Dec 23
17
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 103
“OF DAVID. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Psalm 103, ESV)
New Testament Reading: Luke 8:40-48
“Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.’ And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’” (Luke 8:40–48, ESV)
*****
Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
From time to time I think it is important to step back from the small, individual passages of Scripture to look at the big picture of the book we are studying. This past week I took some time to read through the Gospel of Luke again from beginning to end in one sitting. That was a very helpful thing to do. I was reminded of Luke’s stated purpose for writing. I was also able to see the structure of his Gospel and his method. We have been moving rather methodically through this book, taking one section per sermon, Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day. We must not get lost in the details, for there is a big story that is being told in this gospel. There is a main message being communicated.
Luke had an objective for writing this Gospel, remember? He tells us in the opening verses that he, like others before him, compiled “a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us”. The word accomplished is important. It indicates that Luke viewed the life and work of Christ as fulfilling prophesied and promises previously made. And he compiled this narrative, which he also calls, an “orderly account”, so that Theophilus and all who love God with him would “have certainty concerning the things [they] have been taught.” So then, the purpose of the Gospel of Luke is to convince us that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah promised from long ago. He wants his audience to be convinced of this. He wants us to have certainly reguading Jesus Christ and the good news of Salvation through faith in him.
The structure of the book is wonderful. I will not bore you with too many details. In general, I want to remind you that Luke provides us with a lot of material surrounding Jesus’ birth. From 1:5 through 2:21 Luke weaves together stories about the birth of two men, John the Baptist and Jesus. Both births were miraculous, but Jesus’ was like no other, for he was born to a virgin. I would encourage you to read that narrative this week as we prepare to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Luke 2:22-3:52 is also very interesting, for it contains stories about Jesus’ infancy and childhood.
The thing I wish to remind you of this morning is that in all of these stories surrounding Jesus’ birth, infancy, and youth, important things are said by others about him. Angels testify concerning his unique identity and mission, and godly men and women testify concerning him too. I do love this introductory section of Luke’s Gospel. Here Christ is presented to us in such a way that our expectations concerning him are built up very high. When we pay careful attention to the words that the Angel Gabriel spoke to Zachariah concerning his son, John (1:5-25), and to Mary regarding her son Jesus (1:26-38); and when we consider Elizabeth’s words to Mary and the words of Mary’s song of praise (1:39-56); and when we consider what Zachariah prophesied when his son, John, was born (1:57-80) and what the angels said to the shepherds in the field when Jesus was born (2:1-21), our expectations concerning this Jesus are raised to a very high level. We are led to expect that this baby Jesus, who was born to a poor virgin, and lain in a manger, is the Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, and King who was promised to God’s people long before.
I’ll read one small text for you to help jog your memory. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple when he was an infant to present him before the Lord in obedience to the law of Moses. Once there, a godly man named Simeon “took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’ And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:28–38, ESV). So, when these two godly, Spirit-filled people laid their eyes on Jesus, they knew he was the one.
I remind you of this portion of Luke’s Gospel for two reasons. One, I wish to encourage you to return to this section of Scripture in your own Bible reading this week as we enjoy the Christmas season. It is good for us to reflect on the birth of Christ, friends. It is good for us to think about the incarnation of the eternal Son of God. But as we do, we must be careful to consider the birth of Christ, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, according to the Scriptures. Who is this Jesus and why was he born? These are important questions to ask. But they are often neglected by those who love to celebrate this traditional holiday. You will not find the answer to these questions – who is Jesus, and why was he born? – by looking at a manger scene, but you will find the answers to these questions in the Word of God. The Gospel of Luke answers these questions. He begins to answer the questions – who is this Jesus and why was he born? – in the opening chapters by presenting him as the fulfillment of promises and prophesies given long before. But it is in the remainder of his Gospel – particularly in chapters 3-9 – that Luke demonstrates that Jesus is the promised Messiah by reporting on the many miracles that Jesus performed.
