Daily Devotional – Wednesday, October 27, 2021
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14 (NKJV)
Jesus was visiting Capernaum. Word spread quickly. The usual crowd of the sick, hungry, and curious, plus religious critics soon gathered in and outside the house where Christ was. “And He preached the word to them.” (Mark 2:2).
It did not take long before five individuals interrupted the preaching. Four men were busy removing part of the roof. They were determined to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus for healing. This was their last resort after trying to go through the door in vain.
When the Great Physician saw how determined the four men were, he told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:5). Was it right for Jesus to delay the paralytic’s healing, which looked more urgent? What is the relationship between forgiveness and healing?
Apparently, the paralytic was sick because of a sin-filled life. The guilty of his sin was a heavier burden than the physical illness.
Why Jesus Forgave the Paralytic First
A careful analysis of this miracle reveals that Christ’s words of forgiveness were enough to heal the man. Note Christ’s answer to the scribes who questioned His power to forgive sin:
Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?” (Mark 2:8-9).
In other words, releasing the paralytic from a guilty conscience was the same as healing him. The verses that follow affirm this truth:
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:10-12).
Science attests that there is a link between human psychology and biology. When we carry burdens of guilt / unforgiven sin, we predispose ourselves to disease and illness. To a great extent sickness is a result of direct and indirect disregard of God’s physical and moral laws.
Many of us are sick – some physical, others spiritual and others both. Irrespective of the nature of our diseases, we can take comfort in these words, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14).
Reach out to the God who heals all types of illnesses today. More importantly, seek for His forgiveness and restoration. Only the peace that comes from forgiveness can invigorate the mind and rejuvenate the body.
Heavenly Father, heal me of all spiritual and physical illnesses today.
Do you think physical illness is linked to spiritual illness? Leave a comment, please.
My prayer today.
Amen, George.
There’s a relationship between the two.
Check out this- Psalm:38.3
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.
Sometimes sin and the guilt from sin causes physical illness. That necessitates we ask forgiveness before healing.
Amen, Daktari.
It is true that when we hold on to our sins, guilt eats us up from the inside. Consequently, we also suffer on the outside.
Well-said, Erastus. God bless you.