Perfect Soundness: A Faith Function! [Acts 3:16 & Mk.5:34]

INTRODUCTION:

Putting our subject in the right context, it is apt and unarguably fitting to say, the phrase, “Perfect Soundness” is self-explanatory. It is equally suggestive of a person with clean bill of health, a vivid explanation of a person who hitherto, had been grounded by an ailment or affliction. Of someone who eventually slid out of the age-long sickness into a permanent healing, occasioned by the workings of faith. Set free, totally from the vicious cycle of daily begging under the most unfavorable weather conditions and humiliation from passersby. The other character, a female person, got her deliverance also, not only from her twelve-year ailment, she regained her freedom from physicians who had milked her dry, financially. Yet, she did not get value for her humongous spendings. So sad, so unfortunate!

The common factor among these “unidentified” victims of afflictions, is FAITH. Though the workings of faith in both cases to get them delivered had a slightly different approach, the fact remains the healing power was at work. And whichever way faith found them, a truth of the effectiveness of faith at times like this, is undeniable and much more established and reinforced.

THEIR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS & ENCOUNTERS WITH ‘HEALING’ FAITH:

The man born lame was a common sight at the gate of the Temple called “Beautiful.” He was glued there and consequently defined the location. Everyone knew him and he had no competitor in his trade and by location. The only hope and means of livelihood he had, and lived on, was the meagre he collected, on a daily basis, from whoever cared to respond to his solicitations. Ironically, these givings took him no where! Truth be said, no giver, however rich or generous, gives a beggar their best. Biblical writers put his age at over forty years, “for the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing has been performed” (Acts 4:22). That was an age good enough to be impactful in the family and society. Yet, by reason of affliction, he could not live to this expectation.

For the woman with the flow of blood, who had been trapped in this cage of affliction for twelve years, she was not identified with a location, and no age bracket was suggested, except that she seemed to be a bourgeoisie, going by her financial status, as narrated by biblical scholars. Yes, so much that she had more than financial sustenance until her “sickness” drained all she had worked for, and had in savings. Nevertheless, she was desperate for her perfect soundness. Hence, when the opportunity came, she did not give it a second thought before embracing it, not minding the consequnces of breaking into Jesus Christ’s tight protocol and the crowd milling around Him. As she meandered her way throught the unwary crowd, she had a focus, a target-to touch the hem of the garment of the LORD. Her determination met with ease as she reached her object of target. Her processed thoughts, “when she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, if only i may touch His clothes, I shall be made well” (Acts 5: 27-28), materialized and came through for her!

While her ‘faith‘ was aroused out of her desperation for healing that spurred her to action, to focus on the Healer, her beggar-contemporary in Acts 3, on his part, had ‘faith‘ thrusted on him by the apostles. At any rate, both characters were undoubtedly known by unidentified people from their respective social and familial backgrounds who may not be proud to come out and identify with them, by reasons of their peculiar situations and predicaments. Consequently, they resorted to living life alone, daily carrying their burdens with them, though unrelatedly, with no visible human or material help/ solution in sight, that might possibly lay their problems to a final end. But a day came, respectively to them both. A day that brought a divine turn-around in their lives. A day that would go down in the history of their existence possibly as the most memorable day of their lives.

While the Acts 3 man was living on random, solicited, and fluctuating alms, the woman with the issue of blood was far from being a beggar. She was at one time financially buoyant and capable of taking care of her health condition, until all ended in futility after all her personal and retirement savings were depleted. As a last resort, the thought of her, driving her healing towards faith in the healing name of Jesus, dawned on her. Not only that, her matter was complicated such that she suffered “many things from many physicians” (Mk.5:26) . The ‘woman of blood’ suffered many things- so many that we could imagine rightly, part of her suffering from the plurality of physicians that treated her, at various times, might include sexual harassment, over-billing, uncomplimentary body languages and gestures, unethical and unprofessional conducts / practices, verbal abuse, intentional avoidance from some of her handlers, amongst several other vices. All these malfeasances would probably might not have mattered to her if she got her much desired healing. It was an irony of fate that everything was contrary in her case. Rather than this, it was a sad outcome, “and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” (Mk.5:26). In our present dispensation, with these many years of affliction, it will be an understatement to say she would be out of job. She will simply be unemployable! , while she licked the wounds of her combined suffering all alone, from the hands of physicians, with blood loss of twelve years. The ‘Beautiful- gate’ beggar, on his own, and in his isolated case, combined suffering in harsh conditions with his static and immobile condition, “was carried, whom they laid daily..” (Acts 3:2b). Ostensibly, the sequential vicious cycle of ‘carry and lay’ on a daily basis, lasted for so long in his life, with nothing appreciable happening in his life, until healing faith found him.

