| Spiritual healing of the sick in Christ has many | | | | you than for Him toheal you. This is the heart and |
| Christiansin a kind of spiritual vise. On the one | | | | soul of what the |
| hand they read aboutspiritual healing in their Bibles. | | | | Incarnation of Christ is about (John 3:16), and |
| On the other, they hear inpulpits that healing | | | | what |
| miracles have ceased and are not of today. The | | | | Jesus meant when He said the Kingdom of God |
| net effect is cause for confusion and even loss of | | | | isnear you. It implies God breaking forth into the |
| faith. | | | | worldand into the life of man to heal him from |
| What is the truth about spiritual healing in today's | | | | what evil haswrought. |
| Church? | | | | But how did Jesus heal exactly? What did He |
| When Jesus first appeared on the scene with His | | | | specificallyteach His disciples about healing? Is |
| ministry, | | | | there anything wecan learn from Scripture about |
| He was what Broadway show producers today | | | | healing the sick that wemight apply today? In |
| would calla smash hit! As news spread about His | | | | other words, is there a spiritualhealing model |
| teaching and healing,people literally swarmed | | | | recorded in the Bible we can use todayin the |
| around Him. And why not? Themessage Jesus | | | | healing ministry? The answer is a resounding, |
| presented to them was something noone had | | | | "Yes!" |
| ever heard. He proclaimed the kingdom of | | | | In Mark 6:7-13, we read that Jesus sent the |
| Goddrawing near and then did something most | | | | twelveout in pairs on a kind of on-the-job training |
| amazing. | | | | missionfor the work they would be doing after His |
| He healed people--as many as could get close to | | | | departure. |
| Him. | | | | Before they went, He gave them very specific |
| The lesson was clear. God is breaking through to | | | | instructions. |
| thephysical world (into the affairs of man) to heal. | | | | The results of their work is recorded in verse 13... |
| Jesusnever wavered in this teaching. He Preached | | | | "They drove out many demons and |
| the kingdomof God and healed the sick. | | | | anointedmany sick people with oil and healed |
| When Jesus selected His team to disciple, He | | | | them." |
| taughtthem the nature of God's kingdom, | | | | Before addressing the question of why the oil in |
| instructed themhow to heal, and sent them out to | | | | theabove passage, we need to first be clear |
| continue the work | | | | about thehealing performed. The Greek word |
| He had started. He commanded them to "Heal | | | | used for "healed"in verse 13 is therapeuo, |
| thesick..,' and tell people, 'The kingdom of God is | | | | pronounced "ther-ap-yoo'-o,"from which the |
| nearyou.'" (Luke 10:9). | | | | English word "therapy" is derived. |
| Jesus further said that anyone who has faith in | | | | It literally means "to wait upon menially" (to |
| Himafter He is gone will "do what I have been | | | | serve),to "restore to health." |
| doing. Hewill do even greater things than these, | | | | So there be no question, therapeuo denotes |
| because I amgoing to the Father" (John 14:12). | | | | healingoccurred over time. There is no indication |
| Again, Jesus wasdrawing on the message of his | | | | the healingswere in any way out of the ordinary |
| ministry and mission. | | | | or instantaneous. |
| The more one studies the ministry of Jesus, the | | | | If the healings were instantaneous, the Koine |
| moreone realizes the importance Jesus placed on | | | | Greekword, iaomai, as used in Luke 8:47 would |
| healingthe sick. For nearly one-fifth of the four | | | | have been used. |
| Gospel accountsis devoted to Jesus' healing and | | | | So we must (by using the rule of language) |
| the discussions raisedby it. In fact, the emphasis | | | | deducethe healings of Mark 6:13 occurred normally |
| on healing is greater than any other experience in | | | | over aperiod of time. Were these healings divine? |
| the narrative. Out of 3,779 verses in the four | | | | Yes! |
| Gospels, 727 relate specifically to the healing of | | | | Were they miraculous? Yes! Why? Because |
| physicaland mental illness and the resurrection of | | | | allhealing is spiritually rooted. |
| the dead. Andthose healings that are recorded | | | | What makes the healings reported in Mark 6:13 all |
| represent only a smallfraction of the total (John | | | | themore curious is the healing modality employed |
| 20:30). Compare this to the | | | | by the twelve disciples. They anointed (applied |
| 165 verses that deal in general with eternal life. | | | | with their hands) the sick with healing oil. The |
| Jesus saw Himself as being in conflict with evil, | | | | reason the oil is so interesting, so unexpected, is |
| doingbattle on a spiritual level made manifest in | | | | that there is no previous passage thatindicates |
| the physicalrealm. Unlike some believe, Jesus | | | | the need or requirement to use oil in the disciples |
| made clear thatmost people in their present | | | | ministry. The reader is suddenly left with the |
| condition do not deservepunishment. He healed | | | | appearance of these oils. |
| freely, never asking what aperson had done or | | | | Without a previous text to explain the use of |
| how they had sinned. He viewed the effects of | | | | oil,the following questions are raised: |
| unclean spirits (sickness}in our lives as keeping us | | | | 1. By whose authority were they using healing oil? |
| from reaching our full potential and calling. This | | | | 2. From where did the oil come? |
| then sets the backdrop of what it was like to be | | | | 3. Why were the disciples using healing oil in their |
| in the School of Christ. | | | | ministry? |
| The message is "God loves you." And what | | | | 4. What are the implications for us today? |
| better wayis there to demonstrate His love to | | | | |