I am the Lord who heals you. Exodus 15:26  

As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to Jesus; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Luke 4:40  

Verse 26 is a longer verse then we see today; we are reading the last phrase. This verse follows the account of the bitter water the people encounter as they have left Egypt continue on their journey. As they grumble about having no water to drink, Moses cries out to the Lord. God shows Moses a piece of wood, he throws this into the water and the water is now sweet. Then the Lord makes a decree that He will not bring the diseases that were sent to the Egyptians to His people. There is a caveat however – IF they listen to the Lord and do what is right. Follow the decrees and laws set down for them. Then the diseases won’t be sent. That verse then ends with “I am the Lord who heals you.”   

That sounds like even though diseases will come among us, even though water may be bitter, the Lord can heal us, and can make water sweet again. Obviously the people travelling along with Moses didn’t listen very well, and certainly didn’t follow all the decrees and laws. Sort of like what we do. We mean to listen and do what is right in God’s eyes, but we mess up often. So can we be healed?  

Then we read in Luke of the healing that Jesus does. He has just healed Peter’s mother-in-law and then gone outside near sunset. The Sabbath was ending and many people with a variety of diseases were brought to Jesus. Physical diseases and more. He laid His hands on each of them, and they were healed. There is no mention of whether or not they had faith, whether they were following God’s laws. No mention that they had to repent or do anything other than ask for healing. That was all; just ask to be healed and Jesus healed them. Not only from physical diseases, but the next verse says many demons also came out of people.   

Notice also that Luke says: “laid His hands on each of them.” Each person had their individual encounter, and received healing from Jesus. We too can claim this healing. There is nothing we need to do to earn it; it is purely through the grace of God that we can be healed in mind, body, and spirit.   

Great physician, place your healing hands upon our hearts. Lay your hands upon our various kinds of diseases: cancer, alcoholism, diabetes, racism, heart disease, and hatred. Lay your hands on all of us with these illnesses and heal us. We thank you Lord for your healing grace, through Jesus Christ.  Amen.  

Chris Gabel 

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party