By: Elizabeth Haarberg

“Do You Want to Be Healed?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Healing is a mystery. Some people are looking for a formula or something that can be rationalized but it is a supernatural unknowing. Yet one thing we know, Jesus wants us to be healed but He asks a very important question in the process.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
John 5:6 English Standard Version

Even though Jesus desires all to be healed, our desire to want to be healed is important before he acts. Again, I’m not writing about this as if I completely understand how healing works. This is small segment that we can begin to understand that healing is available.

How do we receive healing?

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 English Standard Version

The deep wounds that Jesus received on the cross is how we can be healed now. Jesus took on what we deserved. Personally, I have rarely felt guilty about Jesus taking my place, instead, I feel appreciative and excited about what his sacrifice means for me and others. We are the vessels that God put on earth to bring healing to the world. You and I are one of the ways that others can experience freedom.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
Luke 4:18 English Standard Version

Jesus quotes Isaiah.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1 English Standard Version

My role, and your role if you choose, is to set the captives free and bring healing to the world. We can help bring healing in a multitude of ways with God’s help, we just go where he sends us.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado