Sickness was a visible sign of sin in the Old Testament, a sickness without a remedy. Men who were sick were ostracized, could not be touched by good Jews. Sin or sickness could be found anywhere- in the synagogue with the man with unclean spirits or with anyone- Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who was barren until old age. (Lukel:7) The perceived source of illness or sin was God's might or anger. Psalm 38 says in part: "Through your anger all my body is sin; through my sin there is no health in my body." The Law helped man to be righteous, to avoid sin or sickness. Sacrifice of calves and bulls were offered to God by the priests of the Law. Long incantations by seers were said over the sinner with sickness. These were insufficient.
Jesus changes everything. He sought out sinners; those with physical ailments sought him out, hoping for a cure. Jesus connected faith in Him and His Word to cure the sick; He not only cured them of their physical ailments, He cured them of the sins of their souls. The conscience of the law of their hearts replaced the outward law of the Pharisees. The law of love and mercy replaced the law of might "of the hand of God." The hand stretched out on the cross, the true power of God, was stronger than the judicial law of the Torah given to Moses. The Word spoken to Abraham through a cloud is now spoken with "authority" by the Son of God in person.
Man plays an active, participatory role in the drama of meeting with Jesus. Drama it is in its tension; sin and sinner meet Christ's love and power. Man recognizes Jesus; even the unclean spirit acknowledges Jesus as "the Holy One of God." "From the power of Christ, the devil convulses out of man." (Mkl:27) Jesus speaks from His own authority- the author of the Torah given to Moses. His word is His might. And everything changes. The Son of God is here with us.
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