We all have broken bodies and live in a broken world. The effects of sin on the universe have taken God’s beautiful creation and exposed it to rot, decay, and death. If there’s one thing humans share, it’s our understanding of how terrible it is to suffer at the hands of sickness. The Messiah that the Old Testament looked forward to would not only have the power over sickness and death, but we are also promised that He will do much more than just alleviate our current sufferings.
Christ in the Old Testament
Then the eyes of those who are blind will be opened,
And the ears of those who are deaf will be unstopped.
Then those who limp will leap like a deer,
And the tongue of those who cannot speak will shout for joy.
For waters will burst forth in the wilderness,
And streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5-6)
Living in an ancient culture meant that crippling diseases and injuries were more than just a hindrance. If your body wasn’t fully functional, you often had to rely on the kindness and care of family and strangers to provide food and money, or else you’d die. The promise that the Messiah would have the power to take these things away was exciting, but we also see that this Messiah would love everyone, even those who were seen as lesser because of their earthly sufferings. And as this Messiah is revealed in the New Testament, we see that this healing takes on much more than just giving us a few easy years in this life.
Fulfilled in the New Testament
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (Matthew 11:4-5)
We get excited when we see Jesus performing incredible miracles. We see that He is God, and that He has the power to instantly heal diseases in a way that only God can. Christ did what Isaiah said He would do – He displayed His ultimate power and authority over this world by even removing death from Lazarus.
And as we sit in this broken world while our bodies slowly waste away, we are tempted to be like the crowds who only followed Christ because of the temporary food and healing He provided. We easily get so distracted with this brief life on Earth that we often focus on what He can do for us today. We love Jesus, but we may take the good gifts that Christ can provide and turn those into expectations, and sometimes even demands.
Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
Yes, Christ has the power over sickness and death. Yet when we experience these things, it’s not because He is weak or we are being punished. As we can see from Paul, our weaknesses and sufferings allow us to bring glory to God. Whether it’s keeping us humble or letting others see the power and majesty of God by how His children understand the role of suffering, we know that everything in our life is meant to point others, and ourselves, to Jesus Christ.
But just because Christ may not remove suffering in our short time on this Earth doesn’t mean we can’t still rejoice in the way He will ultimately fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:4-5a)
Christ may remove our suffering in this life. He may allow us to continue in it for His glory. Yet no matter what we face now, those who have trusted Him for salvation can look forward to living without the effects of pain and sin. We don’t look forward to this glorious day because we get an eternity without suffering, but because we get an eternity with Jesus Christ.
