And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.
The title for our meditation is the Greek word, “sōzō.” It is the word that the NIV translates as made “well” in today’s verse. In English, we generally expect that if someone is made well, they are restored to complete health. After looking into the meaning of the Greek, sōzō, I am not entirely sure that is exactly what James meant.
Forgive me, I don’t mean to be questioning the fine minds that did the translation for NIV. Instead, I am questioning our understanding of what it means to be made well. Once again the challenge is discerning who’s point of view we should look at the word through; God’s or ours.
My point of view when I am sick is very simple. I want to be well. What I mean by that is that I want to feel good and to be able to go on about my way, doing what I want to do. In this sense being made “well” is all about what I want.
God’s point of view is a bit different. He wants us to be well but he knows that being well is more than physical. It is more than going our own way. Generally speaking, when people go their own way it is very often not God’s way that they go.
Mark 2: 1-12 tells the story of a man who is not well. He is paralyzed. His friends bring him to Jesus on a pallet. When the paralyzed man is laid before Jesus, Jesus gives him what he needs: forgiveness.
Now from a human point of view, this seems a bit odd. Can’t Jesus see what the man needs? Doesn’t he know how horrible a fate that is?
Yes, Jesus knows. In a very short time, Jesus will himself be paralyzed, unable to move. He will be nailed to a cross, his skin shredded, no hope of moving again before he faces death. Jesus knows what it will mean. He also knows the value of being one of God’s family. He knows that our pride, our willfulness, leads us away from God. He knows that without forgiveness we have no hope of being with God.
Once again, we see that Jesus’ perspective is very different than our perspective. We see that what is important to God is different than what is important to man.
In 2 Corinthians 12: 1-10, Paul relates a story of his pain and prayer for healing. Three times he prayed for healing and three times the answer was, “No.” Instead, Jesus tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Does Paul resent this? Does he get mad? Is he angry at God for not letting him have his way? No. Instead, he boasts in his weakness so that the power of Jesus may rest on him.
When James writes, “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well,” he leaves the door open for God to decide what “well” (sōzō) means. There are times when a person is healed physically. There are also times when what is needed more is to be spiritually well. Oddly, sometimes physical pain is key to our spiritual wellbeing.
Application: Faith is trusting that God’s will is best for us from an eternal perspective.
Food for Thought: Why does James add the phrase, ”… the Lord will raise them up?”
I think in the context of the passage this primarily refers to being raised up from their illness. Physical restoration is in view. However, as you say here, there are other ways God heals. Everyone eventually dies. That is a consequence of sin. Everything James is writing is done in the context of God’s will. There are no physical guarantees (James 4: 15). We receive what we ask for if it is in accordance with God’s will (1 John 5: 14-15). But God’s will is always to raise up His children for an eternity (John 11: 25 – 26). Even death cannot stop Him from raising us up. He will raise us up one way or another.
Thank you, Rich!
I find James’ words very challenging. They force me to think about my relationship with God and what I expect from Him. From my human perspective, if the elders pray over me and anoint me with oil and I do not get well, is that because my faith has failed or because God has failed? Yet, I have to accept that God’s perspective is very different than mine. Like a parent taking their child to the dentist, there may be unpleasantness involved, but it is ultimately for the good of the child. What should I value more? My comfort in this life or my comfort for eternity? I pray for both, but I also trust that God knows best.
Rich & Jeff, You guy’s got it. Look forward to tomorrows Question Jeff..
He Is Risen!
Anonymous: He is risen indeed!