Spiritual Healing – Matthew 17:17
And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
The young man’s condition was horrifying, pitiful. A violent evil spirit possessed this boy from his childhood, making him mute, often throwing him into convulsions. His father, having found no help elsewhere, pleaded with Jesus to have mercy on his son and on him.[1]
With a compassion that transcended His frustration over His disciples’ inability to exercise the faith needed to perform this miracle, Jesus saw a child in need, and His response was welcome news to this weary father. “Bring him here to Me,” He said, and He set the boy free from the demon that had bound him for so long. While Christ cared for the physical well-being of this boy, He cared more profoundly for his and his father’s eternal soul. As He released Satan’s grip on the boy, He gave his father a revelation of the power of God and awakened a hunger within him for greater faith.[2]
In like manner, when men of faith brought a paralytic to Christ, He not only healed him physically, but knowing that the body is perishing, He also forgave the man’s sins to preserve his eternal soul.[3] He nailed his transgressions to the cross and made him alive together with Him,[4] setting the man free from bondage to sin.
Jesus never refused to heal the broken in spirit; therefore, we can trust in His compassion toward us and we can anticipate seeing the spiritual healing of those who thus far remain in the dominion of the enemy. We can trust Him to heal and forgive our loved ones’ sins as He did with the possessed young man and the paralytic.
Bring those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death to Christ; bring them to the Light.[5] Bring them with faith, for all things are possible for those who stand firm against the enemy while keeping their eyes on the Lord.[6] Entrust to the Lord those shrouded under the black veil of unbelief, and believe in His faithfulness to forgive their sins,[7] remove their filthy garments, and dress them in robes of purity and eternal life.[8]
Faithfully, persistently, fervently, bring the lost and the spiritually unwell before Christ in prayer, and rejoice in the work that He will do in them.[9]
[1] Mark 9:17-22
[2] Mark 9:24
[3] Matthew 9:2
[4] Colossians 2:13-14
[5] Luke 1:79
[6] Mark 9:23
[7] Psalm 32:1
[8] Zechariah 3:4
[9] Acts 16:31