I’d like to remind you of Luke 4:18-20. At the very beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he stood up in the synagogue on the Sabbath day in his hometown of Nazareth and read from Isaiah 61, saying, “‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him” (Luke 4:18–20, ESV). At this moment Jesus claimed to be the Anointed One (Messiah) of whom Isaiah spoke. And the purpose of his coming is also stated. Hear it again: “he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
What have we been witnessing in Luke’s narrative from 4:21 onward except a demonstration these things were true of Jesus? Anyone can read Isaiah 61 and make the claim that the prophesy is about them. But Jesus proved it by his preaching and his miracles. And Luke wants us to see it.
Christ proclaimed good news to the poor.
In Luke 4:43 we hear him say, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43, ESV)
And in Luke 6:20-21 we learn that Christ, in his sermon on the plane, “lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:20–21, ESV).
Christ proclaimed good news to the poor in spirit in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 61.
And he set captives free. This he did in a spiritual sense, and it is seen in the many accounts of Christ freeing men and women from demon oppression.
In Luke 4:31-37 Christ heals a man with an unclean demon.
In Luke 8:1 we read, “he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…” (Luke 8:1–2, ESV)
And do not forget the incredible story that we considered not long ago regarding the casting out of a Legion of demons from the man in the Gerasenes. That story is told in Luke 8:26-39.
Isaiah 61 foretold that the Messiah would set captives free when he came. This Jesus did, in a greater way than many expected. He set captives free spiritually from bondage to the Evil One.
Jesus also gave sight to the blind, just as Isaiah 61 said that he would.
I’m sure you remember the story where disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus asking if he was really the one. Jesus answered them in Luke 7:22-23, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’” (Luke 7:22–23, ESV)
Lastly, Isaiah 61 says that the Messiah would “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” The year of the Lord’s favor is also called the year of Jubilee. According to the law of Moses, every 50 years was to be a year of Jubilee wherein debts were forgiven and land that was lost would be returned to the original owner within Israel. Christ proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor in a much greater way. He did not forgive earthly and temporal debts, but spiritual and eternal debts. For example, in Luke 7:48 he looked at the sinful woman who expressed her faith in and love for Christ by anointing his feet with her own tears and with costly ointment had wiping his feet with her own hair, and he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48, ESV).
Why have I taken the time to remind you of the things that were said about Jesus at the time of his conception, birth, and during his childhood? And why have I reminded you of the prophecy of Isaiah 61 concerning the Messiah, of Christ’s claim to be the Messiah, and of his many acts – his teachings and miracles – which demonstrated that he was the Messiah? It is so that you might not lose sight of Luke’s purpose and method as we move methodically through the individual passages of Luke, Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day. He wrote so that we might have certainty that Jesus is the Messiah, the Redeemer of Israel. And he seeks to convince us by reminding us what angels, godly men and women, and the Scriptures themselves say about the Messiah, after which he reports on Jesus’ words and works so that we might see him as God’s anointed one, the Savior of all who turn from their sins and look to him by faith.
*****
Jesus Heals A Woman Long Tormented By Illness
Here in Luke 8:40-48 we find yet another story which demonstrates that Jesus was and is the Messiah, the anointed one of God, promised from long ago.
In verse 40 we read, “Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.” That is to say, a large crowd was waiting for him to return from the land of the Gerasenes, and it is not difficult to imagine why, given all that Christ had done. Verse 41: “And there came a man named Jairus [yah-i-rus – “YHWH enlightens], who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying…” We will return to this story regarding Jairus and his sick daughter in a future sermon. For now, it will suffice to draw attention to the misery that sin has brought into the world and of Christ’s mission to reverse it. It’s hard to imagine a more sorrowful situation than this. This man’s only daughter was perishing at the age of 12. He did the right thing to come and fall at the feet of Jesus and to implore him, as we will soon see.
