That You May Know - Pt 5

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:29-34 ESV).

This has been a bit of an unusual week. Sunday morning my oldest brother died. He had a long life at 78 years of age, though it was dotted with challenges. Some of those challenges might be judge as failures, though each one had a special part to play in the ultimate strengthening of his faith. Rarely did a week pass that we didn’t have a lengthy conversation. In fact there were many weeks when we talked more than once. I am grateful for those times. Since moving back to Texas I had several opportunities to travel down to the Galveston area and enjoy an extended visit with him. One such visit sticks in my mind today. He had been diagnosed with his second round of non-small-cell lung cancer. While not as aggressive as some others, it is almost always fatal when not treated fully. Because of his age and other factors he was only able to withstand small doses of radiation for the second appearance of the cancer, causing his death. He knew the diagnosis and what lay ahead. That afternoon as we sat on his small patio he asked me about heaven and how he could be certain he would go there when he died. He already knew all those answers. My privilege was merely to remind him of what he already knew. At the end of the conversation he asked one last question: “Why doesn’t God heal everyone?” It was a fair question. Our reading describes Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law of a fever. Jesus has the power to set people free from sickness and restore them to perfect health and He didn't hold back when it came to Simon Peter's mother-in-law receiving that healing touch. When Jesus entered her home with several other disciples, He took her hand and lifted the fever from her. Later, Jesus healed many others who were sick and oppressed by demons. However, we know he did not heal everyone he came into contact with. So, why not? Let’s see if I can unpack the answer as briefly as possible, though today’s devotional may be a bit longer than usual. Jesus did miracles for many reasons. First, Jesus told us that He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (cf. Mark 10:45) and in His miracles He certainly did that. He also performed miracles to reveal Himself as being the Son of Man (a Messianic title), and as being the Son of God. Peter on the day of Pentecost affirmed this when he said that Jesus’ miracles showed Him to be “a man approved of God” (Acts 2:22). And, he also did miracles to glorify the Father, because all miracles point to the Father. The miracles Jesus did pointed to the Father in the power they displayed. Remember, Jesus had set aside His divinity, living only in His humanity, while here on earth. So His miracles were done by the power of the Holy Spirit who descended upon Him at His baptism and worked in and through Him. Again, on the day of Pentecost, Peter confirmed this by saying that God showed/proved Jesus by miracles, which He did through Jesus (Cf. Acts 2:22). However, I believe the most important reason for Jesus performing miracles was to give us a glimpse of that which is to come. There is a day coming when all things will be made new by the power of God. The earth and all things in the earth will be restored to the perfection and perfect peace that was enjoyed in the Garden. God’s plan of redemption and restoration will be completed and that will be a miracle of glory displayed forever. Death has come to many since that promise was made. That hasn’t weakened the promise or the hope it provides at all. In fact, it merely serves as a stark reminder of what is to come. As I told my brother on that sunny day sitting on the patio, I envied him in some ways. The chances of him getting to heaven sooner than me was high. He would be home before me. That is to be envied. Here’s how Paul put it: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). I have a much better understanding of where my real home is. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, as well as many others that day. However, it may very well be that those who were not healed had a shorter path home. That gives me hope when Jesus doesn’t heal!