Dear Disciples of Christ,
“When do you go to a doctor?” The obvious answer – “When you’re sick.” We might try home remedies or cures we’ve found on “Life Hacks” websites. But when we try to heal ourselves, and fail, it’s time to see the doctor. That’s why we have them – to heal us when we can’t heal ourselves. Unfortunately, we must usually make an appointment to see them. They rarely come to see us. Nevertheless, at the doctor’s office or our home, the doctor can bring healing when we can’t heal ourselves.
Left untreated, disease can lead to death. Which is why Martin Luther used the analogy of disease, doctors, and medicine to explain sin – the disease we all have – and forgiveness – the healing we can only receive from “the doctor”, Jesus, the Son of God. Fortunately for us, Jesus makes house calls!
Right after calling a dreaded tax collector, Matthew – also called Levi, to be one of His disciples, Jesus went to Matthew’s house for dinner (Luke 5:27-29). There, all kinds of tax collectors and other sinners gathered with Him … Jesus was exposed to them all. The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ choice of company, “Why is He hanging out with all these sinners!? Doesn’t He know that’s a good way to catch sin-itis too?” Jesus responds, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick … I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13)
Jesus, the Son of God, not only made a house call to Matthew and his friends to bring them His healing grace and mercy; but He also comes into our lives to bring us healing from the deadly disease of sin. Despite being immersed in a sin-filled world, Jesus never caught the disease. His perfect life, suffering, and death brings the cure for our sin – His Father’s forgiveness. And His resurrection eliminates sin’s effects – restoring us to eternal life. We can’t heal ourselves. Thank God for His love and sending His Son to make a house call and bring us healing.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim