August 24 - The Redemptive Element of Jesus’ Impartial Healings

#LifeOfChrist

“‘Your faith has made you well’” (Matthew 9:22).

In many instances in the gospels, the words translated “healed,” “made well,” or similar variations, are from the Greek word meaning salvation or saved from sin. For instance, when blind Bartimaeus came to Jesus to regain his sight, the Lord told him, “Go; your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). That Bartimaeus repeatedly called Jesus “Son of David,” a common messianic title, suggests that his physical healing included spiritual salvation.

In the account of the ten lepers, Luke reports that all of them “were cleansed” (Luke 17:14), but this was from a word that means essentially physical cleansing. However, of the one who glorified God and returned to give thanks, Jesus used the same expression (see v. 19) as He did to Bartimaeus and the woman with the hemorrhage. Ten men received cleansing, but only one obtained salvation. This indicates that salvation and physical healing were sometimes linked, even if in the example of the ten lepers, only one man realized both.

In addition to a strong redemptive element, Jesus’ healings were impartial. That Christ ministered equally to the leading synagogue elder and the outcast woman clearly proves this. The woman’s touching His garment with unclean hands did not offend Him. Nor did her presumption to obtain His help while He worked through the crowd to reach Jairus’s daughter bother Him. True needs never interfered with our Lord’s sovereign and impartial approach to ministry. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

Ask Yourself

Would you describe your feelings and interactions with others as being impartial? Are there people who (though you might never admit it aloud) are considered beneath you and unworthy of your notice and attention? Confess this as sin before the Father, and model Jesus’ brand of ministry.

Psalm 19:1-14 CEB
Heaven is declaring God’s glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork. [2] One day gushes the news to the next, and one night informs another what needs to be known. [3] Of course, there’s no speech, no words—their voices can’t be heard— [4] but their sound extends throughout the world; their words reach the ends of the earth. God has made a tent in heaven for the sun. [5] The sun is like a groom coming out of his honeymoon suite; like a warrior, it thrills at running its course. [6] It rises in one end of the sky; its circuit is complete at the other. Nothing escapes its heat. [7] The LORD’s Instruction is perfect, reviving one’s very being. The LORD’s laws are faithful, making naive people wise. [8] The LORD’s regulations are right, gladdening the heart. The LORD’s commands are pure, giving light to the eyes. [9] Honoring the LORD is correct, lasting forever. The LORD’s judgments are true. All of these are righteous! [10] They are more desirable than gold—than tons of pure gold! They are sweeter than honey—even dripping off the honeycomb! [11] No doubt about it: your servant is enlightened by them; there is great reward in keeping them. [12] But can anyone know what they’ve accidentally done wrong? Clear me of any unknown sin [13] and save your servant from willful sins. Don’t let them rule me. Then I’ll be completely blameless; I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing. [14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Holiness Saying Yes To God And No To Sin

1 Peter 1:15–16
Hebrews 12:14
Romans 12:1–2
2 Corinthians 7:1
James 4:7

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

How do you measure your prosperity? Is it by your bank account, or what you drive or live in? Is it by how many friends you have? Is it measured by how many ‘collectables’ you have acquired? What exactly does prosperity look like for you?

Jeremiah 29:11 is everyone’s favorite verse to quote when it comes to times of ‘financial’ struggles. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The definition of prosper, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is this: (1) to succeed in an enterprise or activity/ especially: to achieve economic success (2) to become strong and flourishing.

I Googled the original Hebrew verbiage and found that prosperous is not a word in the Hebrew language exactly. The word was ‘maschshevot,’ which in modern terms equates to peace, well-being and a positive future.

The enemy is very good at taking God’s word and turning it into something BIGGER for his glory. He dilutes the Word to soften it; he adjusts the meaning of the Word to satisfy popular opinion; he creates a world of his translation of the Word to satisfy the egos of all those who want the easy way. Such as:

Unconditional Love … that does not mean that I love your sin; it means that I love you enough to speak the truth in love, not judgment. The enemy will tell you that I am judging you, when I am not; I am just stating facts so that you can make an informed decision.

Eye for an eye … that is hatred, according to Jesus, who says when someone harms you, turn the other cheek

Prosperity preaching … from this verse … claims that if you ‘give’ to the church, then God will give to you, or rather that if you give to “their” church, God will give to you.

Prosperity and riches. The enemy will hamstring you into believing that God does not love you because you have not ‘given’ enough or that your gift is not good enough. These are all lies. Starting with, God wants you to be financially rich. It is not that God does not want you to be financially rich, but he knows how easily it can distract you from Him. If you are financially rich, then your heart turns to protecting your money instead of worshiping Him who gave you the riches. Prosperity in Jeremiah is speaking of hope, peace, and well-being; not Richie Rich.

I am not a RICH person, but I am better off than many. I have food in my belly, a roof over my head, people around me who love and respect me, a quality vehicle, but most of all … I have love. I have peace. I have joy. I have God. I am one of the most prosperous people I know.

