Gospel Prism

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Luke 4:38-44

Introduction

There is nothing more unnerving and humbling in our world than death. As Pastor Erwin Lutzer comments: “Strictly speaking, no one ‘dies with dignity.’ Ever since sin entered into the world and brought death with it, death has always been the final humiliation, the one unalterable fact that confirms our mortality and reduces our bodies to ashes.” (Quoted in Deborah Howard, Sunsets, 124). And just as every sickness and illness is a reminder of our mortality and eventual death, so too death itself is a reminder that we live in a world disrupted and disfigured by sin. Ephesians 2:1 observes that we are “dead in the trespasses and sins.” In other words, our closure to the Gospel is equivalent to a death that is a result of sin and rebellion against God. Sin might not be the direct cause of illness and death, but Scripture is clear that it is the ultimate cause according to Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death.”

So in Luke 4:38-44, we witness an event that is quite common in the Gospel narratives. Jesus heals people of their illnesses. It is very easy to sweep by these stories without a thought. We simply think, “Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Nice story, let’s move on.” But why did Jesus exert so much of his precious energy physically healing people? Is it perhaps that Jesus’ healing ministry was not intended to solely heal physical ailments but to give a broader message? I would say so and this text bears this out.

Jesus has come to overcome not only the physical impact of illness and death, but He has come to overcome the power of death and all of its implications, which are plenty. So to understand exactly how Jesus does this, we need to understand Jesus’ mission: 1) Jesus came to overcome the power of sickness and death, 2) Jesus came to bring healing to individuals who are subject to the power of death, and 3) Jesus came to ultimately bring eternal healing through salvation.

On Sickness And Death… (Vv. 38-41)

First, Jesus came to overcome the power of sickness and death. In our narrative, Jesus enters the home of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law who is suffering from a high fever which was often fatal in Jesus’ day. Verse 39 is interesting because Luke records that Jesus “rebuked the fever” and it left her. This verb is the same word used in Luke 4:35 where Jesus cast out the demon. I don’t think this means that the fever was caused by a demon. However, what it does show is that there is a link between illness and the reality of evil and sin. Scripture does not indicate in all instances, one’s sin directly leads to illness. But the Bible is clear that sickness and death is ultimately a result of sin (Gen 3; Deut 28:22; 2 Cor 12:7). And in many ways, the fear of death leads to our health’s debilitation far more than we realize.

Hebrews 2:15 tells us that Jesus delivered “all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” The fear of death enslaves people. Whether we consider death or not, the fear of death either leads us to consider it morbidly and with paranoia, or to avoid considering death completely because thinking about such things are too ominous and frightful. Ed Welch comments: “Avoid the horror of death if you like, but at root there is something anti-human about that avoidance. Indifference lasts only until your mother actually dies. Although some remain adamant atheists when they face death, the norm is that a sudden interest in the supernatural kicks in once we hear the news that our disease is terminal.” (Ed Welch, Running Scared, 206).

Deborah Howard, who has written an excellent book called Sunsets that I highly recommend everyone to consider reading, especially if you have loved ones facing death, is a hospice nurse who writes about grieving and death from a Gospel perspective. She recounts one story that describes so well the picture of one’s last moments of life. If you will bear with me, I’d like to read you the whole story…

As you can see, death simply cannot be glamorized when you are in your last hours. There really is no nice way to die and death usually doesn’t come in accordance with our timing. Death is as Ed Welch describes it, horrible. And so Jesus was confronting the horror of illness and death by confronting the horror of sin. Whether there was a demon or not, the fever was still ultimately a disfigurement of the reality of sin’s destruction upon the earth. Paul tells us in Romans 8:20: “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” And we are in that creation and sin has corrupted us spiritually which has ramifications for us physically.

But this is exactly why Jesus heals people physically. He has come to overturn and undo the power of sin and death. That’s why Romans 6:23 doesn’t merely say that the wages of sin is death, but “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And in verse 39, when Jesus rebukes the fever, Peter’s mother-in-law is not merely reminded of God’s grace over her life, the fever leaves her and she is able to immediately go back to the way she was before her illness. In other words, her life will continue (she’s serves) as if the sickness were never a part of her life. She is completely and fully free of every effect of her illness. This is the power that Jesus has over sickness. He has supreme power over not only the spiritual realm but the physical realm. Colossians 1:17 says all things are held together (including our physical bodies) through Christ.

