BEING A COMMUNITY OF HEALING AND PRAYER
Mark 2:1-12
James 5:13-16
Mark 2:1-12 and Mark 3:1-6 are both "controversy" stories where the religious powers that be question the authority of Christ. In the Mark 2 passage, it is Jesus' authority to forgive; in Mark 3, it is his authority to heal on the sabbath. In the story of the paralytic from Mark 2, it is demonstrated what the faith in the authority of Jesus to forgive and to heal can impact others in need of forgiveness and healing.
James 5:13-16
Mark 2:1-12 and Mark 3:1-6 are both "controversy" stories where the religious powers that be question the authority of Christ. In the Mark 2 passage, it is Jesus' authority to forgive; in Mark 3, it is his authority to heal on the sabbath. In the story of the paralytic from Mark 2, it is demonstrated what the faith in the authority of Jesus to forgive and to heal can impact others in need of forgiveness and healing.
After a few days, Jesus went back to Capernaum, and people heard that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them. Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed. They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven!” (Mark 2:1-5, CEB)
When Jesus saw their faith ... faith that witnessed their confidence in Christ's authority to forgive and to heal. In an act of prayer, they brought their friend, whom they so loved him that they would tear a whole in the roof of a house, and laid him at the feet of Jesus.
I can relate to the paralytic. There have been times in my live when I've felt paralyized, not able to move forward out of the circumstances I find myself in. Sometimes, it has been because of some sin that I've been stubbornly hanging on to, refusing to confess it and unwilling to change. Some times it was something in my past that I haven't been able to let go of or forgive myself for an unloving or ill-thought out action.
Maybe that was the case of the paralyzed man, feeling so unworthy that he couldn't believe God could forgive him because he certainly can't forgive himself. The healing he needed was to hear from Christ, God in flesh, has forgiven him.
I've also experienced suffering, emotional or physical pain so great it becomes the focus of my life. I can't see beyond it. It's a time when it's difficult to sense the presence of God with me.
Those are the times when I've needed the encouragement and caring of those who trust in the authority of Christ to heal and forgive to carry me into the hearling presence of Christ through their presence and prayers with me.
James 5:16 says that the prayer of a righteous person (one who is right with God through Jesus Christ and trusts in the authority of Christ to heal and forgive) is powerful in what it can achieve.
In times of suffering and illness, whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual, we of the Body of Christ are called to come together in prayer for that person, people or situation, and lift them up in prayer into the healing presence of Jesus.
When we're struggling to let go of some unproductive behavior, when we are trying to make a change in our life so we can be more loving and closer to God, the passage from James reminds us that we don't have to go it alone. Other Christians can provide guidance, support and encouragement.
The church as the Body of Christ is called to be a community of prayer and healing. It is a gift to the people of God to provide a safe place where confidences are kept and judgements are not made. God's intention for the church, as the body of Christ, is to share the unconditional love of God with one another and the world as we carry on Christ's healing ministry through our compassion and prayers.
So, if there are any who are sick among us, let us pray over they, anointing them with oil in the name of Jesus Christ, and the Lord will restore them according to His will. If there are those who are battling sin in their lives, pray with and for them, and they will be forgiven and healed.
For the prayers of the rightgeous are powerful.
I can relate to the paralytic. There have been times in my live when I've felt paralyized, not able to move forward out of the circumstances I find myself in. Sometimes, it has been because of some sin that I've been stubbornly hanging on to, refusing to confess it and unwilling to change. Some times it was something in my past that I haven't been able to let go of or forgive myself for an unloving or ill-thought out action.
Maybe that was the case of the paralyzed man, feeling so unworthy that he couldn't believe God could forgive him because he certainly can't forgive himself. The healing he needed was to hear from Christ, God in flesh, has forgiven him.
I've also experienced suffering, emotional or physical pain so great it becomes the focus of my life. I can't see beyond it. It's a time when it's difficult to sense the presence of God with me.
Those are the times when I've needed the encouragement and caring of those who trust in the authority of Christ to heal and forgive to carry me into the hearling presence of Christ through their presence and prayers with me.
James 5:16 says that the prayer of a righteous person (one who is right with God through Jesus Christ and trusts in the authority of Christ to heal and forgive) is powerful in what it can achieve.
In times of suffering and illness, whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual, we of the Body of Christ are called to come together in prayer for that person, people or situation, and lift them up in prayer into the healing presence of Jesus.
When we're struggling to let go of some unproductive behavior, when we are trying to make a change in our life so we can be more loving and closer to God, the passage from James reminds us that we don't have to go it alone. Other Christians can provide guidance, support and encouragement.
The church as the Body of Christ is called to be a community of prayer and healing. It is a gift to the people of God to provide a safe place where confidences are kept and judgements are not made. God's intention for the church, as the body of Christ, is to share the unconditional love of God with one another and the world as we carry on Christ's healing ministry through our compassion and prayers.
So, if there are any who are sick among us, let us pray over they, anointing them with oil in the name of Jesus Christ, and the Lord will restore them according to His will. If there are those who are battling sin in their lives, pray with and for them, and they will be forgiven and healed.
For the prayers of the rightgeous are powerful.
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