The Book of James

Prayer, Healing, and Restoration

Lesson #12 for December 20, 2014

Scriptures and Key References: [James 5:13-20; 1 John 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:54; Hebrews 12:12-13; John 8:43-45; Proverbs 10:12][i]; Desire of Ages 267-271ii; Ministry of Healing 73-79iii.

1.    This lesson will focus on prayer, healing, and ultimate restoration. Don’t we believe that God would be happy to have everyone perfectly healthy? Isn’t that how He made Adam and Eve? Won’t that be the condition of all who enter the kingdom of heaven? What happened?

2.    In his final passage of the book, James talked about Elijah. Elijah and John the Baptist were like voices crying in the wilderness. And Elijah was translated directly to heaven? Could we be like Elijah? Or, John? In what ways? Do you think that Elijah’s time was more godless or wicked than our time? Very doubtful! How do you understand Malachi 4:5-6iv? Is that talking about God and His children? Or, about us and our children?

John separated himself from friends and from the luxuries of life. The simplicity of his dress, a garment woven of camel’s hair, was a standing rebuke to the extravagance and display of the Jewish priests, and of the people generally.

His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the indulgence of appetite and the gluttony that everywhere prevailed.... The great subject of reform is to be agitated, and the public mind is to be stirred. Temperance in all things is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God from their idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things.

The self-denial, humility, and temperance required of the righteous, whom God especially leads and blesses, is to be presented to the people in contrast to the extravagant, health-destroying habits of those who live in this degenerate age.

God has shown that health reform is as closely connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body.—Ellen White, 3 Testimonies 62.1-2; Mar 22.3-5; CC 273.3-4; compare FLB 290.2-5; 4BC 1184.7-8.

As John the Baptist . . . called their attention to the Ten Commandments, so we are to give, with no uncertain sound, the message: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” [Revelation 14:6] With the earnestness that characterized Elijah the prophet and John the Baptist, we are to strive to prepare the way for Christ’s second advent.—Ellen White, Southern Watchman, March 21, 1905, par. 14. [Bold type and content in brackets are added.]

How should we do that in the 21st century? Are Adventist radio and television channels doing it? Was John the Baptist preaching a new message to his audience? Are we? John the Baptist shook up the whole nation! What would happen if we as Adventists would take time on a Sunday morning to attend a Sunday church and become their friends and look for opportunities to witness in a biblical and Christian way? What was John’s background?

3.    Read James 5:13[v]. James seemed to be giving us some final thoughts near the end of this book. We are to pray for those who are in trouble and sing if we are happy. If we remember the book of Psalms, we will realize that prayer and song are very closely linked.

4.    The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been known since its early days as having a major emphasis on health. We operate hundreds of clinics, even hundreds of hospitals around the

world. We have several medical schools. But, how well are we doing at healing souls?

5.    Read [Mark 2:1-12; Hebrews 12:12-13; 1 Peter 2:24-25]vi. Also review the story of the paralyzed man as recorded in Desire of Ages 267-271 and Ministry of Healing 73-79 (see reference link at beginning). People of that time believed that every sickness was a result of that person’s sin and God’s resultant curse. Thus, in order to heal a person, his sin must be dealt with. This paralyzed man knew that his condition was a result of his previous life of sin. What he wanted most of all was healing from the sin and forgiveness from God. In this story which took place in Peter’s house, Jesus directly confronted the scribes and Pharisees and proved that He could forgive sin as well as heal bodies. After his healing, this man was ready even to die for Jesus. What would you have done if you had been one of the scribes or Pharisees on that day? T o their way of thinking, Jesus was either blasphemous or He had just proved that He was God; and, of course, they refused to accept the latter. Today, we have modern medical techniques, medications, even surgeries to deal with many illnesses. How well are we doing at healing souls, physically, mentally, and spiritually? It is much easier to measure physical illness-and physical healing-than other types of illness. We need to remember that healing includes the repairing of relationships. Many of the illnesses that people have are a result of depression, anxiety, or other forms of mental illness.

