"And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that . . . the power of the Lord was present to heal them." Luke 5:17.
THE power of God is always a healing power, when untrammeled by doubt and not counter-worked by transgression. The "all power in heaven and earth" which was given unto Christ, is keeping power for soul, and healing power for body, divine healing, like divine forgiveness, is for all who will comply with the conditions of receiving it—repentance, faith, and obedience.
Whether you scratch the bark of a tree, or the skin upon your hand, God has made provision for His mysterious healing power to immediately begin its wonderful work of repair. The moment physical injury is inflicted upon any part of the body, an instantaneous summons is sent to the minute, white blood corpuscles to marshal their numbers at the seat of injury, where they at once begin the work of destroying disease germs and otherwise aiding in the repair and protection of the tissues.
By what means did these little workers, so small that millions may live in a single drop of blood, secure information as to where their services were needed? How are these microscopic defenders of life and health directed in their work of healing? When trouble is reported anywhere throughout the physical being, these messengers of health, these guardians of the purity of the blood, rush in large numbers to the scene of trouble, and there, if necessary, sacrifice their own lives in the healing struggle. Sometimes the injury may be so extensive, or the irritation so intense, that this ordinary healing effort of nature is unsuccessful, and then health can only be secured by some work of co-operation on our part, or by a manifestation of extraordinary and miraculous healing.
To a limited extent, and within the operation of physical laws, certain healing possibilities are placed within every man, and it remains for the individual either to antagonize or co-operate with this life-maintaining, life-protecting power within.
"Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him." Matt. 8:6, 7.
How quickly Jesus answers the request of the afflicted. He is just as willing to-day to hear every call of suffering and sorrow. And to-day, if for the best, He will answer as of old, "I will come and heal him."
Whether secured through the ordinary channel of physical law, or through the extraordinary means of miraculous working, true healing power must come from God. Healing is re-creation, and only divine power can create. Whether we be sick with palsy, or suffering from any other one of the thousand afflictions to which human flesh is heir, we must look for relief and healing through either the reward of obedience to the God-ordained laws regulating our being, or to the gracious working of the mighty and miraculous power of God.
"The whole multitude sought to touch Him; for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all." Luke 6:19.
On one occasion the multitudes who but touched the Master were healed; even the one who touched the hem of His garment was made whole, for there went out from Him "virtue,"—a healing power,—which restored every believing soul.
It requires the power of the same Christ that made men to heal them when diseased. On the occasion above noted, the Master declared that demand had been made upon His power. So it is with every case of healing: it is possible only because of the divine willingness to supply the constant demand which erring man makes upon God's power.