On the Road to Bethlehem #20: The Healer

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert.”

—Isaiah 35:5-6

All of us have experienced the debilitating effects of disease. We know how cancer can ravage a body, how it can leave an entire family in sorrow as it destroys a loved one. I have stood over many caskets through the years and been to the hospital numerous times; I know how frail our bodies are and how much sorrow sickness brings. I look forward to the day when hospital visits will be no more and funerals will be a thing of the past and we can all say that death has been defeated. But I can only say that because of the promises made within God’s Word concerning His Messiah.

As we are on the road to Bethlehem we come to another clue or characteristic to look for in discerning the Messiah’s identity—that of healer. During the Assyrian oppression, Isaiah prophesied that God’s Messiah would make the deaf hear, the blind see (Isaiah 29:18; 35:5), the lame walk, the mute speak (Isaiah 35:6), and waters break forth in the wilderness along with streams flowing in the desert (Isaiah 35:6). He would bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, release those in prison and proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor (Isaiah 61:1).

John the Baptist knew these verses, and Jesus appealed to them as proof of His identity when John was languishing in prison. With the wicked Herod on the throne, John was thrown into prison because he condemned Herod’s marriage to his brother Philip’s wife. And although John knew the numerous prophecies pointing to the Messiah’s identity, he was struggling. If God’s Messiah were to be the coming ruler of the world, which John understood Jesus to be, then why was he in prison because of this earthly pagan king? John sent two of his disciples to ascertain whether Jesus really was the Messiah, “Are You the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"—Luke 7:19. Upon arriving, they did as they were instructed, but before answering, Jesus went and  

“healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind He bestowed sight”—Luke 7:21. 

It was only after He healed that He said,  

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me"—Luke 7:22-23.

Jesus knew that the prophecies about Himself and His working of miracles in their presence authenticated His identity. Never before in Scripture did Jesus ever offer proof of His identity when asked (cf. Matthew 12:38-39; 16:4; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:16, 29; John 4:48; 6:30), but apparently because of Jesus’ esteem for John He did (cf. Matthew 7:11-19). He wanted John to know that he need not doubt, only recalibrate his understanding. The kingdom of God was coming and had come in Christ, but the fullness of His rule would not come for some time (cf. Isaiah 61:2).

There has never been anyone in history who healed people like Jesus did. There was no disease or disability beyond His power—even death itself couldn’t stop Him (cf. Matthew 9:24-25, Luke 7:15; 8:50-51; John 11:43-44). His healing during His time on earth is a foretaste of the freedom from the diseases, disabilities and death that we will experience in heaven when we are with Him (Revelation 21:4).

The Advent season is a celebration of Christ and what His coming means—that we have hope beyond this world. We will be free from the diseases and disabilities that plague our earthly bodies along with the dreaded fear of death. No longer will death reign—life will overtake death, and all of those who have trusted in Christ will spend eternity in the joyous presence of Him who is our life—Jesus. He is our Savior and the one in whom our ultimate joy rests. Amen.