When the healer needs healing…These are the words that arrested me in last Sunday’s service. Visiting the church I was reared in as a child, the pastor shared of a devastating trial where their denominational leader’s wife was facing stage 3 cancer. Having been asked to address the congregation who’s leader was now struggling, he uttered, “At times the healer needs healing.”
These words resonated within me. Facing my own loss, not as a pastor but as a grandson, I felt the emptiness of being the one who offers comfort to others. Yet, it seemed the comforting words I needed weren’t there. I am sure these feelings are nothing a mother hasn’t felt in her sickness. After having administered healing, medicine, care and compassion to her family, the family is now at a loss for the manner in which they are to minister to her. It is role reversal and leaves one dumbfounded.
I suppose it is just too hard for us to fathom that the one whom we look to for healing would indeed need healing himself. For instance, I think of the life of Christ. Christ, the Healer of all healers, spent years healing the infirmities of those around Him. He mended the brokenhearted, lifted the downtrodden, rescued the desperation of society and yet few seemed to grasp the concept that He too needed a compassionate touch at times.
Thankfully, we witness glimpses of individuals ministering to our Savior. On two occasions we read of women pausing to anoint the feet of Jesus, even wiping them with their hair (Luke 7:36-50; John 11:1-2). In addition, there were a company of women who ministered closely to the Lord in the final hours/days of His life (Matt. 27:55-56). However, on the flipside, we find that those three disciples closest to Him struggled to stand in prayer with Him in His greatest hour of need (Matt. 26:36-46).
Our leadership, authority-stricken society often holds healers so high that we neglect to see their need for healing. Thus, we create leaders who masquerade their own hurts and pains lest they be seen as vulnerable or less than. Yet, we find, even in the life of Christ, there are times when even the Healer needs healing.
Application:
In your family, how are you prepared to administer healing to the one who so often administers healing?
In our churches, how do we, as a congregation, prepare ourselves to minister to the one who ministers to us?
How are we prepared to minister to those police officers, nursing staff, firefighters, and others of our society in their time of healing?
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive me for missing the moments to minister to the ones who have so faithfully ministered to me. I miss it at times. Whether I find them to be above pain and suffering or too spiritual to doubt, I fail to strengthen the healers of my family and community. Clearly, as healers the need healing at times. Help me to be more prepared for those moments.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Great post. I think you have some insights far beyond your years. I am blessed to be considered your friend. This really ministered to me. Thanks
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