“The
Lord said to Moses; ‘Make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who is bitten
can look at it and live.’ ” (Numbers 21:8)
Jesus
said: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must
be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John
3:14-15)
Most
people look up to someone or depend on some source for their livelihood. Such a
thing could well be a business, job, parent or relative on whom we rely in dire
times and even in times of joy. One specific area in which people looked to
Jesus in His day, was that of healing. Myriads of people, oppressed with all
kinds of ailments by the devil, and seeking desperate answers, ran to the
Master Healer, Jesus. As His popularity soared, people searched for Him
everywhere bringing their sick, deaf, dumb, blind, maimed and suffering
relatives and friends with them. “People brought all their sick to Him and
begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak, and all who touched
Him were healed.” (Matthew 14:35-36)
People
hailed from everywhere. At another instance, “... a large crowd of His
disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from
Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear Him and to
be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the
people all tried to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing
them.” (Luke 6:17-19) People could spot Him anywhere; and He drew large crowds.
They not only followed Him, but would go searching for him. How much they
needed to receive healing for their mortal bodies.
One
classic example of people looking to Jesus was when four friends of a
paralytic, who could not reach Jesus because the house was jam-packed with
people, decided in desperation to rip open the roof above Jesus’ head in order
to lower the mat the paralysed man was lying on, at Jesus’ feet. Ingenious you
would say, but that goes to show to what extent these four friends wanted their
sick friend healed. (Mark 2:1-4)
“Jesus
went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news
of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News
about Him spread all over Syria, and the people brought to Him all who were ill
with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those
having seizures, and the paralysed, and He healed them. Large crowds from
Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan
followed Him.” (Matthew 4:23-25)
In
Luke chapter 9 verses 37 to 40, we read of another account alluding to the
healing of a boy with an evil spirit. Jesus had gone up Mount of the
Transfiguration with three of His disciples. At His descent, He found out that
the rest of His disciples had a problem healing a lad possessed by an evil
spirit. The father begged Jesus, crying out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my
son, for he is my only child ... I begged your disciples to drive it out, but
they could not.” After finding out what the real ailment was, Jesus healed the
man’s son by rebuking the evil spirit; then He handed him over to his father.
Once,
after their return from an evangelisation trip, Jesus and His ’ disciples
retired to Bethsaida, “... but the crowds learned about it and followed Him. He
welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who
needed healing.” (Luke 9:11) Our Lord was always ready and willing to lend a
hand. Never did He have cause to rebuff someone. “... whoever comes to me I
will never drive away.” (John 6:37)
Another
case! “A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, ‘Lord, if you are
willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the
man. ‘I am willing, be clean. ‘ ”
(Matthew 8:2-3)
“Now
on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and
Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They
stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, Jesus, Master, have pity on
us.” (Luke17:11-13) Did He have pity on them? Yes, indeed. He asked them to
“Go, show yourselves to the priests,” for a clean bill of health. “And as they
went they were cleansed.”
