Navigating Life When You’re Sick or Have a Disease

“Did Jesus ever get sick?” I asked myself as I blew my nose, gulped down antibiotics, knocked back a dose of cough medicine, swallowed the antihistamines and crawled into bed with my tissue close by. I suppose I was looking for a little sympathy. “Naah…” I said to myself as I laid there in misery. “Healing literally flowed from Jesus and He healed every known disease. I’m sure He never got sick!” So the next morning I searched through scripture…and this is what I found:

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15

♦ “Sympathize” in the Biblical language means to be affected by the same sufferings, impressions, emotions and experiences as another.

♦ “Weakness” means to be weak, infirmed, frail, feeble or sick…in body or in soul.

Coming to my senses, I realized that because of who Jesus was and His Mission on earth, He HAD to absorb ALL of the consequences of sin that fell upon the entire human race…including sicknesses! Not only that, He can come to my aid and comfort me in my suffering (Heb. 2:18; 2 Cor. 1:3-5). Therefore, I concluded...

1. He may not have got the flu, a cold or an infection…but felt every discomfort that we do!

2. He may not have had cancer…but He experienced what it was like to suffer from its effect!

3. He may not have had a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure…but He underwent their pain!

4. He may not have been trapped under tons of rubble from collapsed buildings in Haiti…but He experienced the agony of being left to die alone without hope of rescue!

5. And Jesus really did experience death…just like you and I will one day. But if we trust in Him and His redemptive work in our lives, we will be raised up again…like He was! (1 Cor. 6:14; 15:35-58)

Oh yes, one more thing. Added to all these things was the debauchery and degradation of sin (Is. 53:3-6). More than just feeling sin…He actually became sin on our behalf and suffered the eternal consequences of hell itself! (Eph. 4:9; 1 Pet. 3:18-20). And, beyond comprehension, He gave us His righteousness which we could never earn! (2 Cor. 5:21)

“WOW…What a Savior!” I said out loud as I repented from the selfish question I had asked the night before. “With gratitude in my heart, I will serve You…in sickness and in health for the rest of my life!”

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