him , "Yes Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs" (v28).  Jesus rewarded her by telling her to go her way, the devil had been cast out. He had only say it and it was done!
  When he left from there to Decapolis a man was brought to him who was deaf and could not speak properly. The man's friends begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus  placed his hands on the man's ears and on his tongue and said Eph pha tha --meaning, Be opened (v34). The man was immediately healed. He could hear and speak!
 Jesus had told them to go their way and tell no one about this, but of course they told everyone. I'm not sure I could keep that secret myself, had I been there at a time when Jesus himself could heal me or a family member.  What an awesome, awesome thing that had to have been!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

A Morning Cup of Tea: Chapter 23 Outwardly Righteous

In the last verses of Matthew 23, Jesus does not mince words. He is honest and straightforward, and I feel he is both angry and sad that people who are supposed to teach others about the Father have so much to learn themselves.  I once had a conversation with a friend. It's actually happened with a few friends. They've cited verse such as those found in this chapter to say that Jesus hates religion and this is why they do not go to church.  Jesus still loved the Pharisees, just as he loved everyone. What he hated was the self righteousness, the sin, the hypocrisy. He didn't want people to stop going to temple then --he went himself! --and he certainly does not wish for us to decide that we don't need the fellowship of other Christians. We all have the need to be loved, accepted, admonished in love, and the opportunity to do those things for others, and to be able to partake of the Lord's Supper, and sing, and otherwise worship with our fellow Christians. Yes, our faith is personal and personal worship is part of what God wants from us. He also wants us to gather together to worship. 
  Okay, back to chapter 23 of Matthew. As I said earlier, Jesus didn't tiptoe around the issue.  The Pharisees were big on cleanliness. They had rules about it. Listen to what Jesus had to say:
 25. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and the platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 
27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within filled with dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28. Even so, ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
 I don't think you can get any plainer than that. He wanted them to clean up the inside before they start worrying about outward appearance. That's a lesson for us all, too. And as a hospital and doctor  are the best for curing illnesses, the hospital for the soul is the church, and the Great Physician the best healer. 

Monday, August 1, 2011

A Morning Cup of Tea: Chapter 9:1-5

Good morning! We are in chapter 9 of Matthew today and I have J already awake and rarin to go as they say, so we shall see how far we get. I apologize for any inconvenience.  If you read this series and have any questions, comments, whatever, I'd love to hear from you.

At the end of chapter 8, Jesus had gone over to the gergesenes where he cast out devils from two men who were possessed. The devils went into a herd of swine, who promptly dove over a cliff and drowned themselves. The keepers of the swine ran to tell the whole town. The towns people weren't so sure what to think of Jesus so they invited him to leave.
  In chapter 9, Jesus is back in his own town. Some people brought to him a man sick with the palsy. He could not get up out of his bed so they had to carry him wherever he went.  In verse 2, Jesus tells the man Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
  Scribes heard this and said to themselves that Jesus was blaspheming. Jesus knew their hearts.  He asked them (paraphrasing here) What is easier, to tell a man his sins are forgiven or to tell him to arise and walk? And then he told the palsied man to arise and walk. The man stood up and took his bed with him. He was healed because of his faith and the faith of those who brought him to Jesus!
  Jesus healed the sick and made the blind to see so that others might see the glory of the Father. These days we have the bible to tell us of these works and of God's love for us. 

Sunday, July 31, 2011

A Morning Cup of Tea: He Spoke Just a Word

Good morning! How has your weekend been? Are you preparing for morning worship service?  I will be in just a few minutes. Everyone has slept late this morning, which is rare on any day lately.
  Today we are discussing chapter 8. Jesus has come down from the mountain and he has begun healing people. A leper worshiped him and Jesus healed him.  But he said something curious to the man. Matthew 8:4. And Jesus saith unto him, See that thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. I'm guessing at this point he wanted to keep things fairly quiet.
   In Capernaum a centurion approached him about healing a sick servant. Jesus was willing to to the centurion's home, but he said that he wasnt worthy that Jesus should do that. Just say the word and it would be done. Jesus praised his faith.  (vv 5-13)
   Jesus healed Peter's mother in law (v14,15) and cast out devils.  Many people are following him during this time, and Jesus got into a boat to go to another place.  Jesus slept while a storm brewed. His disciples woke him up because they were sure they were all going to die on the sea. Jesus spoke and the wind and the sea died down. How amazing would it be to see a man who could just speak and the water and wind obey? His followers are just beginning to see what a great man Jesus really is.
  Once they reached the country of the Gergesenes they come upon two men who were possessed by devils. The devils themselves recognized who Jesus was. (v.29) "And they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee,, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"
 Even the devils knew who Jesus was! Did you notice that they asked if he was going to torment them before the time? They knew their fate. Simply acknowledging who Jesus is would not and did not save them from an eternity in hell.  
  They asked to be cast into a herd of pigs and that is where Jesus let them go. The hogs then drowned in the sea.  Just who is this man who can heal the sick and cast out devils with just a word? Even the devils knew the answer to that : the Son of God.