Young’s Analytical Concordance to The Bible identifies the second use of the word ‘Faith’ (pistis) in the New Testament pericope known as ‘The Healing of The Paralytic’. It is a Triple Tradition and this faith event is the first use of this word for Faith by both Mark and Luke. (It is the task of the New Testament Redaction scholar to look at the prominence that Matthew alone places on ‘The Centurion’s Servant’ faith event in his Gospel); but, turning now to “The Healing of The Paralytic”— (Matthew 9:1-8); (Mark 2:1-12) and (Luke 5:17-26). Jesus came home to his own city and, here too, the word had spread of the power of ‘his word’ for healing.
It is no small thing that for the second time, New Testament faith begins with the belief that Jesus can heal. Faith is healing. Healing is… Faith.
I am reminded of my responsibilities for the Sick and Shut-in Ministry at both Salem (Harlem) and Central (Atlanta) which at both churches, this task came with the position of Associate to the Pastor. Coming to terms with the fact that SICKNESS— in all of it’s varying degrees and forms, (not bound by gender, race, economics, age) —KNOWS no discrimination! Sickness, I suspect, is the most humbling experience of a life. The most cheerful life; the most prideful and arrogant; the atheist, the wealthiest; the most disinherited life— all experience a transition in both personality and character when affliction comes. Sickness is a disruption of all things that a person has deemed ‘important’ as to what their ‘daily grind’ has become. Funny how the “time out for sickness” causes the world to just simple… Go On… without you.
In 2020 America “declared itself a Sick Nation”. It’s most important workings were ‘shut down’ and ‘shut out’… of life! The Church was closed by the order of the same men who proved helpless and hopeless as servants of… ‘A God That Heals’. This ‘sick faith’, as I experienced it, ran INSIDE the narrative of avarice and greed. Sent… as apostles… to work out a faith-less-ness —Void of Congregation. Along with Education… Sent… to now work out the most important entities of “people life” — Society and Culture in a ‘controlled environment’… the ‘Light AND the Dark (spider) WEB’.
“Why can’t we cast it out?” This emergence as a ‘sick nation’ now dependent upon a ‘medical industrial complex’… for healing! “This Kind…”
To be sure, many of the world’s greatest men and women of faith recant their faith journey’s beginning, renewal or ‘new life’ (‘born again-ness’) at a point when healing came. The more deadly the disease the more praise worthy the healing.
Sickness is not just the physical condition, but is also psychological in diagnosis. I can’t help but continue to recognize the “3/5th of a person” law which was legislated upon the African in slavery in America. The result of which is not lost upon the descendants. Many personality disorders that require ‘knowing they exist’ in order to ‘seek healing’. The anger, the violence that erupts so readily in our times leads me to see clearly how and why New Testament faith begins with the belief that ‘Jesus can heal.’ Not yet declared ‘A Sick Nation’… in these things.
It is clear that Jesus is looking at your faith, my faith! The Centurion came to Jesus seeking healing for his servant and Jesus saw his faith. Now, those close to the paralytic bring him to Jesus for healing, and he saw their faith.
Healing is spiritual. Sin sickness! “There’s a stranger in the city, He’s healing!”. I heard them sing it— “I just got the news this morning, healing! A stranger in the city, healing. He’s healing the body, Jesus is healing, the sin sick soul.”
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