During this Holy Week, I’ve been thinking a lot about what Jesus might have looked like to those same people around him.  My thoughts turned toward those centurions and soldiers who had the job of leading Jesus to His crucifixion.

Aside from the fact that this was one of the world’s most brutal forms of punishment and torture, these soldiers also were able to get their frustrations out on the ones about to die – the criminals – as they were led toward their deaths.

It was the same with Jesus.  “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. ² The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. ³ “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.”  (John 19:1-3 NLT)

“The King of the Jews” … The venom literally drips from their mouths as they ridicule Him.  I can only imagine how these hail of insults hurt Him more than the physical abuse.

Being part of law enforcement as a chaplain and having served previously, I definitely understand the frustrations of the job, but I do not understand the sheer cruelty of actions like these upon Jesus.    And my heart aches today.

I know these men were acting completely in character.  Sport was made for who could humiliate the prisoner best.  Perhaps they didn’t know any better.  My heart aches for them.  And oh, how I see I see the contrast between these soldiers in the first century and the honorable men and women I currently serve with!

But my heart still aches.  But it really aches for Jesus today…for the agony He would endure…the pain and terror of the cross…and the darkness of death.  My Jesus willingly did this for me.  I would wish it never happened to Him…but then I would miss His gift.  He took my sins upon Himself and nailed them to the tree.  My heart aches.  But in that hurt, I praise the Gift-giver even more.

How about you?

After you read this, I’d love to hear what you think.  Drop me a line!  Blessings to you!

Mike

QUESTION #67: “In my med-school class we discussed the place of prayer in the hospital. As you can imagine, we heard strong opinions on both sides. What are your thoughts? What is the purpose of healing prayer?”

We tend toward one of two extremes on this subject: fanaticism or cynicism. Fanatics see the healing of the body as the aim of God and the measure of faith. Cynics consider any connection between prayer and healing as coincidental at best and misleading at worst. A fanatic might seek prayer at the exclusion of medicine; a cynic might seek medicine at the exclusion of prayer.

A healthy balance can be found. The physician is the friend of God. Prayer is the friend of the physician.

The example of Jesus is important.

Great crowds came to Jesus, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, those who could not speak, and many others. They put them at Jesus’ feet, and he healed them. The crowd was amazed when they saw that people who could not speak before were now able to speak. The crippled were made strong. The lame could walk, and the blind could see. And they praised the God of Israel for this. (Matt. 15:30–31 NCV)

What did the people do with the sick? They put them at Jesus’ feet. This is the purpose of praying for the ill. We place the sick at the feet of the Physician and request his touch.

This passage also gives us the result of healing prayer. “They praised the God of Israel for this.” The ultimate aim of healing is not just a healthy body but a greater kingdom. If God’s aim is to grant perfect health to all his children, he has failed, because no one enjoys perfect health, and everyone dies. But if God’s aim is to expand the boundaries of his kingdom, then he has succeeded. For every time he heals, a thousand sermons are preached.

Speaking of sermons, did you notice what is missing from this text? Preaching. Jesus stayed with these four thousand people for three days and, as far as we know, never preached a sermon. Not one time did he say, “May I have your attention?” But thousands of times he asked, “May I help you?” What compassion he had for them. Can you imagine the line of people? On crutches, wearing blindfolds, carried by friends, cradled by parents. For seventy-two hours Jesus stared into face after hurting face, and then he said, “I feel sorry for these people” (v. 32 NCV). The inexhaustible compassion of Jesus. Mark it down. Pain on earth causes pain in heaven. And he will stand and receive the ill as long as the ill come in faith to him.

And he will do what is right every time. “God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them” (Luke 18:7 NCV).

Healing prayer begs God to do what is right. My friend Dennis, a chaplain, offers this prayer over patients: “God, would you put on the surgical gloves first?”

I like that.