But please note, that this healing is temporary. It is temporary because eventually the person will die. And this is what so many whom Jesus healed failed to reckon with. When Jesus healed the 10 lepers and only 1 returned to give thanks, Jesus asked: “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17) What those lepers failed to realize was that though they were cured of their leprosy, it was temporary because one day they would not be cured of their final illness which will lead to their death. And Hebrews 9:27 reminds us: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

Do you see? We will all have a time in our lives when we ourselves or our loved ones will become ill, even deathly ill. How will you respond? Will you cry out to God and pray for healing without even a concern for your soul or the soul of your loved one? Yes, Jesus came to heal and yes Jesus does heal and yes we should pray that Jesus would heal us and our loved ones. But if you stop there, you will find such healing, even if it should happen, ultimately meaningless unless there is a healing of the soul through salvation. As Jesus says in Luke 9:25: “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”

But praise be to God that sickness and death is ultimately and eternally overcome by Jesus’ blood. Jesus’ healing ministry was merely a reflection of the spiritual reality of the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, He bore every aspect of sin that is ours. He bore the spiritual reality and the physical reality of sin. Jesus was punished in every possible way our sin has affected our lives. And to look at the crown of thorns with dark blood oozing out of his head, to see the pus and green and blue coloring that surrounded the nails on his hands and feet, to hear the irregular, labored breathing of his chest gasping for every breath, to see the parched lips from a desert-like thirst, was to bear the dark physical reality of our sin. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:9-10: “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” 2 Corinthians is a chapter that details Paul’s sufferings. And in this text, Paul tells us that it is the hope of the Gospel, Christ who has died and risen again for our sake that allows him to bear any sufferings that come his way.

Jesus’ final overcoming of sin and death and all of its effects should radically change the way we view illness. For those who know Christ and who cherish Him and who are the children of God because they believe in His Name (John 1:12), death is the doorway to eternity with the God of grace where we shall meet. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 1:10: “When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” And because we know this to be true, we never grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). And so how we suffer through illnesses speaks greatly about how much we believe in Christ’s overcoming sin and death. How we view suffering, illness, and death, speaks much about our view of God and our trust in Him. J. C. Ryle wrote:

There is nothing which shows our ignorance so much as our impatience under trouble. We forget that every cross is a message from God, and intended to do us good in the end. Trials are intended to make us think—to wean us from the world—to send us to the Bible—to drive us to our knees. Health is a good thing but sickness is far better if it leads us to God. Prosperity is a great mercy, but adversity is a greater one if it brings us to Christ. Anything, anything is better than living in carelessness and dying in sin. (Quoted from Deborah Howard, 140)

Sickness and death should cause us to remember that Christ has overcome sin and death. What you face here on earth is temporary. But whether you trust in God or not has eternal consequences.

On Healing For Individuals… (Vv. 40-41)

Not only did Jesus overcome sin and death, He brings healing uniquely and individually. It’s interesting that in verse 40, that Jesus lays hands “on every one of them and healed them.” Again, Jesus could have healed all of them together. But as is often the case with Jesus, he personally heals people individually. Jesus is not a miracle worker. He is a Savior who has come to save individuals to be His people. And He knows the hearts of each soul that He cares for. According to John 10:3, Jesus calls His sheep by name. Matthew 10:30 says that God knows every hair on one’s head.

So we worship a God who is deeply concerned with you as an individual. Hebrews 2:18 tells us: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” For this reason, when you are suffering and being tempted to become self-centered, angry, proud, unwilling to share your burdens with others, sullen, depressed, frustrated, you must remember that He suffered on the cross because He wanted to help you. This is our God.

One more thing from verse 41, we cannot forget is that this is a spiritual war. Jesus’ physical healing entailed spiritual healing and a fight against Satan (v. 41). I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Satan, sin, and sickness are grouped together in these texts. All are intertwined to keep God’s people from trusting in Him. And we must note that Satan can bring about physical ailments. He does so to Job and he does so to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7.