At the end of verse 42 we are introduced to a woman who had been tormented by illness for 12 years. There we read, “As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.”
Notice a few things:
First, notice the suffering of this woman. All suffering, as you know, is the result of sin. Had Adam obeyed God, there would be no sickness or death. But not every instance of suffering is the result of some personal sin. By this I mean, the text in no way suggests that the women suffered in this way because of some particular sin of hers. The Bible is clear. The righteous do sometimes suffer. And though we are rarely given the answer to the question, why?, by faith, we know that God is with his people in the midst of suffering to comfort them, to draw them into a closer dependence on him, and to refine them. It should also be noted that this woman’s suffering was not only physical but spiritual, for this unceasing discharge of blood would have made her unclean according to the law of Moses (you may go to Leviticus 15:25ff. to learn more about this). So then, this ailment was not only a trouble to her physically, but socially and religiously too.
Secondly, notice her faith. She came to Jesus believing that he could heal her. The physicians could not solve the problem. The text says that though she had “spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone” (Luke 8:43, ESV). I think it must be said that Christians are not wrong to consult physicians. We should remember that Luke was a physician himself. But Christians should be careful to not place all of their hope and trust in physicians, for they are mere men. They sometimes error. They do not have within themselves the ability to heal or to save from death. But Christ does. And so we should imitate this woman and run to Christ in prayer to petition him for healing. We should also remember that some ailments may be the result of sin. Paul speaks about this in 1 Corinthians 11:29-31. And so we must turn from and come to the Lord’s Table in a worthy manner, lest we be judged. And I am thoroughly convinced that there is an intimate relationship between the soul and the body. Those who are plagued by soul illnesses such as fear, worry, bitterness, resentment, anger, and unforgiveness should not be surprised when the body grows ill too. And so, when I encourage you to run to Jesus for physical healing I mean that we are to run to him by faith and in prayer, having turned from known sin, including the sins of the mind and heart. Whether or not Jesus will heal you physically, I do not know. When Paul pleaded with God to remove some “thorn” in his flesh (perhaps it was some physical ailment) the response he received from the Lord was no, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” And so Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV). Here I am drawing your attention to the faith of this woman. She was ill and she was ceremonially unclean. She did the right thing to come to Jesus and to touch the hem of his robe knowing for certain that he had the power to heal her infirmity.
Thirdly, notice her secretiveness. This woman did not address Jesus directly but touched the fringe of his garment secretly. Perhaps she was ashamed of her uncleanness. Perhaps she was simply shy. The text does not say. What is clear is that Jesus would not allow the secretiveness to remain.
In verse 45 we learn that “Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.’”
In Luke 5:17 we we were told that “the power of the Lord was with [Jesus] to heal.” And in Luke 6:19 we were told that “all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” Here in our text for today, we are told that many touched him, but that power came out from him to heal this one particular woman who came to him by faith, and he perceived that power went out from him. When he asked who touched him, all denied it at first, but when the woman perceived that she could not hide any longer, “she came trembling [to Jesus], and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.”
Of course, the meaning of this is not that we must be open with everyone concerning all of our physical ailments. Privacy is a good thing to maintain in some situations. What it does mean is that we must not be private concerning our faith in Jesus and the marvelous things he has done for us. We are to confess our faith in Jesus before men. And we ought to be happy to testify concerning the marvelous things he has done for us.
Look at how tender Jesus was towards this woman. Verse 48: “And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” He spoke to this woman of faith tenderly, calling her “daughter”. Perhaps we are to make a connection between the love that Jairus [yah-i-rus] had for his 12-year-old daughter who was perishing and the love that Christ has for his people, in this instance, this woman who had been plagued by this physical ailment for 12 long years. Christ called her, “daughter”, so that we might know the tender love that he has for all who come to him by faith. And he said to her, “Your faith has made you well”. Here “faith” means trust. It is should clear to all that her faith was in Jesus. And then Christ said, “Go in peace.” That is what Christ gives to all who come to him by faith – peace with God which translates to peace within the heart. This woman was unclean because of her ailment and separated from God’s presence, ceremonially and symbolically. Christ healed her, removed her impurity, and thus reconciled her to God. That was the highest blessing for this woman – not the physical relief, but the spiritual. And so Christ spoke using familial language: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
*****
Conclusion
I would like to begin to move this sermon toward a conclusion by making a few remarks about physical healing.
