Miracles are wonderful events, but the truth is that the cure is only temporary. Each one of these people that Jesus healed still went on to die. So healing, while it is an exciting and life changing event is not the ultimate reason Jesus came to us. I think it is why often he would tell those healed not to tell anyone. Really, not tell someone?!!? – if I was healed like that from some awful affliction, you can bet I would tell everyone I knew. My mother was handicapped my whole life, she came down with polio and was paralyzed as a result. I remember wondering why God didn’t heal her. He healed other people? Why not her. She was a faithful follower, a good wife and mother… but nothing.
Years later I discovered something about healing. Not everyone gets healed here on earth, but everyone gets healed in heaven. She is not restricted by her disability now that she is in heaven. This life was temporary. The most important thing wasn’t healing. The most important thing was a relationship with Jesus Christ.
And so you see, healing was not why Jesus was here. Oh yeah, it got people’s attention, but Jesus is very adamant about not making that the center of His ministry.
No, what should be noted in today’s reading is vss 18-22.
It is not always easy to follow Jesus, there are many who have lost their families, their possessions, their very lives to follow Jesus, but in the end, what is really important?
st Century Jew would have pictured the “Son of Man”? Daniel describes him this way “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man
What a shocking statement this would be. But I think that Jesus is telling his followers that it is not important what you have envisioned as the Messiah looking like when He comes. What is important is that you are willing to follow in His footsteps and these footsteps will be difficult.
“Let the dead bury the dead,” is a warning to not look back, but instead look to the future. I think this is a call for people to turn away from the past and look to a new future, a new hope. You see, our hope is in the life to come. Don’t look back, don’t yearn for the ways things have been, but rejoice in the future set out for each of us. If you are healed – that is wonderful, but if not are you going to continue to give your life to Jesus?
Just like those who are suffering from afflictions now, that are not being healed, our hope is not in this world, but rather in the world yet to come. That is where eternal healing will take place.
Shalom
Pastor Kathy