Physical health
And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. (Mark 1, 42)
A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him. (Mark 1, 40-45)
Before healing a sick person, Jesus often asks them for an act of faith. To be saved, in fact, an industrious faith in God is necessary, while a healthy body is not required for eternal salvation. As it is a gift from God though, the body should be kept as healthy as possible. We will also have to account for this gift one day when we come before God. Is it clear to you in your life, that a healthy body is important, but that the salvation of the soul is more important? Do you try to explain this to those around you and to those who are blinded by the sole purpose of maintaining a healthy body?
