Healing and SufferingHealing and Suffering

in the Biblein the Bible

Dr Keith WarringtonDr Keith Warrington

It’s natural to avoid suffering by all meansIt’s natural to avoid suffering by all means

but it’s not always Christianbut it’s not always Christian

Healing in the OTHealing in the OT

Physicians were valuedPhysicians were valued Healings were normally achieved by prophetsHealings were normally achieved by prophets Healings were normally associated with prayerHealings were normally associated with prayer Healing was a gift of GodHealing was a gift of God

Suffering in the OTSuffering in the OT

SufferingSuffering was part of lifewas part of life

……and some of it was senselessand some of it was senseless It was sign of the end timesIt was sign of the end times It was linked with persecutionIt was linked with persecution Satan sometimes caused it Satan sometimes caused it God improved his people thro sufferingGod improved his people thro suffering It provided opportunities for care of othersIt provided opportunities for care of others

Suffering has valueSuffering has value

It was chastisement for personal sinIt was chastisement for personal sin……but not alwaysbut not always

It had vicarious valueIt had vicarious value God is present in itGod is present in it

……providing strength to copeproviding strength to cope……sometimes identifying sinsometimes identifying sin

……offering hope for the futureoffering hope for the future

It prepared the way for the MessiahIt prepared the way for the Messiah

Suffering in the GospelsSuffering in the Gospels

Suffering is the backdrop to the GospelsSuffering is the backdrop to the Gospels Suffering is the forecast for disciplesSuffering is the forecast for disciples But they do not suffer alone…But they do not suffer alone…

……the Spirit is their partnerthe Spirit is their partner Suffering is beginning to be redeemedSuffering is beginning to be redeemed

Healings of Jesus in the GospelsHealings of Jesus in the Gospels Jesus did not come primarily to heal Jesus did not come primarily to heal

……nor simply to healnor simply to heal The healings pointed to his authorityThe healings pointed to his authority

……to welcome back the marginalisedto welcome back the marginalised……over the Sabbath…the Law…the templeover the Sabbath…the Law…the temple……to forgive sinsto forgive sins……to bring in a new kind of kingdomto bring in a new kind of kingdom……to help people believe in himto help people believe in him

The healings ask the question “who is he?”The healings ask the question “who is he?”

The value of the healings of Jesus?The value of the healings of Jesus?

We can learn from himWe can learn from him But he did not leave a definitive methodologyBut he did not leave a definitive methodology The healings point to himThe healings point to him

……they show us his majestic authoritythey show us his majestic authority

……they offer the unbelievable thoughtthey offer the unbelievable thought

……God has come to usGod has come to us

……his name is Jesushis name is Jesus

Healing in the book of ActsHealing in the book of Acts

The healing stories are selectiveThe healing stories are selective They are achieved mainly by Peter & PaulThey are achieved mainly by Peter & Paul It looks as if Jesus is doing the healingIt looks as if Jesus is doing the healing

……the use of the hands…just like Jesusthe use of the hands…just like Jesus

……the use of a command…just like Jesusthe use of a command…just like Jesus

……the name of Jesus…just like…the name of Jesus…just like… The resurrected Jesus is not absentThe resurrected Jesus is not absent

……the healings prove itthe healings prove it

Healing in PaulHealing in Paul

The Spirit is associated with healing…The Spirit is associated with healing…

……charismatic gifts of healingscharismatic gifts of healings The Spirit delegates these gifts…The Spirit delegates these gifts…

……when he wants towhen he wants to

……to whomsoever he wishes to whomsoever he wishes

……for the benefit of othersfor the benefit of others

Suffering in PaulSuffering in Paul

Paul writes much more about sufferingPaul writes much more about suffering Suffering is normative for believersSuffering is normative for believers Suffering can be for our benefitSuffering can be for our benefit Suffering provides opportunities for God to…Suffering provides opportunities for God to… The Spirit is associated with sufferingThe Spirit is associated with suffering

……supporting ussupporting us……praying for uspraying for us

……participating in it with usparticipating in it with us The concept of suffering is redeemed by PaulThe concept of suffering is redeemed by Paul

Healing and suffering in JamesHealing and suffering in James

The earliest NT information about healingThe earliest NT information about healing The context is of social sufferingThe context is of social suffering James offers a path to wholenessJames offers a path to wholeness It needs a Jew to explain it best…It needs a Jew to explain it best…

……oil has symbolic value for the weakoil has symbolic value for the weak It centres on prayerIt centres on prayer

……listening from Godlistening from God……for guidance as to how to prayfor guidance as to how to pray

•The Bible provides The Bible provides some some information about information about healing and sufferinghealing and suffering

It needs to be contextualised carefullyIt needs to be contextualised carefully The Spirit and the Christian community are The Spirit and the Christian community are

important to enable Christiansimportant to enable Christians

……to minister appropriately to the to minister appropriately to the sufferingsuffering

Christians need to remember they have 2 earsChristians need to remember they have 2 ears

……one to listen to those suffering one to listen to those suffering

……and one to listen to the Spiritand one to listen to the Spirit