Day 2: By His wounds we are healed
Some men brought to [Jesus] a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2).
Our Father in heaven, Exalted God, great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies (Psalm 57:10). So much did You love the world, that You gave Your only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 - NKJV).
In His earthly ministry Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness (Matthew 9:35). We see His kindness and compassion drawing great crowds.
Father, then, and now, we stand in awe of Your great power to heal, repair, and restore. And yet, our bodies are but earthly tents that will ultimately be destroyed (2 Corinthians 5:1). The Lord Jesus came to heal our sin-ravaged, wounded, broken souls—souls that will live forever. By His sacrifice we are rescued from death and destruction, and clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling (2 Corinthians 5:2):
...He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
The people who interacted with the Lord Jesus were like us—they tended to be preoccupied with the physical and the natural. But You, O God, know our more urgent need, and because You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), You touch us in the deepest parts.
Thank You O Lord, for the mercy You extend when You heal our bodies, our minds, and our emotions. We bring our needs to You, and those of our circles, grateful that healing power still comes from Your hands, according to Your sovereign will.
But we praise You that regardless of what happens with our temporary earthly tents, You make our indestructible soul the priority for Your cleansing, healing love, and for Your pronouncement, "Your sins are forgiven" (Matthew 9:2). And You have made the promise, "whoever come to Me I will never drive away" (John 6:37).
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
~ Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux ~ 1153
~ Translated by James W. Alexander ~ 1830
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