THE GREAT PHYSICIAN by Augusta W. Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 5, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 30.

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.

By Augusta W. Heald

The Baptist had been cast into prison. The voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3), was silent, for John’s life mission was accomplished. The Saviour was now about to enter upon his public ministry. After his early ministry in Judea, he returned to Galilee, but the quiet hills of Nazareth, where he had grown to man’s estate, were now to be left behind. Henceforth our Lord is seen in the busy haunts of men, first as an honored guest at a simple household festival, the marriage at Cana of Galilee. Here he supplied the needs of the occasion by performing his first miracle, the turning of water into wine. After this he entered into Capernaum, the city by the sea, and preached the Gospel, saying, “The time is fulfilled [referring to the prophecy of Daniel concerning himself, Dan. 9:25], and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” Mark 1:15. Here he entered into the synagog upon the Sabbath day and taught. “And they were astonished at his doctrine; for his word was with power.” Luke 4:32. There was in the synagog a man who had an unclean spirit, who broke the Sabbath stillness with maniacal shrieks. Jesus rebuked the spirit, and commanded him to come out from the man. The demon obeyed. And tho he had thrown the man violently down, by the merciful power of Christ he hurt him not. All the people were filled with amazement at this exhibition of divine power. “And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.”

Returning from the synagog, Jesus entered into Simon’s house, a home filled with anxiety, care, and gloom, for the mother lay grievously sick of the fever so common on the lake shore. What joy to this anxious family when the Divine Guest entered the humble abode, and, taking the sick woman by the hand and lifting her up, rebuked the fever! “And immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” Luke 4:39.

The last lingering rays of the Sabbath sun had hardly disappeared behind the western hills when “all the city was gathered together at the door.” Mark 1:33. They came bearing the sick of whatever disease and many possessed with demons. In all that vast throng of suffering humanity, was there one who came in vain? Did any turn away disappointed, still bearing their burdens of sickness and pain?—Not one; for the Great Physician put forth his hand and healed them all, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matt. 8:17.

In the morning following this wonderful display of power, Simon sought his Lord, but he was absent, for, rising a great while before day, he had repaired to a solitary place in the desert. There they found him engaged in prayer. Thus ever did our Lord depend upon his heavenly Father, and from that divine source draw constant supplies of grace in the fulfilment of his life mission.

When the multitude came and besought him to remain and not depart from them, Jesus said, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also; for therefore am I sent.” Luke 4:43. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogs, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matt. 4:23. He is the same mighty, merciful Saviour to-day.

“The Great Physician now is near, The sympathizing Jesus; He speaks the drooping heart to cheer, O, hear the voice of Jesus! Sweetest note in seraph song, Sweetest name on mortal tongue, Sweetest carol ever sung,— Jesus, blessed Jesus.”

AUGUSTA W. HEALD.