jesus, the celebrated healer
More healing stories are told about Jesus than any other figure in the Jewish tradition. He must have been a remarkable healer. --Marcus Borg
Visio Divina
Visio divina is a form of divine seeing in which we prayerfully invite God to speak to our hearts as we look at an image. Allow the image above to speak to your heart, without any particular agenda. It might speak to you in words or wordlessly.
- What emotions does the picture evoke?
- Which parts of the picture capture your attention?
- If you were in the image, where would you place yourself ?
- Is God speaking to you in this image?
Jesus Heals the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door, and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people[a] came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves, and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat, and go to your home.” And he stood up and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Reflection:
"Jesus’ healings illustrate the compassion of God for outcasts and the priority of people over laws." (From "A Portrait of Jesus."
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door, and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people[a] came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves, and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat, and go to your home.” And he stood up and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Reflection:
"Jesus’ healings illustrate the compassion of God for outcasts and the priority of people over laws." (From "A Portrait of Jesus."
- What transformation occurred in the life of the paralytic and those who witnessed his healing?
- How might we be compassionate channels of God’s healing for those in our world who are in need of physical, mental, and/or social healing?
Healing/Curing
In a scientific age, we greet with skepticism claims of supernatural intervention in our daily lives. How can we reframe the gospel witness of 'Jesus the Healer' in ways that ring true to both our view of the world and our faith that the sacred arc of life bends toward wholeness and wellness?
With these thoughts in mind, read "How Jesus Heals and Why" (CLICK HERE).
(Note: If you wish to listen to the article as you read, there is a link at the end of the article.)
With these thoughts in mind, read "How Jesus Heals and Why" (CLICK HERE).
(Note: If you wish to listen to the article as you read, there is a link at the end of the article.)
Reflections
As you reflect upon what you have learned about Jesus as healer:
- How do you view Jesus differently?
- How might Jesus as healer make a difference in your life or in the life of someone you know?