Salvific mission of Jesus Christ
Healing, deliverance, and miracles stand at the very heart of the salvific mission of Jesus Christ. The Gospels repeatedly show that the coming of the Saviour was not only a proclamation of truth, but also a powerful restoration of the human person. Wherever Christ went, suffering was met with compassion, and illness encountered Divine mercy. Those oppressed by malevolent forces, were restored to freedom. The Saviour’s ministry revealed that God’s saving work embraces the whole person; body, mind, and soul.
Sun of righteousness
The coming of the Redeemer had long been foretold by the prophets. In the Book of Malachi we read the beautiful promise: “But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings,” (Malachi 4:2). This prophetic image expresses both hope and restoration. The Messiah would not merely teach; He would bring healing light into a world overshadowed by suffering. In Christ, the Divine compassion of God would shine forth upon humankind like the rising sun, dispelling the shadows of affliction.
History of humankind
To
understand the ministry of healing, one must also recall our deeper spiritual
history. In the earliest days of creation, humankind enjoyed a close and
harmonious relationship with God. Yet through the ancestral fall, associated
with the events described in the book of Genesis, that communion was fractured.
Humankind was driven from Eden, and the consequences of this rupture began to
mark the human condition. Sin entered the world, and with it came suffering,
disease, ageing, and death.
Separated from the fullness of Divine grace, humankind gradually lost the harmony for which we had been created. Pages of history reveal tragic effects of this brokenness. Violence, hatred, theft and falsehood began to afflict human relationships. Innocent lives were wounded by injustice. The dignity of the human person was frequently obscured by destructive forces of sin. Our spiritual reality was affected, for humankind became vulnerable to the influence of evil. Human beings became susceptible to oppression by fallen angelic powers hostile to God’s goodness.
Compassion of God
Yet the
story of humankind is not one of abandonment. Divine mercy remained steadfast.
God, seeing the suffering of His creation, was moved with profound compassion.
In His Providence, He promised redemption and restoration. The sending of His
Son to earth, was the fulfilment of this promise. The advent of the Messiah was
a Divine intervention intended to restore what had been lost, to heal what had
been wounded.
The mission of Christ was not limited to instruction or moral guidance alone. The Father’s intent was that the Messiah undertake a mission of restoration. Jesus healed the sick, delivered the possessed, and comforted the broken-hearted. Each miracle was a sign pointing toward the greater work of salvation; a renewal of the human person and reconciliation between God and humankind.
The healer participates in Christ’s
loving mission
For
those called to the ministry of healing, this sacred history provides both
context and inspiration. In a humble way, the healer participates in the
ongoing work of Divine compassion. By means of prayer, faith and service, the
healer becomes an instrument through which God’s restorative grace may touch
the suffering world. Healing, therefore, is not merely a human activity. It is
a participation in the loving mission that began with Christ and continues
wherever hearts respond to the call of mercy.
In this
light, the work of healing must always be approached with faith, humility and reverence.
The healer serves as a willing vessel through which God’s healing Presence may
be made manifest. Through such service, the promise spoken by the prophet
continues to unfold: the Sun of righteousness still rises, and His wings still
carry healing for those who seek Him.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Healer under the Grace"
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