6.    Read James 5:17-18vii. Why do you think James mentioned Elijah’s prayer in this context? Read Deuteronomy 11:13-17viii. Was Elijah praying for God to fulfill this prophecy? Would it be fair to conclude that Elijah was praying earnestly for the healing of the people of Israel-and the land as well-before God called him to his prophetic ministry? Surely, Elijah was particularly concerned for the spiritual health of the children of Israel. Jezebel was Ahab’s wife. She was from a pagan nation, Sidon. The primary god of Sidon was Baal the so-called “god of storm and lightning,” believed to be responsible for sending rain on the land. She was determined to convince Israel to abandon Jehovah and worship Baal. No doubt, as Elijah saw this apostasy spreading over the land, he remembered the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 11ix and prayed earnestly for healing of Israel and Judah. So, what did God call him to do? Read 1 Kings 17:1[x]. Elijah’s short statement did not give them any room to look for other causes of the drought! Baal could not do anything! Did Jezebel have the right idea but just the wrong god?

7.    Read Daniel 9:2-3xi. Daniel was praying for the end of the 70-year prophecy. Should we be praying for fulfillment of prophecy? Several of the great prophets of the Old Testament prayed for answers to the words of a previous prophet. How well are we doing at connecting our prayers with Bible study? Did God give Elijah the idea of praying for a drought to defeat the forces of Baal? Or, was that Elijah’s idea? In these last days of the world’s history, can we work as closely with God as Elijah did? Read Malachi 4:5-6xii. With our three angels’ messages, could we as a church become an end-time Elijah to the world? If we want to see revival and reformation in the church and then in the world, shouldn’t we begin in our own lives? In the great controversy, whose side are we going to be on? Are we living totally-unselfish lives, ministering to others as we have opportunity? Or, are we living self-indulgent lives, following the example of Satan?

8.    Most of us will recall easily the major events in the life of Elijah. What we may not remember is the fact that most of his time was spent working with the schools of the prophets and working with people in their homes, one family at a time, to bring about reform.

9.    Read [James 5:19-20; Luke 1:16-17; Acts 3:19]xiii. What would happen if we as a church repented and turned to God and saw as our highest duty the finishing of the work? Could a whole church repent? From what do we need to repent? How are we supposed to respond to the widespread apostasy and worldliness that surrounds us? How do we turn hearts toward God as did Elijah and John the Baptist? How do we get people’s attention long enough to even give them the message?

10.    Christ often grabbed attention by performing miracles. Telvision evangelists in our day claim to be performing miracles and get a lot of attention. If someone on television performs a so-called miracle, does that prove that what he says later is the truth? Certainly not!

Christ ... asks us to become one with Him for the saving of humanity. “Freely ye have received,” He says, “freely give.” Matt. 10:8xiv. Sin is the greatest of all evils, and it is ours to pity and help the sinner. There are many who err, and who feel their shame and their folly. They are hungry for words of encouragement. They look upon their mistakes and errors, until they are driven almost to desperation. These souls we are not to neglect....

Speak words of faith and courage that will be as a healing balsam to the bruised and wounded one.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 504.3-4.

11.    It is a well-known fact that when people are hurting or in crisis, they are more likely to listen. Think of your own experiences. In times of change or hurt, we reach out to those who are willing to listen or help. When someone in the church messes up, do we try to avoid them? Or, do we reach out and embrace them and encourage them to return to Jesus?

12.    Read James 5:16xv. What is an “effectual, fervent prayer”? What is special about that person’s prayer? Doesn’t God answer prayers in the way He knows is best? Are we praying for those around us? Have your prayers led others to Christ? If it were the right thing to do in the context of the great controversy, doesn’t God have the power to heal everyone who is sick? Why doesn’t He?

13.    Read James 5:17-20xvi. How many steps did James call for in the healing of the sick? Have you ever been involved with an anointing and found that the patient died or did not quickly recover? Is that proof that someone in the room did not have enough faith? At times, it has been suggested that if we had enough faith, all such people would be healed. Is that true?

14.    Certainly, we would all agree that there is nothing that God cannot heal, transform, undo, bind up, or restore. God is perfectly capable of healing all our maladies.

15.    How can we take these words of James seriously? First of all, James was not recommending that we forget regular medical care. There was medical care of a primitive form available even in his day. Remember that Luke, the Gospel writer, was a Greek physician. So, while we seek the best possible medical care, we also need to turn our hearts to God and pray for His healing hand. In our day, almost every disease has a spiritual component.

