Wondering if ...
Wednesday March 8
Gospel of Mark 1:29-45
Smith wiggleswith was a minister who prayed for people; when he did this, they frequently recovered from their illnesses. He came to a church in Leeds, England and was told that one of the people in the congregation was having trouble seeing. Immediately he volunteered to pray for her. "No thank you replied the woman with visual difficulties, I prefer to get a pair of glasses through the National Health Service. They don't require as much spiritual effort"
Sickness can offer a refuge when the demands of every day life become more than we can cope with. We can rest, a luxury we often long for. We are released from all obligations. We can blame ill health for all the things that go wrong.
But would God be willing to heal us if we asked? The man with the skin condition (At that time it was named leprosy) had watched everyone else get healed but he wasn't sure that Jesus would heal him. Why? Similar reasons to the ones people give today. 'My case is different.' 'It wouldn't work for me.' 'Something in my past would prevent it.' But the man with the leprosy had the courage to find out. Approaching Jesus he says "If you are willing you can make me well." The reply leaves no room for misunderstanding, Jesus replies, "I am willing."
When we are united to God through Jesus health begins to flow into our bodies and minds. Receiving and maintaining that health still requires spiritual effort and for many people that effort is just too much.
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All of these things happened in Capernaum. Out on the web are beautiful pictures of Calilee and Capernaum. I've pasted these other people's links into this blog so that you can quickly find them. I am very grateful that they have made such beautiful and informative web sites available. Look for the pictures of the excavations of Peter's house, where his mother-in-law was healed. http://www.bibleplaces.com/capernaum.htm When you have finished looking there, type 'Capharnum' into the search bar.
Gospel of Mark 1:29-45
Smith wiggleswith was a minister who prayed for people; when he did this, they frequently recovered from their illnesses. He came to a church in Leeds, England and was told that one of the people in the congregation was having trouble seeing. Immediately he volunteered to pray for her. "No thank you replied the woman with visual difficulties, I prefer to get a pair of glasses through the National Health Service. They don't require as much spiritual effort"
Sickness can offer a refuge when the demands of every day life become more than we can cope with. We can rest, a luxury we often long for. We are released from all obligations. We can blame ill health for all the things that go wrong.
But would God be willing to heal us if we asked? The man with the skin condition (At that time it was named leprosy) had watched everyone else get healed but he wasn't sure that Jesus would heal him. Why? Similar reasons to the ones people give today. 'My case is different.' 'It wouldn't work for me.' 'Something in my past would prevent it.' But the man with the leprosy had the courage to find out. Approaching Jesus he says "If you are willing you can make me well." The reply leaves no room for misunderstanding, Jesus replies, "I am willing."
When we are united to God through Jesus health begins to flow into our bodies and minds. Receiving and maintaining that health still requires spiritual effort and for many people that effort is just too much.
----
All of these things happened in Capernaum. Out on the web are beautiful pictures of Calilee and Capernaum. I've pasted these other people's links into this blog so that you can quickly find them. I am very grateful that they have made such beautiful and informative web sites available. Look for the pictures of the excavations of Peter's house, where his mother-in-law was healed. http://www.bibleplaces.com/capernaum.htm When you have finished looking there, type 'Capharnum' into the search bar.
posted by Jessie Coates at 10:14 PM
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