One, it must be acknowledged that Christ and his Apostles were given the ability to heal. Pick up the New Testament Scriptures and read and you will see the gift of healing often mentioned. It would be a mistake to assume that Christians have the gift of healing today. Notice the purpose of the miracles that Christ performed. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed many other miracles to demonstrate that he was indeed the promised Messiah of Isaiah 61. The miracles and wonders that Christ performed were signs that he was truly the long-awaited Messiah. And the same may be said concerning the Apostles and other eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection. Many of them had the ability to heal as a sign that they were indeed Christ’s special messengers and that the word they spoke was true. It would be a mistake to assume that there were miracle workers in the church after the age of the Apostles.
Two, having said this, it would also be a mistake to assume that God does not heal anymore. I believe that he certainly does. But he heals, not through the hands of those with the gift of healing as he did in the Apostolic age, but through the common prayers of his people. James 5:13-16 is important. It says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:13–16, ESV). Though the miraculous, sign-gifts that were present in the early church have ceased, this does not mean that God does not work miracles. He may if it is his will. And he will do so through the prayers of his people.
Three, as has already been mentioned, though God has the power to heal and deliver his people from many hardships, this does not mean that he always will. In fact, Christians are warned to expect suffering in this life. It may be the will of the Lord to allow some difficulty or ailment to remain so that we might draw near to God and learn, along with Paul, that God’s “grace is sufficient” and that his “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).
Four, given that Christ demonstrated he has the power to heal and even to raise people from the dead, and given the obvious fact that he does not do this for everyone now – in fact, he does not do it for anyone ultimately now – it should be clear to all that the limited and temporary miracles Christ performed at his first coming were meant to function as a sign that he possesses the power to do this for all who come to him by faith perfectly and eternally at his second coming. Christ healed many in his earthly ministry, but he did not heal all. He raised a few from the grave, but the vast majority, he did not. And even those he healed would suffer ailments of various kinds in the future. Those he raised from the dead would have to have to pass through the ordeal of death again at some point in the future. What then was the purpose of these monetary healings and these temporary resurrections? Well, besides being acts of kindness and compassion, they were a demonstration of Christ’s power to heal and to give life to all who come to him by faith perfectly and eternally. Perhaps you have thought about this question when reading portions of Scripture like Psalm 103. It says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1–5, ESV). It may be that some of God’s people read passages of Scripture like this and think, but God has not healed all my diseases! Is the word of God untrue, then? Certainly not. We simply need to learn how to interpret it properly. First of all, this Psalm is not only about King David, it is about King Jesus. It is Christ whose life has been redeemed from the pit. It is Christ who has been raised up from the grave, his “youth… renewed like the eagle’s.” Secondly, though some of these blessings are enjoyed by us now through faith in Christ Jesus – he has forgiven our iniquities, he has crowned us with steadfast love and mercy, and he satisfies us with good – not all of these blessings are ours now and in full, for we await the second coming of Christ and the consumptions. It is then that all sickness and death will be eradicated for those who are united to Christ by faith. Thirdly, when Christ came the first time to accomplish our redemption he did prove to have the power to do this. He proved, through the miracles he performed, to have the power to heal all of our diseases. He proved, by raising a few from the grave and by his own resurrection from the dead, to have the power to redeem our lives from the pit. These blessings that Christ has earned and has the power to bestow are ours now, but we do not yet enjoy the fullness of them, and so we wait patiently to obtain the fullness of the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 6:15).
