The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. There is, then, an abundance of healing power in Jesus Christ and His salvation. Not only is His fruit sweet and nourishing, but the leaves, the little things, as it were, about Christ, are full of healing virtue. The very leaves are healing, from which I gather that the least thing about Christ is healing. These healing leaves change the life blood, affect the spirits and make the nature other than it was before. Yonder in Heaven, those faces which look so bright and comely, fresher than new born babes, owe their freshness to these healing leaves!
They have no need to say it when the Lord comes and dwells with them, for the Sun of Righteousness has risen upon them with healing in His wings. When Jesus healed the sick of the palsy, He said to him, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." Pardon and healing were one! The Lord has begun to heal us and the healing virtue which His Grace has infused into us will work us health and cure till we shall be without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing! His salvation will also perfectly heal our bodies. O you who are now sick unto death, ask to be forgiven and healing will come from the pardoning hand.
Calvary is the place for the healing balm rather than for the lancet and the knife. The work of Jesus, our heavenly Physician, is not so much to point out disease as to indicate and to apply the remedy. He is able to heal, but He is not always engaged in healing. There are times when the power to save is more than usually manifest, times of refreshing, seasons of revival, days of visitation, acceptable days, days of salvation. The healing power was conspicuously present when Christ was teaching. Note carefully the favored hour, "when He was teaching." Jesus linked the healing with the teaching. It was so with the material healing, much more with the spiritual healing, for "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
Healing must come before serving! She was "lying," that is, prostrated by the terrible malady. This is the healing point. He "took her by the hand and lifted her up." There was a contact established. Oh, that glorious Doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ! There is healing in it! There is healing for you and I warn you, again, that you must have this healing before you can work for Jesus. Your Lord must begin with you before you can begin with Him.
The act of justification is generally apart from all means: God only does it. In vain your presumption when God shall come to examine you; you will not pass muster unless you have had a real healing from his hand. It is easy enough to get religious notions and fancy yourself safe, but a real saving work is the work of God, and God alone.
Go where the Gospel is preached, the Gospel that really feeds your soul, and go often! Whatsoever He says to you, do it. If Christ has healed you, obey Him! Obey Him at once, obey Him exactly, obey Him in everything, be it little, or be it great!
Welcome, Brothers and Sisters, to pardon and healing through our Lord Jesus. God bless you! Amen.