Advent Day 12: Physician

Pest House (Christ Heals the Sick), Edward Knippers, 1987. Oil on canvas, 8 x 12 ft.
Used with permission from the artist.

“I Am the God that Healeth Thee” from the album God Will Make a Way: The Best of Don Moen. Composed and performed by Don Moen.

“I Speak Jesus” performed by Charity Gayle, composed by Jesse Reeves, Dustin Smith, Abby Benton, Kristen Dutton, Carlene “CeCe” Prince, and Raina Pratt.

Poetry:

“The Celestial Surgeon”
by Robert Louis Stevenson

If I have faltered more or less
In my great task of happiness;
If I have moved among my race
And shone no glorious morning face;
If beams from happy human eyes
Have moved me not; if morning skies,
Books, and my food, and summer rain,
Knocked on my sullen heart in vain:
Lord, thy most pointed pleasure take
And stab my spirit broad awake.

Christ the Physician

One of the most comforting realities of Christ in the New Testament is that of a Physician, or Healer. This was reflected in Christ’s ministry plan, as revealed in his home synagogue at the beginning of his earthly ministry in Luke 4, as he read from the scroll of Isaiah 61. But this was not merely physical healing—it was the healing that comes from hope restored, freedom from a variety of prisons, and healing of the broken hearted. And then it was inaugurated with the healing of a blind man and paralytics, as well as raising the dead to life. Christ’s healing is not merely a cessation of pain or the renewal of strength. It offers wholeness to every part of our being.

Our songs for today express this well. I Speak of Jesus reminds us of peace in his presence, as well as hope, freedom, conquering of fear and recovery from depression. The first song embraces spiritual healing: power, life, the breaking of strongholds and the ability to see the light through our shadows.

Christ, the God-Man, is the Physician of every area of our broken lives.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry expresses his desperation and anguish in the search for meaning amid suffering. It is a common challenge to believe that Christ is the Great Physician, and yet there remains pain, violence, and death in our broken world.

Our artist, Edward Knippers, is a powerful presence in the art world today. His paintings are biblical narratives which feature nude figures and have often been misunderstood by Christians. But his use of nudity is deeply rooted in his profound belief of the incarnation of Christ. He seeks to restore the human body to its central place in our divine/human encounter. In this painting, “The Pest House,” our eyes are drawn to the nude back of a man. This is Christ—not distant from the pain and dangers of such sickness, but in the midst of the hurting—touching, embracing, and healing. The “pest” pictured is of Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a skin cancer which is associated with AIDS—a contemporary version of leprosy. Christ is willing to share in even the most destructive of our circumstances. This is the work and character of Christ, the Great Physician.

This past summer I was struck with the very serious illness called sepsis. When I was admitted to the hospital, my husband was told that I was within two hours of my organs shutting down and, most likely, death. Our family and the pastoral staff of our church were informed, and prayers began. The physicians were unrelenting in fighting this blood infection with the strongest of antibiotics. Within forty hours, my blood pressure was stable and the infection in my blood began retreating. I felt God had chosen to raise me back to life!

That weekend I watched the streaming of our pastor preaching on Acts 9 and the raising of Dorcas from the dead by the Apostle Peter. This solidified my belief that God had chosen to raise me from the dead, for His purposes—and I rejoiced.

I knew if this horrid infection has caused my death and I had entered into Glory, I would still know the fullness of Christ’s healing. I could say, with Paul, in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”

Truly, Christ is our Great Physician.

Prayer:

We beg you, Lord, to be our help and our support. Free us from our troubles; take pity on the lowly; raise up those who have fallen; give help to the poor, health to the sick, and bring home those who have wandered away. Feed the hungry, ransom captives, give strength to the weak and courage to the faint-hearted.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.

(Apostolic Church Father, St. Clement of Rome)

Dr. Dianne B. Collard
Alumna of Cook School of Intercultural Studies
Biola University
Founder of ArtsCharlotte in North Carolina

For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, please visit our website via the link in our bio.