On Eternal Healing… (Vv. 41-44)

Finally, not only did Jesus overcome sin and death and bring healing uniquely and individually, His ultimate goal was to bring eternal healing through the gift of salvation. And this eternal healing through salvation has certain implications. The first implication is that physical healing is only a foreshadowing of the Kingdom to come. Again, we cannot forget that physical healing is temporary. We pray so much for physical or emotional healing as an end in itself rather than a means to an end. But Jesus makes it clear that His purpose was not merely to bring healing for healing’s sake, but to bring the good news of the Kingdom of God (the Gospel of God) to people. Look at what Jesus says in verse 43 following the casting out of demons and the healing of the sick: “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” His purpose, even though he was physically healing people, was to preach the Gospel. Healing people physically had temporary acts. Preaching the Gospel would heal people eternally.

The second implication is that healing comes not only in being physically healed, but in realizing God can use sickness to draw you to Himself so that you might receive eternal joy. If you do not understand that sickness is caused by the reality of sin in this world, and that God can use it to draw you to Himself, then you will have missed out on God’s grace for you in your life. John Piper and David Powlison when they were told they had cancer wrote an article called, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer.” I am trying to have it translated into different languages because I believe every person should give this article to a person battling cancer. In it, they make this point: “You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.” David Powlison writes : “Illness can sharpen your awareness of how thoroughly God has already and always been at work in every detail of your life.”

If God is everything the Bible says He is, a God of mercy, grace, love, kindness, holiness, majestic, and if David is right that at His right hand are pleasures evermore (Psalm 16:11), and if God always does all things, including allow sickness to come and invade our lives and perhaps even take our lives or the lives of a loved one for our good according to Romans 8:28, then we must trust that any illness will be used by God to draw us near to Him. As C. S. Lewis noted, pain and suffering is God’s megaphone to a deaf world. Sometimes the only way people will ever surrender their pride and notice God is through illness and suffering. Our hearts are so hardened to Him that when we are well, we refuse to notice Him. We see this in Judges. When things were well, the people forgot God. But when the Israelites were suffering, only then did they truly cry out to God. So we need to thank God and praise Him much more for the spiritual healing we have received in Christ, rather than the physical healing that we might think is absolutely God’s best for us.

The third implication is that God uses the Body of Christ to help those who need physical and spiritual healing. Paul tells the Romans church in Romans 12:9-13: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” During times of tribulation we need to contribute to the needs of the saints. We need to pray, to rejoice, to care. We can be instruments of God’s healing and reminders of His grace by the way we show compassion to those who suffer. I am so thankful that our church does well in caring for the sick and the bereaved. But we can still grow. So many people don’t know what to say to a person who is dying or one who has lost a loved one. Sometimes, what people need most is simply someone to cry with. Author Deborah Howard tells this story:

Author and lecturer Leo Buscangalia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.” (Howard, 150)

From the mouths of babes, there is wisdom. Paul gives us some sage advice: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15) A large hug, an empathetic cry, can be the best thing we can do for who are grieving. Also, if someone is suffering, don’t say, “Is there anything I can do for you?” That person will probably say no. Rather, be specific. Ask, “Can I bring over a meal for you?” or “Can I watch your kids for you while you take a break?” Do not treat the sick or ill as pariah. Do not let your fear that you’ll say the wrong thing keep you from caring. And in doing such things, the Lord will use you not only to care physically for them, but He will use you to remind the sick and dying that God is still faithful through His Body and through the work of His Son. Let what drives you to show care and compassion the work of God’s Son for you. Just as Jesus looked down at the cross and cared for his mother’s well-being, so too out of the cross’ love, let us look around to see who we can care for in the Body of Christ.

