Devotion • August 10
Today’s Scripture Reading
Acts 19:11–20
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit said to them in reply, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (NRSV)
Reflection
As Jesus walked through the Galilee region and the cities of Jerusalem and Nazareth he encountered many who asked for healing. He was able to perform miracles to make a leper clean or a person who was blind see again, Jesus even raised Lazarus from the grave. In all of these healings Jesus not only cured the ailment, but he restored each person to their family, their community, and to their relationship with God.
This was the true essence of Jesus’ healings — to bring unity with others in community and with God. The seven sons of Sceva didn’t fully understand this essential element of healing and were only trying to cure the ailments, and it wasn’t working for them. They were treating healing as a magic cure for whatever ailment they were confronted with, and the magic wasn’t working.
We all seek healing from ailments and challenges, both physical and mental; no one can avoid trials throughout their lifetime. It is true for us today that when we get a diagnosis from the doctor we yearn for a miracle to cure us. We want the doctors or nurses to do their magic to make us well again, and many times it actually happens. Day after day miracles do happen in hospitals and people are made well again. Thanks be to God for these miracles! But ultimately what we seek is unity not only with each other but also with God.
Jesus understood that this was the truest form of healing. Even on the cross, he said to another person with him, “Today, you shall be with me in paradise.” Jesus was promising union, oneness, with that person and with God. He does the same for you and for me. For each of us, the final fulfillment of our healing journey is to be united with God, and God will never, ever turn any of us away. We are all united with God because we each came from God and each of us will return to God.
Prayer
Healing God, bring us together with each other through love and understanding. And when this earthly journey ends, bring us home to you so that we may again be one with you, wrapped in only your light and your love. Amen.
Written by John W. W. Sherer, Organist and Director of Music
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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