Date of message: 17 November 2002
Subject: Jesus Wants Us Whole

Shalom, Boker-tov (good morning),
This morning I was reminded of the account of the woman who was caught in adultery and the religious leaders brought her to Jesus to test Him and hopefully catch Him with enough evidence to incriminate Him ( John 8: 1 - 11 ). That was a big mistake because as they failed to recognize the Author of the Law Himself who they were attempting to catch off-guard. Not only did they leave empty-handed without the necessary evidence but they probably had a few bruised egos as well. Jesus restored the woman by forgiving her of her sins and then He told her to go and sin no more.

Only when a person understands the full extents of His forgiveness will he/ she be able to go forth and live a righteous life. It is pointless to instruct people to go and "sin no more" until they have been told the wonderful news that Jesus the Saviour had delivered them from their sin and that it is possible to live a life of righteousness knowing their new positions in Christ.
In Luke 17: 11 - 19 we read of the story of how ten lepers came to Jesus as He was passing through their area. They cried out to the Lord to heal them and Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. Now according to the law given to Moses, anyone who was stricken with leprosy had to be isolated/ ostracized from the rest of the people; they had to live in leper colonies outside the village/ towns separated even from their loved ones.

Leviticus chapter 14 further laid down the instructions for the leper who had been healed. He was to bring a sacrifice to God and to show himself to the priest who would then certify that he had indeed been healed.
All ten of them believed Jesus at His word and they went forth but one of them, a Samaritan, turned back to Jesus, the true High Priest of God, and received a greater healing. It is true that all ten lepers were healed of their disease but I believe that this Samaritan leper received more than the rest. He had the personal touch of Jesus through His reassurance and I also think Jesus made him whole. Leprosy eats away the flesh and eventually limbs ( fingers, toes and, in extreme cases, ears and eyes ) drop off. This leper probably had his limbs restored for Jesus told him, "Your faith has made you whole". He experienced a personal miracle of healing and I know he also had a tremendous restoration of relationships. His family received him with gladness and there was great rejoicing.

I remember the story of Michal who was stricken with internal haemorrhage for twelve years. When Michal first discovered her medical condition, she took no notice of it as she though it was her monthly menstrual cycle but as the bleeding continued even between her cycles, she began to worry. She decided to consult her doctor but he could not diagnose her condition and therefore he could not give her the appropriate medication. Soon she turned to other doctors and through them she went on to specialists but none of them could do anything for her as they, like her family doctor, could not diagnose her medical condition. She tried all means and soon her life savings were depleted and still she did not know what was wrong with herself nor the cure.

One day, she heard some commotion in the village. They were many people who had gathered and were excited that the great Teacher and Miracle Healer had finally come home to her village in Capernaum. She decided that she should not miss up on the opportunity since she had heard so much about this Person Who was able to heal all sicknesses and even raise the dead. "This Person must be sent from God," Michal thought to herself, "and if that be the case, I will go and receive my healing from Him."

And so, wrapping herself up ( for a person with her medical condition was considered unclean and cannot mix with the crowds or she would contaminate the rest ) so that she would not be recognized, she joined the crowd and made her way to the front so that she could ask the Lord personally to heal her. Soon the crowd grew and grew and it became more difficult for her to go right to the front. She jostled and pushed her way and as soon as she got a glimpse of Jesus' back, she resolved in her heart that if she could only touch the hem of the prayer shawl, she would be made whole. Inch by inch she made her way and she came nearer and nearer until she could finally bend over and touch the hem of Jesus' outer garments.

Immediately a strong warm sensation passed over her body and she was healed immediately. Suddenly, Jesus stopped, turned around and asked His disciples who had touched Him for their healing. His disciples, not realizing what had just taken place, began to reason with Jesus that there was a great crowd and that there might have been someone who had brushed against Him and therefore He could have felt that push. However, Jesus, knowing what had transpired, continued with His questions to His disciples and Michal, realizing what had happened to her, finally came forward, knelt before Jesus and testified that it was indeed she who had touched the hem of Jesus' garments.

Her testimony drew favour from the Lord Jesus and He encouraged her by declaring that it was her faith that had made her well. Michal was not only healed of her haemorrhage condition but her dignity was restored. She did not have to avoid the crowds any more as she had been made whole. ( You can read this story in Luke 8: 43 - 48 )
Everyone who came to Jesus asking for a miracle of healing from Him received them. Dr Luke told us in Luke 4: 40 that they brought all those who were sick with various diseases at sunset and Jesus healed them all. Not one who had come to Him for his healing remained in that condition but were excited as they left cleansed and healed of all their diseases.
Our Lord Jesus came for one sole purpose and that purpose is to give life to all who would take it. He came to give us life and that we should live more abundantly ( John 10: 10 ). Jesus could have just walked away from Michal that day and she would still have her miracle of healing. But if that had been the case, then Michal would not have received such a restoration.

So how about you my friend? Have you received this life that our Lord Jesus paid with His life to give us? You too can experience His fullness of life by just putting your trust in Him and believing Him as the Saviour of you soul and of your spirit. Take a couple of moments to pray this prayer asking Jesus to come into your heart.

Our Abba Father, thank you that Your love is so measureless that it compels You to send us Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came, loved You and loved us and was obedient to You even to the point that He died for all our sins and now we are made righteous before Your presence.

Thank you Lord Jesus that You took all our curses in Your body so that we can receive Your blessings in our lives. Thank you that we are made righteous by Your righteousness and that we are now children of the LORD and joint heirs with You in Your kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus, into my heart and take up precedence over my life.

Thank You Father that because of Your Beloved Son's death, I am now a child of Yours and I am greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved. Thank you and I pray all these in the most precious and holy name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Yeshua Ha'Mashiarch (Jesus, the anointed One). Amen.

If you have prayed that prayer for the first time, welcome to the Family of the Father (and it is a very large universal family). It is important that you are not alone facing your personal trials but that you can obtain good help wherever you are. Why not take the time to find your own local Christian family (local church) and worship the Father together? You will be greatly encouraged when you meet together to worship the Father, for fellowship and for the study of the Word of Christ.

The Lord blesses you and keeps you,
The Lord makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and all your loved ones,
The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you His shalom peace.
Numbers 6: 24 - 26

Have a blessed week ahead, Shavrou-tov
Shalom,
Andrew L W Lee

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