From these two victims of afflictions, it is worthy of note that sickness is an affliction with demeaning and targeted shots from the pit of hell. It drains finances, wastes the victims’ precious lives, times and resources, and yet emaciate in the process.

FAITH THRUSTED & FAITH CHASED: ONE RESULT!

Juxtaposing the two scenarios in our text, it is obvious that both characters longed for total and holistic healings. They thirsted for help and assistance in their individual spaces. However, how they both received their ‘perfect soundness’, varies considerably, yet, from the same ‘Source’! While the Acts 3 man looked unto the apostles for the usual ‘token’, as he always did from all passersby, Peter said, “Look at us”. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.” (Acts 3:4). He did receive something…but it was something he never bargained for, a token beyond his imagination. He was made whole instantly! Peter’s address at Solomon’s Portico, to the perturbed crowd after his healing, explained the ‘thrusted faith’ better, “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:16). Suffice to say, had this man heard of a ‘real healing power’, let alone having faith in the power, and embraced such, years before now, he probably would not have lingered on the ground for that long! Until then, he was contented with whatever he made daily from his static begging spot, and life continued. The idea of ‘perfect soundness’ was strange to him, hence, he lived each day as it came.

On her part, the woman with the issue of blood possibly had the notion before now, of a permanent way out of her predicament, but ironically chose to pursue healing, to a spiritual affliction, in the clinics, trusting in the resume and prowess of the medical personnel in town. Up to a level that the strength of her fat bank account, that got depleted in a very short while, was another disappointing buffer. Yet she grew worse, until she could not have it any more. It is either today or NEVER the moment she cited Jesus in town. Her swift intuition to ignore the pressing crowd around Jesus, risk the public shame of onlookers, and chase after her priceless total healing was unsurpassed. It was with the same speed of lightening that Zaccaheus ran ahead of the Master and got his instant salvation. Her faith was immediately complemented by Jesus, And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mk.5:34). There is a kind of uncommon peace that accompanies this type of healing. She got that peace.

SIDEBAR:

• On her part, the woman with the issue of blood possibly had the notion before now of a permanent way out of her predicament, but chose to pursue healing, to a spiritual affliction in the clinics, trusting in the strength of her fat bank account, that got depleted in a very short while. Yet she grew worse!
• For the woman with the flow of blood, who had been trapped in this cage of affliction for twelve years, she was not identified with a location, except she seemed to be a bourgeoisie, going by her financial status, as narrated by biblical scholars. Yes, so much that she had more than financial sustenance until her “sickness” drained all she had worked for, and had in savings.
• While her ‘faith’ was aroused out of her desperation for healing that spurred her to action, to focus on the Healer, her ‘beggar-contemporary’ in Acts 3, on his part, had ‘faith’ thrusted on him by the apostles.
• While the Acts 3 man was living on random, solicited, and fluctuating alms, the woman with the issue of blood was far from being a beggar. She was at one time financially buoyant and capable of taking care of her health condition, until all ended in futility after all her personal and retirement savings were depleted.
• No giver, however rich or generous gives a beggar their best.

Conclusion:

This, undoubtedly, is a submission that weighs in more on another perspective as dual faces of faith. It is a highlight of two different victims, with two different afflictions, in two different locations, and their dispositions to their different situations. However, the good God that dispenses healing, is the Sun of Righteousness, “but to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings.” (Mal.4:2), was available in both situations. He has the singular and ultimate discretion to carry out healings in its various forms, with faith as a commensurate working tool, on the part of the sick. And anyhow He performs the healing is not subject to human validations, since He has the discretion to carry it out with no restrictions by any force, time or space.

The Acts 3 man obviously ignorant / oblivious of faith that heals, had a long-term plan to remain in the beggarly trade that took him no where. However, the ‘gentlemen- apostles’ who carried the healing power of God, imputed it to the lame man. It was a moment of permanent healing for him. The faith that the disciples carried eventually did the miracle for him. For the woman with the issue of ‘blood’, she embraced faith, and ruggedly too, more so when she realized she had exhausted her strong financial base, on ‘sources’ that worsened her case. In all, the ‘Dual Faces’ of faith- [‘thrusted’ and ‘chased’] is of utmost importance in all our cases. And whichever way and in whatever situation ‘faith’ finds us, we can be rest assured of ‘Perfect Soundness!’

PRAYER OF SALVATION:

Peradventure you want to accept the LORD as your Savior, you may please pray thus: LORD JESUS, I repent, confess, and forsake my sins and surrender my life to You. From this day, I accept You as my LORD and Savior. Wash me clean with Your blood and accept me as Your child. Amen!

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