“When the evening had come, they brought
unto Him many who were possessed with devils, and He cast out the spirits with
His word and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by Isaiah the prophet, who said, “He Himself took our infirmities and
bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17, KJ21)
There are numerous metaphors used to
describe God and His strength which include substantial and solid elements and
armaments such as Mighty Warrior, Deliverer, Tower, Rock, Fortress and
Refuge. These words convey in concrete
and tangible images for us to remember the power of God in providing security,
safety, protection and provision. There
are numerous other metaphors that describe God and care and compassion as
Father, Shepherd, Sustainer, Keeper and Helper and still more metaphors that
describe God as Healer, Creator and Giver of Life. Beyond those and hundreds of others, there are
metaphors that note God as our Redeemer and Savior and finally as the
King. In addition to all of the
metaphors, there are dozens of names in the Old Testament coming from the root
El such as Elohim name giving reference to part of the character, essence or
attributes of God. Finally there is the Sacred Name "YHVH" usually
written as LORD noting the one and only Living God.
In Jesus Christ the Son, all that God is
becomes flesh as Jesus reveals in a living presence the God who the metaphors
describe and names honor. As Jesus lived, as He walked, as He taught, as He
healed … He was God amongst the people of the earth. All that the Father was in strength and
power, Jesus showed in His command over all the elements of the world. The compassion, attention and care of merciful
Father and Shepherd flowed through the Son in all the works He bestowed on
those who came to Him. Even as Jesus was
rejected, bruised and crushed and as He bore all sickness and disease on the
cross, He was redeeming the sin of the world for all time. His ultimate victory over death as He rose up out of the grave,
crowned Him, King of Kings for all eternity.
The metaphors and the names, the essence
and the character and even the healing and the power are unbelievable and
inconceivable in any possible true accounting and acknowledgment to us as human
beings but that He saw us, He came for us, He took on all our sin and diseases,
healing us and redeeming us forever as His children is something we cannot
forget. It is and will always be the “Good
News” for each of us and for all the world.
“For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but
have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world but the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17, NKJV).
Suggested Reading … Matthew 8 & John
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