The fourth implication is that how we live during our illnesses and sicknesses exhibit to the world what our view of God is. Sadly, I have seen people with diseases who have expressed little hope or trust in God during their trials. When we are struck with illness or have a loved one struck with illness, be aware that you will feel the pangs toward self-pity, self-centeredness, and doubt. Suddenly, you will be tempted to feel as though God has been unjust towards you. The cross will seem to be a distant fixture in your life. The temptation to sulk and wallow will drag others down around you. You will want to criticize others’ lack of concern for you. Thoughts will run through your mind, “No one seems to care for me. No one understands me.” Or perhaps you will not want to share your burdens with anyone. You will go into your cave, refusing help, prayers, concerns. You will turn away from the Body of Christ. Satan loves such self-centeredness and self-pity. Charles Spurgeon has a great word for all of us:

If Jesus loves you, and you are sick, let all the world see how you glorify God in your sickness. Let friends and nurses see how the beloved of the Lord are cheered and comforted by him. Let your holy resignation astonish them, and set them admiring your Beloved, who is so gracious to you that he makes you happy in pain, and joyful at the gates of the grave. If your religion is worth anything it ought to support you now, and it will compel unbelievers to see that he whom the Lord loves is in better case when he is sick than the ungodly when full of health and vigor. (Quoted from Deborah Howard, 154)

I have recently read a blog of a man with a wife and three children who recounted his battle with cancer. The purpose of the blog was to tell the world how God was with him despite the cancer. This man died this past year on May 7th. I’d like to read to you a couple of his entries because he lives out what Charles Spurgeon has urged of all Christians:

Ethon Chon’s Blog

Here’s what his wife Anne wrote in her recent reflections on her husband:

Lately, I’ve been particularly drawn to this hymn “Before the Throne of God Above.” I remember during YM’s last days at the hospice when he was barely able to have a coherent conversation with anyone, the nurse and the aid were beside him helping him take his medication and tending to his physical pain. I had the CD player on & this particular hymn was playing at that time. All of a sudden, YM stretched out his hands in worship and began singing along with everything he had. He may not have been able to hold a conversation with us, but it’s amazing how he never lost his sense of music or lyrics to worship songs in those last days. He had so much life and spirit even as his body was withering away before our eyes. No wonder the nurses & aids loved him. I remember one particular nurse’s aide named Brenda. She was kind of like a mother figure to us. YM always made her smile as she witnessed many moments like these. She was actually there when YM took his last breath. After the Lord took him home, she told me how special he was and how much he had touched her and many others’ hearts.

My friends, I hope that when you or your loved ones die or are preparing to die, you will die as one who has an eternal hope. In your mourning and grieving, may you experience His joy. Don’t waste your illness. Don’t allow sin to run as rampant in your bodies as cancer does. Prepare yourself now so that when the time comes, you will grieve very differently than the world. May you not despair as the world despairs when it faces death. Don’t live in denial or try to escape because you don’t want to face the starkness of sickness and death. No, you can mourn and grieve and feel pain fully because you know that sin has created this broken world. The grieving makes sense to you and so you grieve over sin, and death, and sickness, but you have a peace that transcends the world’s understanding, because you have an eternal hope. Luke 4 is proof for you that Satan, sin, sickness and death have been conquered at the cross. David Powlison rightly says:

His [Jesus’] pain was not muted by denial or medication, nor was it tainted with despair, fear, or thrashing about for any straw of hope that might change his circumstances. Jesus’ final promises overflow with the gladness of solid hope amid sorrows: “My joy will be in you, and your joy will be made full. Your grief will be turned to joy. No one will take your joy away from you. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy will be made full. These things I speak in the world, so that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

Conclusion

Sickness and death is a sure thing for all of us. As YM and Anne have taught us, it is possible to worship God even through the most trying of times. This does not mean we are stone-faced and emotionless. The psalmist and Job cry out to God in true and full pain and agony. But as YM has taught us, like Job, we can cry out to God with our whole heart but still trust in Him because He has completely overcome Satan, sickness, death, and sin.

And this is why Luke 4 is foreshadowing of Luke 23-24. Satan, and sin, and death had controlled the world too long. But our Savior died so that we might be healed eternally. Revelation 21:4 beautifully reminds us: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He did this through the many tears and agony He himself bore on our behalf because of our sins. He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21). Please remember this as you will one day face sickness and death. Jesus penetrated the world’s darkness to bring light to bring us before God now as perfectly holy with His righteousness. And so we live differently now because He has made us for a better home. May that be exhibited even at your most difficult times because of God’s glorious Son who has overcome sin, Satan, sickness and even death. Death has lost its sting!