Friday 21 December 2007
- Bible Book:
- Acts
"Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter's shadow might fall on them as he came by." (v.14-15)
Background
Today's reading moves us into the time of the very early Church.Jesus has ministered, died and risen.
Now his associates - the apostles - are out and about in a ministryof healing with "many signs and wonders" (v.12). For many of theonlookers, this may not have seemed a lot different from what Jesushimself had been doing, even though it made a great impression onthem.
In this account, it seems to be witnessing the apostles' works ofhealing that leads people to faith in Jesus.
But for the apostles themselves, it must have been hugelysignificant to have discovered that Jesus' healing work was stillvery much evident in and through their own ministry. This had beena matter for their prayers a little earlier (
And this account offers modern-day believers the hope andexpectation that Jesus continues to heal through his friends today.It is not simply the Gospel stories that fulfil the prophets' hopes- we are still living in this age of fulfilment.
To Ponder
How far is healing ministry an integral part ofbeing Church?
What are your experiences and expectations ofJesus' healing for yourself and those around you?