Jesus Heals the Sick

Jesus provides healing for both soul and body.

This lesson examines three accounts from the gospels in which Jesus performed miraculous healing‘s. The first story is about a paralytic man brought to Jesus by four friends, and Jesus healed him. The second story is a bout a man with a withered hand, whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The last story is about a man who had been unable to stand or walk for 38 years, whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Consider what these stories teach about why Jesus came. Observe in what ways the forgiveness of sins was associated with the feelings in the first and last stories. In the last two stories, Jesus healed on a Sabbath day, bringing him into conflict with the Jewish religious establishment. Learn what Jesus taught about the Sabbath in these instances.

FAITH OF A PARALYTIC’S FRIEND

A. Jesus Demonstrates His Divinity

Mar 2:1  And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

…….At this point, Jesus’ ministry had attracted so much attention in Galilee he had to return to his residence in Capernaum.

Mar 2:2  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

…….Even at home people crowded Jesus to hear his sermons. They simply could not get enough!

Mar 2:3  And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

Mar 2:4  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

…….If this isn’t a message right here! The love of a brother caused the others to take a risk! They knew this house was the house of a man who had power to heal, so they tore the roof off and lowered him right down where Jesus was at! What are we doing for our brothers and sisters to receive a healing?!

Mar 2:5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

…….Apparently there was either something in this man’s life that caused this palsy, or he thought within himself that his sickness was the consequence of his sins. Either way, Jesus perceived his guilt and knew that a spiritual healing was much more necessary than a physical, and He came to prove that He has the power for both!

Mar 2:6  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Mar 2:7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

…….Just as any other time, there were Jewish scribe present and ready to be critical of His out of the ordinary authority. These men would follow Jesus so closely, but because His ministry wasn’t what they expected or thought it should be, they found fault. Just as Jesus was out of the ordinary of His time, may we never let our feelings and opinions about others set the tone of judgement by their relationship with the Lord. May we ever find ourselves encouraging as long as the focus is on Jesus Christ! It’s hardly ever going to sound or look perfect in a man’s beginning.

B. Jesus Has Authority to Heal

Mar 2:8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Mar 2:9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

…….In the outward view of man it would be much easier to simply say “your sins are forgiven”, even in a time where it took a physical sacrifice for the remission of sins to take place.

Mar 2:10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

…….Since learned Jews, like the Scribes, associated the title “Son of man” with the Messiah, they must have known that Jesus was identifying himself as such.

Mar 2:11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Mar 2:12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

…….The reaction of the crowd shows us that the focus was always on the father. Jesus said He came not to glorify self but glorify the father which is in heaven!

…….After seeing this healing and so many afterwards, do you suppose the scribes became believers in Jesus? Read John 12:37-43.

JESUS HEALS ON THE SABATH

A. To Heal or Not to Heal?

Mar 3:1  And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

Mar 3:2  And they (a group of Pharisees) watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

…….The life of the Pharisees and the way Jesus handled them show us a great lesson. When you come to church, what is your focus? Are you critical of everything? Are you watching rather than worshipping, trying to find something to be in disagreement with? Or do you come to simply worship the Lord and try to draw closer to Christ. The end result of the Pharisee is far different from the end of the one coming with something in need from Christ.

Mar 3:3  And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

Mar 3:4  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

…….The only reason Jesus would give answer to a group of people that had not asked a question is because they were watching Him so hard. The right answer to Jesus’ question was so obvious that no one dared to speak a word to him. Yes, it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

B. Mercy on the Sabbath

Mar 3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

…….Because their focus was more on following a set of man made rules rather than having compassion on an man in need, Jesus was angry. But, He didn’t let His anger cause Him to give up in His purpose. Too many times in life, we allow the reaction of others to put a choke hold on what Christ intended for us to do. I’ve seen many people start with a great desire, get sidetracked by someone else’s opinion, and become completely derailed! Jesus never lost His focus. He shows us right here how to handle those type of people, just keep on doing what you know is right!!!

Mar 3:6  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Mar 3:7  But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

…….Many people think that Jesus became afraid for His life but I don’t think it this way at all. I believe that He had better things He knew had to take place and He must keep His focus. Not only did He not lose His focus, He also didn’t hang around for someone to pick a fight. There was no need to argue His case, God didn’t have time for that and neither should we!

HEALING A LAME MAN

A. Rise Up and Walk

Joh 5:1  After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Joh 5:2  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda (house of grace), having five porches.

Joh 5:3  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

Joh 5:4  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Joh 5:5  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

…….While I read this passage, I can only think of how long this man and others must have been waiting at the pool. Time after time he would see the crippled and handicapped be lead to the pool and be healed, but he had no one to come to his aid. This was about to change!

Joh 5:6  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Joh 5:7  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

…….Notice here, Jesus didn’t criticize the man for his incapabilities, but only had compassion.

Joh 5:8  Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Joh 5:9  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

…….I can see right now, even though the man didn’t ask Jesus for a healing, after the command of Christ his entire body took the correct shape. Feeling may have come to parts that had been lost for years. Muscles had reformed that had been lost from lack of use, and the man needed no therapy to learn how to walk! When Jesus commands, nature has no other choice but to obey! What a miracle!!!

B. Spiritual Healing

Joh 5:10  The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

…….Once again, the Pharisees are offended by someone breaking their traditions.

Joh 5:11  He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

Joh 5:12  Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

Joh 5:13  And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

Joh 5:14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

…….While disabilities and sicknesses are not always the result of sin, Jesus’ response infers that this one most likely was.

Joh 5:15  The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

Joh 5:16  And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

……. The title of this Sunday school lesson, “Jesus heals the Sick” turns more into the fact that while we are in our ministry for Christ, just as Christ we will encounter people who are against the great work. Just as the note said earlier, no matter what we encounter in Gods will we can never lose focus or desire. God‘s desire for your life also comes with Satan‘s desire to destroy every saint of God. And in knowing this comes great importance that we must stay spiritual, watching out for the attack of the enemy. Not only are we to watch but also know when to react and not to react.

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