16.    So, what kind of case should lead us to an anointing? James said we should pray for the sick among us. Does that mean that if a child has a fever, we should pray for her/him? What if s/he has a congenital defect or some other life-threatening illness such as leukemia or some other form of cancer? The word sick in James 5:14xvii is a translation of the Greek word astheneo which means to be diseased, impotent, sick, or made weak. It implies being feeble in some sense. See Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. So, does that mean that any person who is ill in any way should pray for healing and it will come? Making assertions of that nature especially when facing life-threatening diseases may lead some to become skeptical; and, if the healing does not occur quickly, believe that faith has failed.

17.    But, there is a deeper and more comprehensive answer to the question. God would love to heal everyone completely of all their diseases not only physical but mental, spiritual, and social. Thus, we could say that whenever people pray in faith, God will answer their prayers in the affirmative. But, what do we mean by that? The question is not if God will heal the sick but when He will do it. The Bible gives several examples of healings. 1) Sometimes, the healings are instantaneous, or immediate as in the case of the paralytic in [Mark 2 and Matthew 9]xviii 2) Sometimes, the healings are gradual as in the case of Naaman the leper as recorded in 2 Kings 5:8-15xix. 3) But, there are times when God says: “Not now. You will be healed at the resurrection.” Compare Paul’s thorn in the flesh and Jacob’s hip. See [2 Corinthians 12:7; and Genesis 32:25]xx. Were those reminders that God gave them?

18.    So, we can conclude that some will be healed immediately; but, others will not be healed until the resurrection. Are we willing to leave that decision in God’s hands? It is not a matter of how much faith we have but of His wise decision as to what is best for us. This might not be easy to accept.

19.    There are at least five steps that James encouraged us to go through when praying for divine healing. We should: 1) Call the elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the Lord’s name. It should be noted that the oil in this case was a specific mention of olive oil, and in Scripture that oil is representative of the Holy Spirit. It was used to anoint priests and even kings in the times of the Old Testament.

2)    In addition, the word aleipho meaning “to anoint” comes from two words; one word meaning “unity” or “a sense of union” and another word that means “grease” or “fat”-in this case olive oil-and suggests that God is generously and extravagantly pouring out His Holy Spirit without measure on His children in healing and blessing.

3)    We are to pray with the prayer of faith, and that prayer will save the sick, and the Lord will restore him. (James 5:15xxi, Amplified) Some people may think that no instantaneous healings are happening in our day, but that is not true. There are examples in modern times of people through prayer even being raised from the dead. The Greek word egeiro means “to waken, to rouse from disease or death, literally or figuratively.” It is the same word used in Acts 26:8 where it talks about God raising the dead. Clearly, the healing power to remove sickness is the same power that created life in the beginning and can bring the dead back to life again. In this context, we need to realize that the resurrection of the righteous at the end of this world’s history will be the greatest healing miracle of all time.

4)    Finally, James admonished the sick to “confess to one another therefore your faults,” and,

5)    “Pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored.” (James 5:16xxii, Amplified) Notice especially the word therefore which is significant. It suggests that there is a causal relationship between the confession of sin and healing. We are not suggesting that every illness is a direct result of some current sin; but rather, we are suggesting that all illnesses are ultimately a result of sin.

20.    Is it a lack of faith to recognize that some will not be healed until the resurrection day? If we had more faith, would we be able to pray over every kind of illness or disease and cause instantaneous healing? Or, does having more faith mean that we trust God to heal at the right time and in the right way according to His will?

21.    We live in a sin-polluted and sin-damaged world. Despite our most fervent efforts and prayers, some are going to die. All of us will die sooner or later if the second coming is further delayed. If our prayers are not immediately answered, how can we avoid losing our faith? Are we willing to trust God to make the right decision about the healing of individuals? Isn’t that an example of trusting God, and trusting God is faith?

© 2014, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox.org

i-James 5:13 Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises. 14 Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord. 15 This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven. 16 So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. 17 Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. 18 Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops. 19 My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again, 20 remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

1 John 5:14 We have courage in God's presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will.

1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed; victory is complete!"

Hebrews 12:12 Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees! 13 Keep walking on straight paths, so that the lame foot may not be disabled, but instead be healed.

John 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. 44 You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies. 45 But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe me.

