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And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”  -Matthew 8:14-17

Check out last Sunday’s sermon here.

Please join us this Saturday at 1:00 PM for the Judgment and Mercy Conference to dig more deeply into these topics so that we may live for the Lord in this present age.

Judgment and Sickness

Long before Jesus stepped down to dwell among an unmemorable, oppressed people group, God handed down a judgment which has marked the DNA of humanity until today. God said to the first man and his wife, “...You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

This judgment of God has haunted each generation. Death spreads to all, because all sin (Romans 5:12). Countless numbers of Adam’s race falling each moment, succumbing to decay and disease. As Pastor Mike shared, “Thank you Adam.”

God has kept His promises. He does what He says He will. He is incredibly fair.

Mercy and Healing

Then, 2,000 years ago, Jesus was sent forth, the very Son of God, born of a woman, born under the law of sin and death (Galatians 4:4). In a miracle of providence, He redeemed those under that law.

Through one early evidence of His purpose and passion, Jesus began rewinding the clock of illness through miraculous healings. He, “...cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick” (Matthew 8:16b). He showed tremendous mercy! We know it is mercy because mercy is having something withheld from you which you deserve. The cost of my sin is death (Romans 3:23). God made that judgment long ago, and He is faithful to His word. Yet, Christ steps in and mercy flows.

However, God never failed to be a fair Judge, faithful to His promise. Christ’s redemption came at great cost. Jesus did not wish away sin and death with the flick of a wand. With a word He drove the illness from others, directing them upon Himself. “He took on our illnesses and bore our diseases” (Matthew 8:17 quoting Isaiah 53:4). Thank you Jesus!

God the Father fairly judges. God in Christ mercifully pays.

He is incredibly fair to us. He is incredibly merciful to us.