The Great Physician

Matthew 4:23 – Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching everywhere the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (NIV)

Matthew 9:23-25 – When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. (NIV)

"What's wrong with your legs? They're full of red blotches!" My friend didn't have to add that last comment; I already knew that my legs looked appalling, and they felt worse than they looked. They had started bothering me earlier in the week, but at the time, I didn't feel that I could stop to rest them. It was the start of the children's school holiday and my daughter's birthday. She'd wanted a sleepover with her friends, so I'd ignored the pain and swelling as much as I could and kept going. Now, three days later, I was planted in bed. Any movement was difficult, and when I did manage to get out of bed, I crawled on my hands and knees.

"I'm not sure what's wrong, but I need to get to a doctor, and the one I go to is out of town."

"Dr. C. makes house calls," she said. "Why don't you call him?" When doctors are so busy, I could hardly believe that he'd come to see me, but he did.

Today, some of us have experienced the warning signs that our spiritual health needs attention, but we've been busy earning a living or being there for our families, and we have neglected to take time to think about our spiritual health, so our lives have become blemished. We need a good friend to come alongside and remind us that the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, makes house calls. No matter how sick we feel in our spirit, no matter how many blotches we have made in our lives, Jesus is willing to meet with us wherever we are and bring healing for our spirit.

Prayer: Jesus, help us today to recognize that You — the Great Physician — are nearby, ready to minister to our ailments, both spiritual and physical. Amen.