An integrated Life
The crowds pressed in on Jesus for physical healing. He withdrew from them to pray, to teach his disciples, and to move on to other villages. It looked as though He was giving priority to preaching. But the people were giving priority to physical healing. When presented with the paralysed man lowered through the roof Jesus opened the debate on which was the easier - to heal the body or to forgive sins. Many of us would have settled for a quick cure and 'forget the sins'. Jesus was not implying that the man's paralysis was the result of his past behaviour. Even if it were this was not Jesus' point. He was implying that total healing or salvation brings a unity of body and spirit.

Sickness of body is just as wrong in His Kingdom as our sin or rebellion against God. For the present no healing can be permanent. Temporary healing of body has its purposes. Jesus healed to show that He has authority both to forgive sin and to heal the body.

Temporary suffering also has a purpose - this may include the ability to accept our limitations. None accepted a greater downsize in power than God become man in Christ. Yet He lived an integrated life, body and spirit being in harmony with the purposes of His Father.