Today I encourage you to find your peace in Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Embrace Him. Love Him. When you do those things with your whole heart … the world does not seem so hard to deal with. Your eyes are open to so many opportunities for His light and love to shine. This will bring so much joy to your heart that it overflows in abundance to those around you. He knows what the world is like, and He wants you to have His peace and prosperity.

Be blessed.

**But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,” — Hebrews 12:1 (CSB)

The Christian life is pictured as a race that requires perseverance, discipline, and endurance. We are called to put aside not only sin, but anything that weighs us down and keeps us from faithfully following Christ. The believers who came before us remind us that a life of faith can be lived even through hardship and uncertainty. God has given each of us a race to run—so lay down the weight, keep moving forward, and don’t quit.

This is my very first book to be published soon:

Preface

For generations, humanity has accepted without question the idea that Jehovah is the Supreme and Ultimate Being — the beginning and the end of all existence. Religions have been built upon this belief, civilizations shaped by it, and billions have worshipped under its shadow. Yet throughout history, some questions have remained unanswered, buried beneath doctrine, fear, and tradition.

This book was born from one such question:

*What if Jehovah Himself is not the Highest Authority?*

What if beyond the God humanity has known, there exists a Greater Source — a Father above God?

At first glance, such a suggestion may sound shocking, even offensive to many. But every major discovery in human history began with a question people were afraid to ask. This book does not seek to attack faith, destroy belief, or mock religion. Instead, it seeks to examine Scripture, logic, justice, and the events recorded from the very beginning of human existence with honesty and courage.

The foundation of this argument begins in the Garden of Eden.

If Jehovah possessed absolute wisdom, absolute justice, and absolute power as traditionally believed, why was humanity condemned through Adam in a way that affected every generation after him? Why would descendants inherit suffering for a choice they never made? Why would an all-powerful being allow sin to spread endlessly instead of resolving the matter directly with Adam and Eve alone?

Could it be that the events in Eden reveal limitations, laws, or higher authorities beyond Jehovah Himself?

Throughout this book, we will explore difficult and uncomfortable questions that many avoid:

* Was the punishment in Eden truly just?
* Why does suffering continue despite divine power?
* Why do Scriptures sometimes hint at beings greater than the God mankind worships?
* Could the title “God” itself imply authority granted from a higher source?
* Did Jesus Himself suggest the existence of a reality beyond human understanding of God?

This work is not written from hatred toward religion, but from a deep desire to search for truth wherever it may lead. Truth has never feared investigation. Only deception demands silence.

The purpose of this book is not to force conclusions upon the reader, but to invite critical thought, reflection, and fearless examination. Whether one ultimately agrees or disagrees with these ideas, the journey itself may challenge long-held assumptions and open doors to deeper understanding.

Some readers may reject these pages immediately. Others may find themselves wrestling with questions they have secretly carried for years. Either response is understandable.

But if there truly exists a Father above God, then perhaps humanity’s understanding of divine reality has only scratched the surface.

And perhaps the greatest mystery is not whether God exists…

…but whether God Himself has a Father.

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THE CROSS

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33

I heard a story about a couple who visited a jewelry store. As the jeweler showed them various crosses, the woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?”

That’s what many people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross without any offense—one that will look cool with their outfits. But the hard truth is that if we could travel back in time and see the cross in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and vile symbol. It would have been the worst picture imaginable to see someone hanging on a cross.

The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to humiliate a person. The crucifixions outside Roman cities served as warnings to anyone who would dare oppose the rule of Rome.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). In other words, salvation and eternal life can be found only through Him. Many people today object to His words. They see John 14:6 as a statement of exclusivity and narrow-mindedness. But Jesus was simply explaining God’s plan of salvation.

Humankind’s decision to disobey God and pursue sin created an existential crisis with only one solution. To satisfy God’s perfect justice and wrath, a perfect sacrifice had to be offered in our place. Someone who had never sinned had to die in the place of everyone else who had. Only Jesus lived a sinless life. Only He had the power to conquer death. So, only He could save us.

If there had been any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like that? If there had been any other way that we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it.

Jesus Himself prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). He was talking about the cross and the unimaginable suffering that lay ahead. But God did not take it away from Him because there was no other way.

If living a good, moral life could get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did die. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world.

If you ever were tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Nails did not hold Jesus to that cross; His love did.

God bless you!

*SEED FOR LIFE*
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually... the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was filled with violence.
• Genesis 6:5, 11

God had given men His commandments as a rule of life, but His law was transgressed, and every conceivable sin was the result. The wickedness of men was open and daring, justice was trampled in the dust, and the cries of the oppressed reached unto heaven... The sins that called for vengeance upon the antediluvian world exist today. The fear of God is banished from the hearts of men, and His law is treated with indifference and contempt. The intense worldliness of that generation is equalled by that of the generation now living.
• Patriarchs & Prophets, p.90,101

*• A Point To Ponder •*
The world may become increasingly lawless, violent, and secular. But God's answer is not fear. It is faithfulness, an abiding walk with God.
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