Epiphany #12: healing

Jesus healed the afflicted. (Matthew 4:24)

You will recognize the New Testament word for healing: therapeuō. There was something miraculously therapeutic about Jesus. It came out of his compassion: “Jesus had compassion for them and healed their sick” (Mt 14:14). He brings therapeutic care to our “various diseases and torments” (Mt 4:24).

People who came to our home to help me recover from back surgery where called “therapist”—one a physical therapist and another an occupational therapist. My healing required therapy. I wonder if some of Jesus’ healing was like that. To heal the pain and get me back on my feet required welcoming these therapist into my home and allowing them to touch my life—my tormented body. It required acceptance and cooperation on my part. Maybe that’s how Jesus’ therapy works. We have to open our life to him, and allow him to touch what hurts and help us get back on our feet.