Day Seven: Scenes on a Sabbath Day

Broken Tree

     Healing is often a controversial subject even among the Christian community. TV "healers" have overdramatized the faith healing movement and made skeptics due to their flash and show. Many believers have prayed for healing and never seen it. I spent hours in hands-on prayer praying for my husband to be healed. I was hurt when I was told by a fellow Christian that he wasn't healed because he didn't have enough faith. For a long time after that I was afraid to pray for healing for others, "What if my lack of faith causes them to lose their healing?" Now I realize that is ridiculous. God said, "No," and neither my husband or I could have "worked up" enough faith to change his mind.

Below the Broken Tree

            But I do not believe that one prayer that we prayed to heal him was wasted. Revelation 5:8 says, "....they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." God treasures our prayers so much that he saves them in golden bowls. When you are waiting on the results of a serious diagnosis, do you only call someone that can heal you or do you call your bestfriend and let them know how scared you are?
 We can't work up the perfect prayer of healing but we can let God know how we are feeling and share with him the desires of heart for healing for ourselves and others. And God keeps those prayers close to him. 

       As Beth Moore explains in today's chapter, Jesus showed us how compassionate God is toward individuals. Healing is not a big show for him. Jesus performed many healings privately and did not tape them for later broadcast on national television or the internet. He said, "Get up and walk," or  he stretched out his hand and helped someone up pronouncing them healed. Then he went into a solitary place to pray.

1. How do you suppose the sights and sounds of Jesus' first miracles impacted John and the other followers of Christ?
      If you saw Jesus on television healing people, you would probably change the channel and move on. But imagine if he showed up and healed a loved one that you knew had been suffering with a chronic illness and pain for ten years. The closer you are to the pain and suffering the less skeptical you would be of the miracle. Imagine if he told you he was going to leave you with the same power to do that kind of healing through the Holy Spirit. I imagine John and the other followers were getting pretty excited at this point.

STUDY GUIDE:

• Follow along in JOHN: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore pages 33-38
• Read Mark 1:29-34
• Answer the following questions in your study guide:

             1. How do you suppose the sights and sounds of Jesus' first miracles impacted John and the other followers of Christ?

             2. Think about the last time you encountered someone who was suffering terribly. What kinds of feelings did you have in response to their suffering?
             3. What would the world think if they could see the compassion that's on display in Jesus' treatment of people in the scene from Scripture? Assuming they may not be reading it any time soon, how could we help them see it in some other way?

• Share a brief highlight or two from your thoughts and answers in a comment posted to the group. (Read guidelines and cautions posted August 1, 2010 before you post).
• Read the comments of others and share your thoughts and encouragement with them by replying to their comments. Identify which post you are responding to by addressing them and their subject or pasteing a brief portion of their reply at the start of your post.

PRAY WITH ME:

Lord, I pray that each person reading this blog knows your compassion for them even in their suffering. You are concerned with each of us as individuals those that are blessed with your miraculous healing and those that continue to suffer. I pray that you ease the suffering of those afflicted with chronic pain, send comfort and encouragement to those facing a serious diagnosis, and support to those going through any kind of illness or poor health. Lord, we know that you are the healer and we pray for your miraculous healing. We pray you give each of us the blessing of good health and fit us to do you will. Comfort us in our suffering and hear our prayers. In Jesus name, Amen.