Adult STS Lesson 100 Christ’s Authority Over Sickness, Death and Sin
MEMORY VERSE: “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people” (Luke 7:16).
TEXT: Luke 7:1-17,36-50
Jesus exercised authority over nature, demons, sicknesses and death during His earthly ministry. In our text, He healed the Centurion’s servant; at Nain, He raised the only son of a widow from death and at Simon, the Pharisee’s house, He granted gracious pardon to an unworthy, penitent sinner. These miracles and many others recorded in the Bible prove His Lordship. These signs and wonders attracted multitudes to Him. The divine purpose of Jesus is to enable people believe in Him and be saved (John 20:30,31). Believers need to realize that we have been commissioned with the mandate to evangelize the world. And when we are endued with the power of the Holy Ghost, it accelerates the presence and possibility of signs and wonders accompanying our evangelistic missions. This ultimately opens doors for more souls to be brought into the Kingdom. The consequence of sin includes sickness and death, which are greatest enemies of humanity. Jesus offered His precious blood to deliver man from sin and its deadly consequences. All those who come to Him in genuine repentance are saved from sin. His stripes provide healing for all manner of sicknesses and diseases. He delivers the oppressed and quickens the dead (Isaiah 53:5).
- CHRIST’S POWER OVER SICKNESSES AND DISEASES
Luke 7:1-10; Exodus 15:26; 23:25; Isaiah 53:4,5; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 4:23; Luke 6:19; Acts 10:38
As Jesus returned to Capernaum after He had delivered what is commonly referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount”, certain elders of the Jews met Him on behalf of a centurion who was friendly to the Jewish cause and had built them a synagogue; obviously he was being drawn to Christ by God (John 6:44,65). The centurion’s servant was critically ill and they pleaded with the Lord to heal him. The Lord never turn away anyone who comes to Him in sincerity. Christ was already on the way to the centurion’s house when he sent his friends to declare his faith that Jesus could heal his servant without bothering to come to his house. Like all men under conviction, he deeply sensed his own unworthiness. The Lord marveled at his uncommon faith. The centurion’s declaration that Jesus only needed to speak the word was in agreement with the scriptural declaration that: “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:20). The centurion’s humility in stating that he was unworthy of Jesus’ coming to his house is commendable. The Lord exalts the humble and abases the proud. The centurion’s servant was instantly healed when Jesus responded to the manifestation of faith and of the centurion. It is instructive to note that all through the ministry of Jesus, He constantly demonstrated authority over all sicknesses and diseases. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23). Sickness is one of the consequences of the fall of man. It is the absence of whole soundness in man – physical, spiritual, emotional, mental or physiological. Sin is the main cause of sickness (John 5:14;9:1,2; Psalm 107:17). Other causes of sickness may include unhygienic practices, poor dieting, lack of regular physical exercise, lack of rest, ignorance and satanic assault. However, no matter the cause of the sickness, God has promised to heal us as well as keep us healthy provided we obey Him. He declares in His word: “…I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). As God made provision for the salvation of our souls, His physical manifestation, the scripture emphasizes this as part of the total package of Christ’s redemptive work through His vicarious death: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
- CHRIST’S AUTHORITY OVER DEATH
Luke 7:11- 17,22; Mark 5:37-43; John 11:25,26,39-45; Hebrews 2:14,15
“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:13-15). Jesus was totally committed to the work of bringing succour to suffering humanity. As He went to the city of Nain, He met those bearing the corpse of a man who was the only son of a widow. The helpless widow found “consolation in Christ” (Philippians 2:1) as He raised her son from death. Christ here demonstrated His deity, sovereignty and authority over death. This miracle also revealed Christ as the resurrection and the life; thus, foreshadowing the resurrection of the dead. Other cases of the dead being raised to life by Christ include the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:22-24,35-43) and Lazarus (John 11:39-45). After His resurrection, Paul the apostle manifested the same authority on his evangelistic outreach. “And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him… And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted” (Acts 20:10-12). Today, this apostolic authority is still being manifested through God’s ministers. The raising of the dead by the Lord Jesus has several implications.
First, it shows us that He has absolute power over death and the grave.
Second, it teaches us that as believers, we should not be afraid of physical death. Rather, we should remain faithful to the end in order to partake in the resurrection of the dead.
Third, we should not be unnecessarily overwhelmed with sorrow and discouragement when our loved ones (fellow believers) depart this sinful world because they will be resurrected on the last day (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
- CHRIST’S AUTHORITY OVER SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Luke 7:36-50; 11:21,22; Mark 2:5-10; Luke 13:1-5; John 14:6; Mark 16:15,16
“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:47,48). Simon was a Pharisee who invited Jesus to eat in his house. It appeared that this Pharisee did not believe in Christ as a Prophet (Luke 7:39), yet our Lord accepted his invitation, went into his house “and sat down to meat”. This demonstrates His undiscriminating attitude towards the Pharisees and the publicans whom He sought to save from sin (Luke 19:10). Simon failed to show Jesus the usual marks of hospitality offered to visitors as the then custom was -a greeting kiss (verse 45), water to wash his feet (verse 44), or oil for his head (verse 46). As the Lord was in his house, a woman, who was apparently a notorious sinner came to anoint His feet with an expensive alabaster ointment. In this type of function, no one would expect a publicly known sinner like her to attend. Her coming took great courage and reveals the determination with which she sought forgiveness. Her “weeping” was an expression of deep repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). The Pharisees showed nothing but contempt for sinners. Simon was convinced that if Jesus knew her character, He would have sent her away, for her touching Him was presumed to convey ceremonial uncleanness. This self-righteous attitude by Pharisees is roundly condemned in the Scripture: “Which say, Stand by thyself, Come not near to me: for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day” (Isaiah 65:5). While Simon was musing in his heart if Jesus knew the woman to be a sinner, Christ knew his thought and gave a parable which pointed to his host’s state and that of the woman. The woman’s encounter with Jesus brought a total transformation to her life as she was saved from sin. Jesus did not turn the woman away contrary to the expectation of His self-righteous host. The scribes and Pharisees refused to His declaration of forgiveness for sinners as a blasphemy. For this reason, they remained in their guilt and condemnation while those they regarded as worst sinners were forgiven when they encountered Jesus. “Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31). All who reject Jesus as the only Saviour will perish in their sins and face eternal perdition in hell. Jesus declares, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). No mortal can atone for even the most insignificant of their sins. The fact that all men are lost except they come to Christ imposes divine mandate on believers to take the saving gospel to perishing men and women everywhere without delay. Following the example of the woman, sinners should urgently come to Jesus, repent, confess and forsake their sins, accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and live the rest of their lives for Him. Christ’s authority and power over sicknesses, death and sin is undeniably declared in the Scripture. He has commissioned His disciples to declare and demonstrate that power as they go about the business of the Kingdom. He commands: “And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew l0:7,8).
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:
- What is the place of signs and wonders in the evangelization of our communities?
- What are the causes of sicknesses and diseases?
- How can believers enjoy healing and good health?
- Mention other instances where Jesus raised the dead.
- What can believers learn from the raising of the dead by our Lord Jesus Christ?
- Why is the preaching of the gospel mandatory for every believer?
- What steps can sinners and backsliders take to receive salvation?
