GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY
MODULE 24
HEALINGS AND DELIVERANCE
Objectives; By the end of this Module you should;
- Know about Divine Forgiveness
- Have knowledge about Jesus' Role as Healer and Forgiver
- Be equipped with knowledge of the deliverance ministry, exorcism
- Have knowledge about Jesus' institution of Baptism, Forgiveness and Deliverance
- Be able to give a sermon on Jesus' healings and deliverance ministry
Contents;
Jesus the Man - Jesus' Public Ministry
1. Healings and Deliverance
2. Greatest Suffering and Forgiveness
3. Deliverance Ministry
4. Deliverance from satan, the evil one
5. Baptism
6. Forgiveness
7. Exorcism
1. Healings and Deliverance
At the heart of the difficulties raised by Jesus' healings was the issue of forgiveness.
At the outset of His Messianic ministry, Jesus was perfectly willing to live within the rules of the purity system.
At the beginning of His career as preacher and healer, He insisted that a leper He had healed go and show himself to the priest and offer the prescribed thank-offering that Moses commanded, as a proof to them of the healing [Mark 1:40-44].
This would give the healed sufferer assurance of repatriation into the community. Further, it was a powerful testimony to the local priests that miraculous healings in fulfilment of the ancient prophecies and in accordance with the Law of Moses were taking place in the wider community at the Hands of Jesus.
Now was the time for local rabbis and Sanhedrin to rally and acclaim the Messiah among them. But things did not turn out that way.
As Jesus grew in confidence and ministry - and met with disbelief and rejection from leading religious authorities - He began dispensing with ritual purification and proofs for the priests.
He now pared healings and forgiveness down to a simple encounter between God and the individual, thus bypassing the Temple and synagogue purification and forgiveness rites.
Jesus did not unpick the fabric of a religious society; He just bypassed it. This infuriated religious authorities who felt their authority questioned and their influence undermined.
2. Greatest Suffering and Forgiveness
When the paralysed man begging for healing was let down through the roof's dismantled portion in the Capernaum house, Jesus saw the man's greatest suffering at once.
The afflicted was suffering from depression stemming from guilt and remorse resulting from negative past instances in his life.
Jesus forgave him. This brought the man lightness of heart, reconciliation with God and hope for the future again.
Jesus was thus living out the knowledge of His Divine Nature.
In essence, He was proclaiming, 'I am Forgiveness'.
The One with full power of forgiveness is God alone.
There was no mistaking the evidence; Jesus was forgiving sins as God.
This immediately landed Him in hot water with the Teachers of the Law.
They considered Jesus guilty of blasphemy.
Jesus knew what was in their hearts [and more than likely clearly written on their facial expressions].
Instead of backing down, He challenged them.
Jesus asked the Teachers of the Law which was easier; to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Get up and walk?' [Matthew 9:4-5].
Jesus then offered them the proof they needed, 'But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins ... He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' [Matthew 9:6].
The man's withered and contractured body slowly revitalized; fresh muscle and bone formed; dessicated brain areas, spinal cord and nerve pathways healed.
The physical healing reformed the man back to his vital self before the very eyes of the community around him; as revitalized as his spiritual self had been by the forgiveness of The One.
The man then got up, hoisted his mat - employable once again - and re-entered life with healed spirit and rejuvenated body.
A sign of the Kingdom of God, indeed.
All were amazed and praised God, including the Teachers of the Law; all exclaimed, "We have never seen anything like this!" [Mark 2:12].
The touching footnote to this healing is the affirmation of Jesus; His Godhood, looking at the withered and spiritually browbeaten man before the healing, saw the truth of their relationship; He tenderly called him 'Son'. [Mark 2:5].
Thus we begin to see that Jesus' healing of the sick was not only an act of kindness - though His Heart was moved to pity by the plight of those who called for His help.
Healing was a symbolic act that challenged the purity laws as deeply as healing met the restoration it meant to achieve.
Forgiveness now being given apart from the Temple. The power and prestige of the priesthood was being threatened.
What had begun as a priesthood following a tent and Ark of Covenant in a highly mobile form of worship in the time of Moses had evolved over time into a large worship community that was the livelihood of many in Jerusalem Temple service.
Jesus - by challenging the authority of the Temples powers - was implicity threatening their continued existence in the status quo.
Unchallenged change in the way things were forespelled possible loss of careers. This would have possibly brought loss of status and income to many if the old ways were changed.
There was more at stake by Jesus' healings than just the restoration of some people to health.
3. Deliverance Ministry
Many people in Jesus' day were disturbed and possessed.
They formed a category of people who were excluded from society with illnesses thought to be caused by demons.
It must be remembered that there is a chasm of difference between illness of the mind [psychological ill health or mental illness] and demon possession.
The first is simply illness of the mind or pysche which is treatable and, often, quite curable.
The second is the unlawful taking over the spirit [soul] and inhabitation [indwelling or possession] of a human by a fallen angel.
In Luke 10 Jesus commissioned seventy-two disciples to heal and exorcize. They were amazed at the results as they demonstrated healings and deliverance from demonic power.
Jesus chose the disciples who had been trained by
- living with Him
- learning from His teachings and lifestyle
- had observed His personal Divine Authority and Power
Jesus then sent the disciples out with authority and power.
The council of satan were deeply dismayed as many of their number were cast out of human hosts and unable to continue their demonic ministry on earth.
Their spiritual beings relied heavily on corporal control by overmastery of a human host in order to function and intervene in earthly events through controlled intervention.
After being cast out, the demons hurried back to report that they had recognized the Divinity of their old nemesis - the Son of God - shining through earthly form [Luke 4;35].
Jesus was shockingly visible to the spiritual sight of the fallen angels despite the earthly body He wore; God had come on earth to wage war on them and they were confused as to the reason why.
During the exorcism of the possessed man, the demons - apparently more than one inhabited - demanded answers from Jesus. 'Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!' [Luke 4;34]
Jesus declined to dialogue with the fallen angels. He merely commanded the demons to be quiet and leave the man i.e. be exorcized [Luke 4;35].
The gauntlet had been thrown. Satan's followers, their plans being thwarted, began to plot the overthrow and earthly death of Jesus. Much as they had plotted destruction and overthrow in heaven before the Great Celestial War.
Reverend Catherine
Image by Rev Catherine
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