Proverbs 10:12 Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.

ii-Desire of Ages 267-271 In the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum, Christ again taught the same truth. It was to manifest His power to forgive sins that the miracle was performed. And the healing of the paralytic also illustrates other precious truths. It is full of hope and encouragement, and from its connection with the caviling Pharisees it has a lesson of warning as well.{DA 267.1}

Like the leper, this paralytic had lost all hope of recovery. His disease was the result of a life of sin, and his sufferings were embittered by remorse. He had long before appealed to the Pharisees and doctors, hoping for relief from mental suffering and physical pain. But they coldly pronounced him incurable, and abandoned him to the wrath of God. The Pharisees regarded affliction as an evidence of divine displeasure, and they held themselves aloof from the sick and the needy. Yet often these very ones who exalted themselves as holy were more guilty than the sufferers they condemned.{DA 267.2}

The palsied man was entirely helpless, and, seeing no prospect of aid from any quarter, he had sunk into despair. Then he heard of the wonderful works of Jesus. He was told that others as sinful and helpless as he had been healed; even lepers had been cleansed. And the friends who reported these things encouraged him to believe that he too might be cured if he could be carried to Jesus. But his hope fell when he remembered how the disease had been brought upon him. He feared that the pure Physician would not tolerate him in His presence.{DA 267.3}

Yet it was not physical restoration he desired so much as relief from the burden of sin. If he could see Jesus, and receive the assurance of forgiveness and peace with Heaven, he would be content to live or die, according to God’s will. The cry of the dying man was, Oh that I might come into His presence! There was no time to lose; already his wasted flesh was showing signs of decay. He besought his friends to carry him on his bed to Jesus, and this they gladly undertook to do. But so dense was the crowd that had assembled in and about the house where the Saviour was, that it was impossible for the sick man and his friends to reach Him, or even to come within hearing of His voice.{DA 267.4}

Jesus was teaching in the house of Peter. According to their custom, His disciples sat close about Him, and “there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem.” These had come as spies, seeking an accusation against Jesus. Outside of these officials thronged the promiscuous multitude, the eager, the reverent, the curious, and the unbelieving. Different nationalities and all grades of society were represented. “And the power of the Lord was present to heal.” The Spirit of life brooded over the assembly, but Pharisees and doctors did not discern its presence. They felt no sense of need, and the healing was not for them. “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.” Luke 1:53. {DA 267.5}

Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way through the crowd, but in vain. The sick man looked about him in unutterable anguish. When the longed-for help was so near, how could he relinquish hope? At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top of the house and, breaking up the roof, let him down at the feet of Jesus. The discourse was interrupted. The Saviour looked upon the mournful countenance, and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him. He understood the case; He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and doubting spirit. While the paralytic was yet at home, the Saviour had brought conviction to his conscience. When he repented of his sins, and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole, the life-giving mercies of the Saviour had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was the sinner’s only helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into His presence.{DA 268.1}

Now, in words that fell like music on the sufferer’s ear, the Saviour said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”{DA 268.2}

The burden of despair rolls from the sick man’s soul; the peace of forgiveness rests upon his spirit, and shines out upon his countenance. His physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. The helpless paralytic is healed! the guilty sinner is pardoned!{DA 268.3}

In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new life. He urged no further request, but lay in blissful silence, too happy for words. The light of heaven irradiated his countenance, and the people looked with awe upon the scene.{DA 268.4}

The rabbis had waited anxiously to see what disposition Christ would make of this case. They recollected how the man had appealed to them for help, and they had refused him hope or sympathy. Not satisfied with this, they had declared that he was suffering the curse of God for his sins. These things came fresh to their minds when they saw the sick man before them. They marked the interest with which all were watching the scene, and they felt a terrible fear of losing their own influence over the people.{DA 268.5}

These dignitaries did not exchange words together, but looking into one another’s faces they read the same thought in each, that something must be done to arrest the tide of feeling. Jesus had declared that the sins of the paralytic were forgiven. The Pharisees caught at these words as blasphemy, and conceived that they could present this as a sin worthy of death. They said in their hearts, “He blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but One, even God?” Mark 2:7, R. V.{DA 269.1}

Fixing His glance upon them, beneath which they cowered, and drew back, Jesus said, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,” He said, turning to the paralytic, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”{DA 269.2}

Then he who had been borne on a litter to Jesus rises to his feet with the elasticity and strength of youth. The life-giving blood bounds through his veins. Every organ of his body springs into sudden activity. The glow of health succeeds the pallor of approaching death. “And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”{DA 269.3}

Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer?{DA 269.4}

It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation “spake, and it was,” who “commanded, and it stood fast,” (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, “that ye may know,” He said, “that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” {DA 269.5}

The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, “Thy sins are forgiven.” The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body.{DA 270.1}

Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil.” “In Him was life,” and He says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He is “a quickening spirit.” 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He “forgiveth all thine iniquities,” He “healeth all thy diseases.” Psalm 103:3.{DA 270.2}

The effect produced upon the people by the healing of the paralytic was as if heaven had opened, and revealed the glories of the better world. As the man who had been cured passed through the multitude, blessing God at every step, and bearing his burden as if it were a feather’s weight, the people fell back to give him room, and with awe-stricken faces gazed upon him, whispering softly among themselves, “We have seen strange things today.”{DA 270.3}

The Pharisees were dumb with amazement and overwhelmed with defeat. They saw that here was no opportunity for their jealousy to inflame the multitude. The wonderful work wrought upon the man whom they had given over to the wrath of God had so impressed the people that the rabbis were for the time forgotten. They saw that Christ possessed a power which they had ascribed to God alone; yet the gentle dignity of His manner was in marked contrast to their own haughty bearing. They were disconcerted and abashed, recognizing, but not confessing, the presence of a superior being. The stronger the evidence that Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins, the more firmly they entrenched themselves in unbelief. From the home of Peter, where they had seen the paralytic restored by His word, they went away to invent new schemes for silencing the Son of God. {DA 270.4}

Physical disease, however malignant and deep-seated, was healed by the power of Christ; but the disease of the soul took a firmer hold upon those who closed their eyes against the light. Leprosy and palsy were not so terrible as bigotry and unbelief.{DA 271.1}

In the home of the healed paralytic there was great rejoicing when he returned to his family, carrying with ease the couch upon which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short time before. They gathered round with tears of joy, scarcely daring to believe their eyes. He stood before them in the full vigor of manhood. Those arms that they had seen lifeless were quick to obey his will. The flesh that had been shrunken and leaden-hued was now fresh and ruddy. He walked with a firm, free step. Joy and hope were written in every lineament of his countenance; and an expression of purity and peace had taken the place of the marks of sin and suffering. Glad thanksgiving went up from that home, and God was glorified through His Son, who had restored hope to the hopeless, and strength to the stricken one. This man and his family were ready to lay down their lives for Jesus. No doubt dimmed their faith, no unbelief marred their fealty to Him who had brought light into their darkened home.{DA 271.2

iii-Ministry of Healing 73-79 Many of those who came to Christ for help had brought disease upon themselves, yet He did not refuse to heal them. And when virtue from Him entered into these souls, they were convicted of sin, and many were healed of their spiritual disease as well as of their physical maladies.{MH 73.1}

Among these was the paralytic at Capernaum. Like the leper, this paralytic had lost all hope of recovery. His disease was the result of a sinful life, and his sufferings were embittered by remorse. In vain he had appealed to the Pharisees and doctors for relief; they pronounced him incurable, they denounced him as a sinner and declared that he would die under the wrath of God.{MH 73.2}

The palsied man had sunk into despair. Then he heard of the works of Jesus. Others, as sinful and helpless as he, had been healed, and he was encouraged to believe that he, too, might be cured if he could be carried to the Saviour. But hope fell as he remembered the cause of his malady, yet he could not cast away the possibility of healing.{MH 73.3}

His great desire was relief from the burden of sin. He longed to see Jesus and receive the assurance of forgiveness and peace with heaven. Then he would be content to live or to die, according to God’s will.{MH 74.1}

There was no time to lose; already his wasted flesh bore signs of death. He besought his friends to carry him on his bed to Jesus, and this they gladly undertook to do. But so dense was the crowd that had assembled in and about the house where the Saviour was, that it was impossible for the sick man and his friends to reach Him, or even to come within hearing of His voice. Jesus was teaching in the home of Peter. According to their custom, His disciples sat close about Him, and “there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem.” Luke 5:17, A.R.V. Many of these had come as spies, seeking an accusation against Jesus. Beyond these thronged the promiscuous multitude, the eager, the reverent, the curious, and the unbelieving. Different nationalities and all grades of society were represented. “And the power of the Lord was present to heal.” Verse 17. The Spirit of life brooded over the assembly, but Pharisees and doctors did not discern His presence. They felt no sense of need, and the healing was not for them. “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.” Luke 1:53. {MH 74.2}

Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way through the crowd, but in vain. The sick man looked about him in unutterable anguish. How could he relinquish hope when the longed-for help was so near? At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top of the house and, breaking up the roof, let him down at the feet of Jesus.{MH 75.1}

The discourse was interrupted. The Saviour looked upon the mournful countenance and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him. Well He knew the longing of that burdened soul. It was Christ who had brought conviction to his conscience when he was yet at home. When he repented of his sins and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole, the mercy of the Saviour had blessed his heart. Jesus had watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a conviction that He was the sinner’s only helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into His presence. It was Christ who had drawn the sufferer to Himself. Now, in words that fell like music on the listener’s ear, the Saviour said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:2. {MH 75.2}

The burden of guilt rolls from the sick man’s soul. He cannot doubt. Christ’s words reveal His power to read the heart. Who can deny His power to forgive sins? Hope takes the place of despair, and joy of oppressive gloom. The man’s physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. Making no further request, he lay in peaceful silence, too happy for words.{MH 76.1}

Many were watching with breathless interest every movement in this strange transaction. Many felt that Christ’s words were an invitation to them. Were they not soul-sick because of sin? Were they not anxious to be freed from this burden?{MH 76.2}

But the Pharisees, fearful of losing their influence with the multitude, said in their hearts, “He blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but One, even God?” Mark 2:7, R.V.{MH 76.3}

Fixing His glance upon them, beneath which they cowered and drew back, Jesus said, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,” He said, turning to the paralytic, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” Matthew 9:4-6. {MH 76.4}

Then he who had been borne on a litter to Jesus rose to his feet with the elasticity and strength of youth. And immediately he “took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” Mark 2:12.{MH 77.1}

It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth, had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at creation “spake, and it was,” who “commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, “that ye may know,” He said, “that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.”{MH 77.2}

The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. He needed health of soul before he could appreciate health of body. Before the physical malady could be healed, Christ must bring relief to the mind, and cleanse the soul from sin. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, “Thy sins are forgiven.” The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can impart would restore vigor to the mind and health to the body.{MH 77.3}

The effect produced upon the people by the healing of the paralytic was as if heaven had opened and revealed the glories of the better world. As the man who had been cured passed through the throng, blessing God at every step and bearing his burden as if it were a feather’s weight, the people fell back to give him room and with awe-stricken faces gazed upon him, whispering softly among themselves, “We have seen strange things today.” Luke 5:26. {MH 78.1}

In the home of the paralytic there was great rejoicing when he returned to his family, carrying with ease the couch upon which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short time before. They gathered round with tears of joy, hardly daring to believe their eyes. He stood before them in the full vigor of manhood. Those arms that they had seen lifeless were quick to obey his will. The flesh that had been shrunken and leaden-hued was now fresh and ruddy. He walked with a firm, free step. Joy and hope were written in every lineament of his countenance, and an expression of purity and peace had taken the place of the marks of sin and suffering. Glad thanksgiving went up from that home, and God was glorified through His Son, who had restored hope to the hopeless and strength to the stricken one. This man and his family were ready to lay down their lives for Jesus. No doubt dimmed their faith, no unbelief marred their fealty to Him who had brought light into their darkened home.{MH 79.1}

“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 forgiveth all thine iniquities;

Who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;...

So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executeth righteousness

And judgment for all that are oppressed....

He hath not dealt with us after our sins;

Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities....

Like as a father pitieth his children,

So the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

For He knoweth our frame;

He remembereth that we are dust.”{MH 79.2}

Psalm 103:1-14

iv-Malachi 4:5 "But before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah. 6 He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country."

v-James 5:13 Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises.

vi-Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 "How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!" 8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, "Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!" 12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Hebrews 12:12 Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees! 13 Keep walking on straight paths, so that the lame foot may not be disabled, but instead be healed.

