Quest 18
“Does Jesus care about my pain?”
What we are really asking is
“Will Jesus heal me and deliver me from pain?”
The answer to “Does Jesus care about my pain?” is YES. The answer to “Will Jesus heal me and deliver me from pain?” is perhaps but most likely NO.
Forget the TV evangelists and preachers who promote healings. Here’s an example from a church web page – God Wants You Healed (How to cooperate with Him)
Evidently the Apostle Paul didn’t cooperate with God (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV) - A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
The bigger picture about pain -
JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 NKJV
1. Sickness, pain, and death are the works of the devil.
God said death would enter the world through sin. (Genesis 2:17 NKJV) – “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Satan said God was wrong (Genesis 3:4 NKJV) - Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.” Jesus said Satan is a “liar” (John 8:44 NIV) – “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Sickness is on the continuum of death or on the road to death.
Romans 5:12 NKJV- Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.
2. The healings of Jesus were a window into the future.
Example of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31 NKJV) - As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
This is the future (Revelation 20:10, 14; 21:4 NKJV) – “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. . . Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. . . And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
3. Death is the permanent healing for the Christian.
Jesus’ healings were temporary. The New Earth is not here yet.
Jesus described the healing of the righteous at death in the story of the rich man and the beggar (Luke 16:25 NKJV) - But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
We don’t need to fear death (Hebrews 2:14-15 NKJV) - Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil , and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
4. Open windows to the future – Help relieve the pain in others.
Relieve pain and suffering for Jesus (Matthew 25:34-36 NKJV) - Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
God comforts us that we may comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Keep the picture of the future Eden in your mind this week.
