Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 19
Friday

THE GREAT
PHYSICIAN

READ:
John 9:1-7
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He Himself took our
infirmities and bore
our sickness
__ Mathew 8:17
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In reflecting on his deteriorating health, John Donne (1572-1631) described his feelings as physicians examined him to find "the root and occasion" of a serious illness. In hushed tones, they discussed their conclusions outside his room.

At first Donee wass afraid, but in time he saw compassion in their faces and began to trust them. Their concern reminded Donne that he could trust the Great Physician. As he read the Godpels, he saw God the Father's face in the tender, compassionate face of Jesus.

Many of us struggle with our thoughts about God, especially during illness. Perhaps we grew up attending a church that protrayed an angry God who inflicted sickness on us. Can we trust Him? Like Donne, we turn to the Gospels for our reason to trust God. And we find it in His Son Jesus, who was unfailingly compassionate toward those who were afflicted, regardless of the reason.

So we pray as Donne prayed, "Deliver me, therefore, O my God, from these vain imaginations" __ the belief that by our sin we have forefeited God's goodness and mercy. As Donne wisely said, the Great Physician "knows our natural infirmities, for He had them, and knows the weight of our sins, for He paid a dear price for them." __ David Roper
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********************FOR FURTHER STUDY***********************

~~~~~~~~~Why does God permit sickness in the lives of~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~His children? Read Does God Want Me Well?~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~discovery series qu0104~~~~~~~~
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The cross of Jesus is the superme evidence
of the love of God. __ Oswald Chambers

***************Today's Bible Reading ___ John 9:1-7**************

1 Now as Jesus passed by,
He saw a man who was
blind from birth. 2 And His
disciples asked Him,
saying, "Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "Neither
this man nor his parents
sinned, but that the works
of God should be revealed
in him. 4 I must work the
works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night is
coming when no one can
work. 5 As long as I am in
the wrold, I am the light of
the world."

6 When He had said these
things, He spat on the
ground and made clay with
the saliva; and He anointed
the eyes of the blind man
with the clay. 7 And He said
to him, "Go, wash in the
pool of Siloam" (which is
translated, sent). So he
went and washed, and came
back seeing.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jesus probably used the clay mentioned in John 9:6 not as medicine
but as an aid to develop the man's faith. Jesus' making of clay broke
the rabbinic regulations against kneading clay on the Sabbath (John
9:1-14). The man was "sent" to wash the mud from his eyes, and
Jesus was the One "sent" by the Father. The man obeyed Christ and
went hom seeing! __HDF

___Adapted from The Bible Knowledge Commentary