1 Peter 2:24 Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed. 25 You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.

vii-James 5:17 Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. 18 Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops.

viii-Deuteronomy 11:13 "So then, obey the commands that I have given you today; love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart. 14 If you do, he will send rain on your land when it is needed, in the autumn and in the spring, so that there will be grain, wine, and olive oil for you, 15 and grass for your livestock. You will have all the food you want. 16 Do not let yourselves be led away from the Lord to worship and serve other gods. 17 If you do, the Lord will become angry with you. He will hold back the rain, and your ground will become too dry for crops to grow. Then you will soon die there, even though it is a good land that he is giving you.

ix-Deuteronomy 11:1 "Love the Lord your God and always obey all his laws. 2 Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him. It was you, not your children, who had these experiences. You saw the Lord's greatness, his power, his might, 3 and his miracles. You saw what he did to the king of Egypt and to his entire country. 4 You saw how the Lord completely wiped out the Egyptian army, along with their horses and chariots, by drowning them in the Red Sea when they were pursuing you. 5 You know what the Lord did for you in the desert before you arrived here. 6 You recall what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab of the tribe of Reuben. In the sight of everyone the earth opened up and swallowed them, along with their families, their tents, and all their servants and animals. 7 Yes, you are the ones who have seen all these great things that the Lord has done. 8 "Obey everything that I have commanded you today. Then you will be able to cross the river and occupy the land that you are about to enter. 9 And you will live a long time in the rich and fertile land that the Lord promised to give your ancestors and their descendants. 10 The land that you are about to occupy is not like the land of Egypt, where you lived before. There, when you planted grain, you had to work hard to irrigate the fields; 11 but the land that you are about to enter is a land of mountains and valleys, a land watered by rain. 12 The Lord your God takes care of this land and watches over it throughout the year. 13 "So then, obey the commands that I have given you today; love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart. 14 If you do, he will send rain on your land when it is needed, in the autumn and in the spring, so that there will be grain, wine, and olive oil for you, 15 and grass for your livestock. You will have all the food you want. 16 Do not let yourselves be led away from the Lord to worship and serve other gods. 17 If you do, the Lord will become angry with you. He will hold back the rain, and your ground will become too dry for crops to grow. Then you will soon die there, even though it is a good land that he is giving you. 18 "Remember these commands and cherish them. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. 21 Then you and your children will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God promised to give to your ancestors. You will live there as long as there is a sky above the earth. 22 "Obey faithfully everything that I have commanded you: Love the Lord your God, do everything he commands, and be faithful to him. 23 Then he will drive out all those nations as you advance, and you will occupy the land belonging to nations greater and more powerful than you. 24 All the ground that you march over will be yours. Your territory will extend from the desert in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 25 Wherever you go in that land, the Lord your God will make the people fear you, as he has promised, and no one will be able to stop you. 26 "Today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse - 27 a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 but a curse, if you disobey these commands and turn away to worship other gods that you have never worshiped before. 29 When the Lord brings you into the land that you are going to occupy, you are to proclaim the blessing from Mount Gerizim and the curse from Mount Ebal. 30 (These two mountains are west of the Jordan River in the territory of the Canaanites who live in the Jordan Valley. They are toward the west, not far from the sacred trees of Moreh near the town of Gilgal.) 31 You are about to cross the Jordan River and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. When you take it and settle there, 32 be sure to obey all the laws that I am giving you today.

x-1 Kings 17:1 A prophet named Elijah, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to King Ahab, "In the name of the Lord, the living God of Israel, whom I serve, I tell you that there will be no dew or rain for the next two or three years until I say so."

xi-Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I was studying the sacred books and thinking about the seventy years that Jerusalem would be in ruins, according to what the Lord had told the prophet Jeremiah. 3 And I prayed earnestly to the Lord God, pleading with him, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.

xii-Malachi 4:5 "But before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah. 6 He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country."

xiii-James 5:19 My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again, 20 remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Luke 1:16 and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him."

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do,

xiv-Matt. 10:8 Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid.

xv-James 5:16 So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.

xvi-James 5:17 Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. 18 Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops. 19 My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again, 20 remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

xvii-James 5:14 Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord.

