And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Luke 5:30–31
The last thing any of us want to hear or think about is sickness. In our current state, sickness has been and continues to be a real possibility. Many of us want to be immune to sickness and a handful foolishly think we are. And no one wants to hear that we’re all sick. But that’s reality.
Our culture wants us to believe that we’re healthy, happy, well-intentioned, good people. No doubt, some of that is true. We are after all created in the image of God, and God is good. But there is something malignant that lives within all of us. We’re all walking around with a cancer growing within us that many of us are unaware of. I know––all of this is so encouraging. Just what you want to hear this time of year.
But you can never get healthy until the sickness is removed.
In Jesus’ day just as in our day, people were blind to their sickness. Many were offended by Jesus because he spent time with those who knew they were sick––the tax collectors and sinners. It was the religious who couldn’t see their own sickness. But Jesus knew he could and would help those who knew they were sick––“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Jesus came to serve by being our spiritual physician.
Scripture is clear that we’re all sick with sin. This sin will kill us physically and without Jesus could kill us spiritually. So how can we take Jesus up on his service?
Acknowledge your sickness and accept your inability.
If you have cancer, you can act like it isn’t there, but it will kill you one day. Sin is no different. Turning your head to it won’t change that it’s there. We have to acknowledge that we’re all sick in need of healing. But we also have to accept our inability to heal ourselves. That’s what the religious leaders of Jesus day got stuck on. They thought their own righteousness could take care of their sin. But we just can’t heal ourselves. We’re not the divine doctor. Only Jesus is.
Ask Jesus to heal
It’s that simple. Jesus came to serve. He came to heal. As both God and human, he can heal. His ultimate act of service was death. Jesus came to die, but his death leads to our life. Whether you’ve never turned to Jesus before or you’ve followed him for some time, he’s still our servant doctor.
Always acknowledge your sickness. Always accept your inability. Each day ask Jesus to heal.
