That They May Be One Healing The healing that Jesus works for us extends well beyond mere physical concerns, to the complex, vast realm of disorders that can overcome and impair the whole person. Healing encompasses the spiritual, emotional, and psychological facets of our lives. In short, Jesus came to heal shattered lives. In this next verse, where Jesus quotes Isaiah, we see a different Greek word for break. ‘Suntribo,’ Strong’s 4937, means “to shatter or break into shivers” – translated here as “brokenhearted.” “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.” (Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1) Jesus came to preach the gospel and heal shattered lives. Jesus goes further and castigates those shepherds [ministers] who both brought about the scattering, and have not mended the shattered lives of the brethren. Ezekiel 34:4 utilizes the same word for broken as is used in Isaiah 61:1 for brokenhearted – it means “shattered.” “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken [shattered], neither have ye brought again that which was driven away.” (Ezekiel 34:4) There is a direct correlation between our well-being and the unity and oneness we share with all of the children of God, who constitute the Lord’s body. Paul said that sickness and death were the result of partaking of the Passover while division existed among the saints. The brethren had not discerned the Lord’s body. “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:30) Discerning the Lord’s body means accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the way it was intended. Our past guilt is removed, and our past sins are covered when we are redeemed and justified by the precious blood He shed. We are reconciled to God the Father by the death of His Son. We are healed by His stripes. Our salvation awaits us because Jesus was raised to life by the Father, and so we shall be saved by His life (1 Peter 1:18-21, Romans 5:9-10, 1 Peter 2:24). We must realize that this entire healing and salvation process is contingent on our having direct positive interaction and unity with God’s children. If we, who are called of God, do not possess a genuine devotion and Godly tenderness for the brethren, we diminish the sacrifice of Christ and will suffer sickness and death. The foremost role of the ordained leadership is to teach people in the ways of God – being “helpers of your joy.” (2 Corinthians 1:24) True servants will be living their own lives by reflecting a Godly example for others to emulate. They must have a love for God that is greater than anything else in their lives. This includes any loyalty to their group, buddies; even family. God must be first and visible in how they conduct their lives. They must be cautious not to allow the pomp that goes along with leadership to cause them to get the “big head” and to think more of themselves than they do the brethren. Elijah was God’s prophet. He was used mightily by God. But, have you ever noticed that the people of Israel did not run every detail past him? Elijah was not even aware of any other faithful people (1 Kings 19:10). There were seven thousand Israelites who were not in close contact with Elijah – yet they were special to God. Notice how God says it. “Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18) Those church leaders who are not actively restoring unity among God’s children are missing the mark. They must become part of the solution, or God will hold them responsible for being a part of the problem. God’s children must have ownership of their Faith. There has been an imbalance of “lording it over” the brethren, in lieu of the proper care of the ‘ekklesia’ – God’s called out people. When Christ returns, there will be no more separate church associations or church organizations. Everyone will be pulling all together. “God . . . hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Our Faith very much involves our relationships with our fellow man. No one should ever think that he or she stands in good stead with God because of being in the “right” church group. Buildings and organizations do not make a church. Neither should anyone think himself “closer” to God because of his ordination or position. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1 Peter 1:22) |
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