Eliot so eager to spread the Gospel to the Auca people even when it cost him his life in 1956 ; not to mention the thousands of other Christian martyrs so willing to die for their faith . Today , God ’ s promise of eternal life remains the same , encouraging believers to faithfully follow unto His calling — whether it be committing to full-time ministry or missionary work , or simply testifying to God ’ s love on a college campus . Because in accordance with modern medical anthropology , the healing we believe in has credibility — and the most powerful evidence is that it has indeed worked before .
Grandma stopped treatment two months after her diagnosis . “ It ’ s terminal anyways ,” she explained . Instead , she laid on her hospital bed in the middle of our living room , praying and listening to “ Amazing Grace ” on repeat . Though her body grew weaker and weaker , she was still so full of joy and life , excited for her upcoming baptism . She would often call me to her bedside to whisper ,“ I ’ m saved now , and I know God ’ s waiting for me .”
( 3 ) The healer must meet the faith and expectations of larger society .
For thousands of years , the Jews had awaited a Messiah foretold by the Old Testament prophets . Between 739- 686 BC , the prophet Isaiah spoke of a Savior with no outward majesty , who would be rejected and crushed for man ’ s iniquity — so that in His righteousness sheep that had gone astray would be counted righteous . Seven hundred years later , Jesus fulfilled all twelve verses of Isaiah 53 with remarkable accuracy . The meek and humble Servant , scorned by the ones He came to save , was pierced in His hands , feet , and side . The immeasurable weight of man ’ s sin was nailed with Him to the cross , and by His wounds man was healed to “ live for righteousness ” ( 1 Peter 2:24 ).
Jesus not only fulfilled Old Testament Scripture , but He also surpassed all expectations . The Jews had been waiting for a Messianic King who would overthrow the Roman Empire and establish a powerful militaristic kingdom for them . Jesus certainly was a king : a descendant of King David whose word established a New Law , with all authority in heaven and earth . 9
9 Hebrews 8:6-13 , Matthew 28:18
Yet Jesus also had the eternal divinity of the capital-K King of Kings : He spoke life-giving words and performed life-saving signs and miracles . But unlike the militaristic king expected by the Jews , Jesus was gentle and humble , riding into Jerusalem on a donkey . The Gospel of Mark portrays Christ the servant who associated Himself with the lowest in society ( prostitutes , tax collectors , widows , and Samaritans ). While on earth , He spent most of His ministry among the simple and needy multitude , and today , Jesus cares for us in the same way . He feels compassion for those who are suffering , and He has the tenderness and empathy we seek in a healer . He knows our every struggle ; for as a man , He suffered and overcame all the sin and temptation that we wrestle with . Jesus fully understands the plight and need of humankind , and His heart goes out to His people . His mercies are tender and His affections sweet to those who come to Him for healing .
When God finally did take my grandma home , my mom was heartbroken , sobbing in frustration and anguish at the seeming unfairness of it all . But then , she would quiet : “ Mom ’ s in a better place now … eternal life in heaven , where there ’ s no more pain or death or weeping ...” It was a miracle of complete healing for my grandma , and then an overflowing of comfort for my mom . When deep called to deep , the Great Physician certainly answered .
Medical anthropology affirms Jesus ’ s healing work . The three levels of belief required for effectual healing have been met —( 1 ) Jesus believed in the effectiveness of His salvation , for He willingly suffered and died to grant it ; ( 2 ) billions of Christians today and throughout history live or have lived testifying of their full belief in Jesus ’ s ability to heal ; and ( 3 ) Jesus is wholly equipped to be our healer , fulfilling Old Testament Scriptures and even soaring past our expectations . We can be confident that complete healing has already been achieved both in and through Christ . Medical anthropological theory thus attests to the Gospel , illustrating just one of many arguments as to why we find the uttermost redemption from sin and death through Jesus .
“ Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls ”— sinners , in the depths of despair , received a perfect healing . Guilty , broken man was unconditionally forgiven , brought into eternal life when Christ hung on the cross . For His cry rings as thunderously now as it did two thousand years ago , the roar of a waterfall proclaiming , “ It is finished !”
Claire Lin is a sophomore at Brown studying Biology .
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