The Balm of Gilead

You may know that Jesus Christ has the power to forgive and to heal, but we have to make this reality in our lives. Sometimes we miss out on this, but thank God, we'll always have other opportunities to see the Scripture fulfilled.

Luke 5:21-24
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, He said unto the sick I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go into thine house.

The Pharisees where constantly trying to find fault with Jesus. Because they did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God they were fast to judge Jesus when He said to the man with the palsy: "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee."

The Pharisees even dared to call Jesus' action blasphemy, for they didn't believe that Jesus was also Divine; the Son of God. They were thinking that is was pretty easy to say that the man's sins were forgiven, because nobody could see or prove that they really were forgiven.
In these the Parisees committed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Of course, Jesus knew their thoughts and He hooked right into their thinking by asking them the question what was easier, the action to forgive sins or the action to heal this man with the palsy. The Pharisees were dumbfounded when Jesus continued saying to the sick man: "Arise, and take up your bed and go home."

This healing was performed to show the Pharisees that Jesus had the power to forgive as well as to heal. Jesus had the power to restore in the spiritual world as well as in the physical world; healing the soul and the body.

Jesus went continuously around doing good, healing the sick, forgiving the sins of the people and blessing them. Although Isaiah 53 was not fulfilled then, we can see the relation between the text and the Scripture in :

Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes we ARE healed.

Jesus brought healing for the "whole" person. To the Pharisees and they that don't believe, this is foolishness.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

To us, who believe in Him, who cry out unto the Lord and going through the effort of seeking Him, He will meet all of our needs. We leave all our cares and anxieties at His feet. He will certainly reach out to us and heal us after body, soul and spirit, according to His word.

Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

To us, Jesus is our Rescuer, our Redeemer, full of wisdom.
He is faithful to them that call upon Him for help.

Lamentations 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Jesus Christ is the Balm of Gilead.

Praise His wonderful name! Amen !