Mark 3:7-12

So Jesus goes to a more solitary place (to keep from being killed?), yet even in remote areas, people come to Him from all over the area - Jerusalem (center of Judaism), the rest of Judea (South), Idumea (Southeast), Regions across the Jordan (East), and Tyre and Sidon (North). That just about covers it.

What is it though that draws people to Jesus? It could be His teaching. But he also ostracized a lot of people with that. It could be His personality. He's compared to Elijah, John the Baptist, Zechariah, or one of the prophets. But we all know what happened to almost all of them in the end.

Mark answers simply: "For He had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch Him."

In my experience, many of us in the Western world want to be like Jesus, but when it comes to the spiritual gift of healing (specifically physical healing), we quickly label that as "the past" (died with the closing of the Bible) or impossible - G-D doesn't work like that anymore.

To which I respond: "There are too many examples of healing all over this globe today, especially in the Southern Hemisphere." I preach to myself when I say, "Maybe it's time to be like the crowds who followed Jesus and GO there!" We don't have to do it physically. Perhaps you have missionaries you can contact. Go online and find out some things. Check in your neighborhood (you might find a revival or service just around the corner).

If miraculous physical healing is too drastic, then recognize G-D's work (and GIVE HIM THE GLORY) when He uses medicine to heal a simple headache. Recognize Him when the cancer is suddenly gone. Praise G-D when the surgeon takes off his/her gloves and gives a good report.

But there is another side to this healing. Unclean/Evil spirits surround the diseases that Jesus healed. Exorcism was a part of the picture. As part of the healing process, Jesus drove out many demons.

Now I am not saying that the next time you go to the hospital a demon exists in every patient, but know that is how they viewed it in Jesus' day. One of Jesus' goals was to cleanse people - not only of their sin, but of their physical illnesses. Unclean/evil spirits do not promote healing, but suffering, and thus, Jesus got rid of them. And all of this leads me to this resounding question:

What would happen if we actually BELIEVED Jesus healed those people?

This would change the way we pray!

Jesus did not heal everyone. Not everyone for which we pray He heals, and the ones He does choose to heal, He does so sometimes in a way that may seem contradictory to us. So what? Should that change our plea? Would that not move us closer to the heart of G-D? If only we BELIEVED.

"L-RD, help us with our unbelief."