The Great Physician

As mortal human beings we all see the need of doctors in our daily lives. As we grow older that need increases as our bodies begin to wear down. Just like our physical bodies, our spiritual bodies can also be in need of a doctor, a spiritual doctor. There is only one that can fulfill the needs of the soul, those that are sick need who we often refer to as the “Great Physician.”

In Matthew 9:10-12 KJV, concerning Jesus, Matthew says, “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” The writer of the gospel of Mark concurs when he recorded Mark 2:17 KJV. There we read, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” In this verse Jesus assumes that role of spiritual doctor. Jesus takes on that role for the spiritual welfare of men because spiritual illness cannot be cured by human doctors, their techniques and their medicine.

There was a story once told about a tired and sickly individual. It goes as follows. It is said that in 1835, a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy. The man was filled with anxiety and suffered from exhaustion and a lack of sleep. So dire was his situation that he couldn’t eat, and he had begun to avoid his friends. Once the doctor had examined him, he found that the man was in prime physical condition. His conclusion was that the man needed to have a break from his daily routine of work and stress. He suggested that the man take some time for rest, relaxation, and recreation. In short, the man needed to take time to enjoy himself. The doctor suggested that the man go and enjoy the circus which was in town. While there he needed to go and see the star performer, a clown named Grimaldi. Night after night his performance had the people rolling in the aisles. “You must go and see him,” the doctor said. “Grimaldi is the funniest clown in the entire world, he’ll make you laugh and cure your sadness.” To which the man responded in despair, “No, he can’t help me.” “Why?” the doctor demanded. “I am Grimaldi,” the man said.

What was ailing Grimaldi had nothing to do with his physical body but rather his mental, emotional, and spiritual problems were affecting his body. He needed to know that it is the Lord that heals the soul and the symptoms of spiritual disease. We find the following in Matthew 13:13-16 KJV, “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”

Again, the writer Luke records for us in Luke 5:31-32 KJV the words of the Saviour, “… They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” While Jesus can heal all men, He can only heal those that are willing to be healed, those that are willing to listen to His words of salvation, those that are willing to open their eyes and see the salvation of the Lord. Are you willing to let Jesus heal your soul of all its diseases? Why not today allow Jesus to help you with any and all your problems in life.

(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)

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