Most religious men believe that the LORD can heal men of their carnal diseases. They have no problem believing that the healing miracles which the LORD JESUS performed, (when HE walked on the Earth) did indeed take place. They rejoice as they read about HIM restoring sight to the blind, opening the mouths of those who could not speak, and the ears of those who could not hear. They marvel at HIS work in strengthening the legs of those who were crippled and casting out devils from those who were beset by the powers of darkness. They would confess that HE acted completely without the aid of men in bringing these miracles to pass. Nor do they surmise that HE ever asked anyone’s permission to bring this healing to those who were without strength.
Yet when they come to the matter of HIM healing the greatest disease that has ever invaded the houses of clay in which the sons of Adam dwell, they immediately affirm that HE is unable to do so apart from their cooperation with HIM. They picture HIM who cast out legions of devils and brought sight to eyes which were blind from birth, as wringing HIS hands in despair as HE awaits the decision of men to be healed from the plague of sin. How foolish is such thought.
When the man who was sick with palsy was brought to HIM, HE said, (before any conversation took place), “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mat 9:2) The Pharisees immediately found fault with HIM, accusing HIM of blasphemy. HE then replied, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (Mat 9:4-6)
It is quite clear that HIS ability and power to heal are one and the same with HIS power to deliver men from sin, forgiving them of their transgressions and granting them eternal life. If HE can heal the body, HE can (and does) most assuredly, by the same power and in the same fashion, heal all of the diseases which beset the sons of Adam.
HE used the weakness and mortality of men to set the stage for the demonstration of HIS power and SONSHIP as we see when Lazarus became sick and ultimately died. “Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” (John 11:3-6)
That which befell Lazarus was not just an appearance of death (as some have opined) but rather a death so real that he began to decay. “Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” (John 11:39) The LORD had told HIS disciples quite plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:14)
Few would argue (and none successfully) that the sickness and death of Lazarus was not ordained (i.e.; predestined) by the LORD to fulfill a greater purpose. Yet many of those who readily recognize HIS sovereign prerogative and power to bring this to pass, will cavil and rail against the notion that this same sovereign GOD has ordained the sin of mankind in order to demonstrate the glory of HIS grace in redeeming HIS people from it.
Yet just as surely as Lazarus died a physical death in order that the LORD might demonstrate HIS power over that death, so too has death by sin entered into the race of Adam’s generation, that HE might manifest HIS mercy in the redemption of that people which HE gave to CHRIST before the foundation of the world, before any had done any good or evil. “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Rom 8:19-21)
This death which has come upon the sons of GOD (though it be not unto ultimate death and destruction, i.e.; hell) is a real death (like that of Lazarus, “who stinketh”) from which they could never extricate themselves or triumph over it. The only means whereby they are delivered from it is in the hands of the LORD, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:4-9)
Thus we see the power of GOD not only to raise the dead from the slumber of natural death, but to grant true LIFE to HIS children, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Mat 4:16) Is not this very truth illustrated for us in this account of the raising of Jairus’ daughter? Jairus besought the LORD to heal his daughter because he knew he did not possess the power to change her situation, yet he applied to the only ONE he knew could bring the healing he desired.. How hopeless is the condition that men find themselves in, dead in trespasses and sins and yet having the curse of a broken law hanging over their heads. Having a great debt which must be paid but being penniless to pay it. Will not those who are awakened to see these dire straits begin to call upon HIM who alone can settle this account with HIS own blood?
When it seemed that all hope was lost (“While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?” (Mark 5:35)) yet the LORD commanded Jairus to believe (see v.36) and compelled him thusly. HE said, “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.”
This matter was completely out of the hands of Jairus, only ONE was in total control of the situation from the beginning of the damsel’s illness, even to her death as she breathed the last breath that was allotted to her. There was much weeping and wailing among those who were not compelled to believe, as they laughed CHRIST JESUS to scorn when HE told them she was simply sleeping. As far as they could tell she was dead, yet HE who knows the end from the beginning and has numbered the hairs upon our heads was able to restore her life even as HE was able to take it from her. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mat 10:28)
For this reason, the death of the LORD’s children is nothing more than a sleep which is often referred to in that fashion throughout the scriptures. When one is sleeping, he has no consciousness of the passing of time nor the events which may occur around him. Thus the LORD says of those whom HE loves, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psa 116:15) HE tenderly watches over them in this slumber as surely as HE does as they go about to fulfill the ordered steps which HE has marked out for each one. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psa 37:23)
The LORD hides the truth from the wise and prudent and reveals it unto babes, thus HE puts out all of those who do not believe. HE will not cast pearls before swine. But in HIS tender mercy HE is pleased to demonstrate HIS power to those HE gives faith to believe. HE brought HIS disciples and the damsel’s mother and father into the room with HIM, in order that they might rejoice in the abundance of HIS kindness which HE would display in an unmistakeable demonstration of HIS glory.
HE took the hand of the sleeping damsel (shrouded in the death common to Adam’s nature) and said, “Talitha, cumi.”, which literally means “damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” HE made no request nor sought any response but gave her life in an instant, even as HE said to Nicodemus, “So is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
mam