From A Distance
Jesus can do that, but more often, he doesn't.
It’s rather interesting that Jesus had in mind to go to the centurion’s home to heal his servant, but in the end, does not after the centurion said he doesn’t need to. It brings up a question.
Why did Jesus ever travel somewhere to heal? If he could just do it from a distance, why not?
One of the things about Jesus and miracles is that miracles are not the point of Jesus. Taking the above a step further, God could have done everything Jesus did from heaven, no?
But the decision for Jesus to be in proximity with humanity is not just a cool miracle (the incarnation and all). Rather, it is a feature of God’s plan that tells us about who God is. Proximity becomes important in Jesus’s story. For many generations, the story tells us that God acted by proxy, from a distance, and spoke through other humans (prophets, etc.).
But in Christ, he came into the world to be present with humanity and as a part of humanity. In this case, the mode is the message. Sure, Jesus heals and saves and all that, but he usually comes near to do so.
Matthew 8:5-23
When Jesus went to Capernaum, a centurion approached, pleading with him, “Lord, my servant is flat on his back at home, paralyzed, and his suffering is awful.”
Jesus responded, “I’ll come and heal him.”
But the centurion replied, “Lord, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. I’m a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was impressed and said to the people following him, “I say to you with all seriousness that even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this. I say to you that there are many who will come from east and west and sit down to eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.” Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you just as you have believed.” And his servant was healed that very moment.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for being close. Particularly in times of grief, pain, loneliness, and all sorts of difficulty, thank you for drawing near. The stories of Jesus sitting with a woman at the drinking place, or going to Zacchaeus’ home, or touching those who need healing…they say so much about who you are and who you want us to be.
Lord, help me to be the person who is not afraid of proximity. Give me enjoyment in sharing a meal, a conversation, or simply presence. Help me in times of anxiety wherein people seem scary. Give me the boldness, courage, and hopefulness of Jesus who saw the best possibilities in people and situations.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.