A Summary of the Healing Ministry of Jesus
by David Cross
This well-known story from Jesus of the Good Samaritan gives a precious insight into how God desires to bring healing into our own lives. The Samaritan clearly represented a Christ-like approach to the needs of this unfortunate fellow-traveller. Like us on the journey of life, this poor man had been deeply wounded by a hostile encounter with the sinful behaviour of others.
Jesus firstly makes it very clear, by describing the useless response of the priest and Levite, that hypocritical religious practice will never meet the deep needs of those wounded by the bruising issues of life. What is needed is the godly compassion of someone willing to give time to relationship.
Like the Samaritan, God knows that we all need urgent and tender first aid when in we’re in pain, but it’s significant that the man was not then left in the hostile territory of those who were his enemies. It was clearly important, as it is for us today, when we’re receiving God’s healing, to be transferred to a place of safety. For us this means being under God’s spiritual covering. In this place of protection from the powers of darkness we, like the man in the story, can find the fullness of healing that is necessary.
And there is, of course, one more significant aspect to this story. For the man restored by the good Samaritan, and for all who are receiving God’s healing today, the price has been fully paid.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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