Saturday 20 October 2007

Background

The letter from James is a collection of practical instructionswritten to all God's people scattered over the whole world. Thewriter offers instruction and guidance for Christian attitudes andconduct and this passage offers instructions for healing the sickand for prayer. 

When a Jew was ill he went to the Rabbi. The early Church continuedto care for the sick and when someone was sick they called for anelder. The elders of the Church (v.14) were closely associated withthe apostles in authority - they were appointed over the missionarychurches so they had an official position of authority in the localchurch.

In verse 15 the word 'save' refers to healing the sick rather thaneternal salvation. The use of oil in anointing the sick was acommon remedy for a variety of ills at that time but it alsosymbolised the healing presence and power of the Lord. Anointingshould be accompanied by prayer offered in faith in order for aperson to be healed.

The need for bodily healing and the need for spiritual healingoften go hand in hand in biblical teaching. James advised hisreaders to confess their sins and pray for one another - this wasalso the practice John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism,encouraged in the early Methodist class meetings. Wesley also hadan interest in what would be known today as 'barefoot medicine',enabling people who could not afford a doctor to use simpleremedies. Wellbeing of both body and soul are of concern to theChristian community.

The Old Testament prophet Elijah is presented as a model of a manof prayer. We are not just to admire him but to follow hisexample.

To Ponder

Churches today regularly pray for the sick. Inwhat way could this ministry be developed?

When someone you have prayed for recovers, how doyou feel?

In what ways do you believe your prayers can beeffective in bringing healing to people today?