xviii-Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 "How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!" 8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, "Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!" 12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" 13 Jesus went back again to the shore of Lake Galilee. A crowd came to him, and he started teaching them. 14 As he walked along, he saw a tax collector, Levi son of Alphaeus, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Levi got up and followed him. 15 Later on Jesus was having a meal in Levi's house. A large number of tax collectors and other outcasts was following Jesus, and many of them joined him and his disciples at the table. 16 Some teachers of the Law, who were Pharisees, saw that Jesus was eating with these outcasts and tax collectors, so they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such people?" 17 Jesus heard them and answered, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts." 18 On one occasion the followers of John the Baptist and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and asked him, "Why is it that the disciples of John the Baptist and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but yours do not?" 19 Jesus answered, "Do you expect the guests at a wedding party to go without food? Of course not! As long as the bridegroom is with them, they will not do that. 20 But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 21 "No one uses a piece of new cloth to patch up an old coat, because the new patch will shrink and tear off some of the old cloth, making an even bigger hole. 22 Nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, because the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins." 23 Jesus was walking through some wheat fields on a Sabbath. As his disciples walked along with him, they began to pick the heads of wheat. 24 So the Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do that on the Sabbath!" 25 Jesus answered, "Have you never read what David did that time when he needed something to eat? He and his men were hungry, 26 so he went into the house of God and ate the bread offered to God. This happened when Abiathar was the High Priest. According to our Law only the priests may eat this bread - but David ate it and even gave it to his men." 27 And Jesus concluded, "The Sabbath was made for the good of human beings; they were not made for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Matthew 9:1 Jesus got into the boat and went back across the lake to his own town, 2 where some people brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven." 3 Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, "This man is speaking blasphemy!" 4 Jesus perceived what they were thinking, and so he said, "Why are you thinking such evil things? 5 Is it easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Get up and walk'? 6 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your bed, and go home!" 7 The man got up and went home. 8 When the people saw it, they were afraid, and praised God for giving such authority to people. 9 Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, "Follow me." Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other outcasts came and joined Jesus and his disciples at the table. 11 Some Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such people?" 12 Jesus heard them and answered, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. 13 Go and find out what is meant by the scripture that says: "It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.' I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts." 14 Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, asking, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast at all?" 15 Jesus answered, "Do you expect the guests at a wedding party to be sad as long as the bridegroom is with them? Of course not! But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 "No one patches up an old coat with a piece of new cloth, for the new patch will shrink and make an even bigger hole in the coat. 17 Nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, for the skins will burst, the wine will pour out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and both will keep in good condition." 18 While Jesus was saying this, a Jewish official came to him, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter has just died; but come and place your hands on her, and she will live." 19 So Jesus got up and followed him, and his disciples went along with him. 20 A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, "If only I touch his cloak, I will get well." 22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well." At that very moment the woman became well. 23 Then Jesus went into the official's house. When he saw the musicians for the funeral and the people all stirred up, 24 he said, "Get out, everybody! The little girl is not dead - she is only sleeping!" Then they all started making fun of him. 25 But as soon as the people had been put out, Jesus went into the girl's room and took hold of her hand, and she got up. 26 The news about this spread all over that part of the country. 27 Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, two blind men started following him. "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" they shouted. 28 When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I can heal you?" "Yes, sir!" they answered. 29 Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Let it happen, then, just as you believe!" - 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus spoke sternly to them, "Don't tell this to anyone!" 31 But they left and spread the news about Jesus all over that part of the country. 32 As the men were leaving, some people brought to Jesus a man who could not talk because he had a demon. 33 But as soon as the demon was driven out, the man started talking, and everyone was amazed. "We have never seen anything like this in Israel!" they exclaimed. 34 But the Pharisees said, "It is the chief of the demons who gives Jesus the power to drive out demons." 35 Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and healed people with every kind of disease and sickness. 36 As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 So he said to his disciples, "The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. 38 Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest."

xix-2 Kings 5:8 When the prophet Elisha heard what had happened, he sent word to the king: "Why are you so upset? Send the man to me, and I'll show him that there is a prophet in Israel!" 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariot and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a servant out to tell him to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan River, and he would be completely cured of his disease. 11 But Naaman left in a rage, saying, "I thought that he would at least come out to me, pray to the Lord his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me! 12 Besides, aren't the rivers Abana and Pharpar, back in Damascus, better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured!" 13 His servants went up to him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can't you just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?" 14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child. 15 He returned to Elisha with all his men and said, "Now I know that there is no god but the God of Israel; so please, sir, accept a gift from me."

xx-2 Corinthians 12:7 But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud.

Genesis 32:25 When the man saw that he was not winning the struggle, he hit Jacob on the hip, and it was thrown out of joint.

xxi-James 5:15 This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven.

xxii-James 5:16 So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.

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