Christ our Doctor

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I have no experience of working as a medic. However, like many of us, I have quite extensive experience of being on the receiving end. For instance, I hadn’t been to the doctor on my own account for years, but a while ago I had a chesty cough that I couldn’t shake off, and my ever helpful wife insisted that I go to see my GP. Against my better judgement I went. I was given penicillin. I reacted violently against it and it laid me out for a couple of days. So the only time I’ve had off work for sickness in living memory was caused by going to the doctor! I draw no general conclusions from that. Just thought I’d mention it.

Vivienne and I have in fact over the last few years spent hundreds of hours in various hospitals and medical units as the result of a severe long term condition suffered by one of our daughters. We have been on the receiving end of treatment – both in the personal and in the medical senses – that has sometimes been good and sometimes been bad. What makes for a good medical experience for a patient and his or her family?

There are surely four crucial things about medical care that make all the difference to the experience of a patient. First, there’s what you say. Secondly, there’s what you do. Thirdly, there’s why you do it. And fourthly, there’s how you do it.

What health professionals say is a massive part of their work. I was very struck a while ago when I heard a researcher in the field of General Practice reporting that a substantial majority of a GP’s work is not actually physically treating patients, but is giving them reassurance. “Doctor, am I dying?” “No.” “Oh good. Thanks. Bye.” That sort of thing.

So what you say is very important. But of course it is by no means everything. What you do, and why and how you do it are also highly significant for a patient’s experience.

It occurred to me that those four things correspond in fact to the four things that we are looking for when we talk to people about the possibility of them joining the staff of this church. That’s convictions, competence, calling and character. What we say is driven by our convictions. What we do reflects our competence. Why we do it relates to our calling. And how we do it is defined by our character. But that’s what patients need in medical workers of whatever sort as well: the right convictions; a high level of competence; an awareness of calling; and good character.

The key to those things can be found in the New Testament. You might like to take up the Bibles in the pews and turn to Colossians 3.(Colossians 3.17):

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

And then also look on to verses 23-24. This is addressed in the first instance to slaves rather than medical workers (though maybe if you’re an overburdened and overworked medical worker of some sort you might sometimes feel that’s appropriate). However, what the apostle says to slaves applies even more to the rest of us. Verses 23-24:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

In the light of that, my question is this: If what you do is medical work, what does it mean in practice to do it in the name of Jesus? What it does it mean in practice to be working for Jesus?

To find an answer to that, we will look at Matthew 9.35-38. This is the New Testament reading we heard earlier. I want us to look at this in three chunks, under three main headings. Those headings are, first, Jesus brings the Kingdom among us. Secondly, Jesus has compassion on us all. And thirdly, Jesus sends us out as his workers. So:

First, JESUS BRINGS THE KINGDOM AMONG US

Look at verse 35:

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

Now, stick with me as I explain some stuff about this. It matters for medical work as will become clear.

Apparently there were over 200 towns and villages in the region of Galilee, all with a population of least 15,000. That’s a lot of needy people. How did Jesus use the time that was available to him? He did two things. He taught about the kingdom, and he healed. What is this kingdom of which Jesus speaks? It is the kingdom of God. Jesus is the King of the kingdom, and the King has arrived to begin his reign. Where Jesus is, there is the kingdom of God.

The kingdom has three marks that you can see here: the presence of Jesus; his preaching; and his power.

First, the kingdom is marked by his presence – that is, his loving rule. He is the king of the kingdom. He is God come among us. The great enemy of the rule of Christ is our sin.

Secondly, the kingdom is marked by his preaching – that is, his word of truth. The great enemy of the word of Christ is Satan, the Father of lies, his adversary.

And thirdly, the kingdom is marked by Jesus’ power – that is, his victory over disease. The great enemy of the victory of Jesus is death.

How do we experience the kingdom ourselves today? It’s very important to realise that through Jesus we can experience his kingdom now – but that experience is partial for now. The kingdom of Christ will only fully and finally come into being at the end of time when Christ returns as he has promised to do and this world as we know it is rolled up and he brings into being a new heaven and a new earth. That’s God’s promise and that’s the Biblical vision.

What will that full and final experience of the kingdom be like? Then, we will know the presence of Jesus directly and see him face to face. Then, every knee will bow before him and acknowledge the truth of his word, either reluctantly or willingly and gladly. And then and only then the great enemy death will be destroyed and we will experience a total, complete and once for all victory over disease and sickness. This physical and spiritual world will be recreated – even more physical but no longer decaying. It will be eternal. These physical bodies will be resurrected – no more subject to disease and death. They will be even more physical but they will also be eternal – like the resurrection body of Jesus himself.

What, then, can be our partial experience of the kingdom of Jesus now, in this life? What can we expect? Well we can experience his presence now through his Spirit in those who believe and trust in him. We can hear his voice now by listening to and obeying his Word in the Bible. The one thing we cannot experience yet is physical resurrection. We have to wait patiently for our new eternal bodies, trusting God’s promise that that day will come. Jesus is no longer physically among us as he was back then in Galilee, “healing every disease and sickness”.

Jesus gave a visual aid of what life will be like when the kingdom comes in its fullness. No more sin. No more evil. No more sickness. No more death. That is the prospect that awaits the citizens of the kingdom. Imagine what an astonishing foretaste of the kingdom of God those days must have been.

But nonetheless we do still have a partial experience – a taste now of Jesus’ victory over disease through prayer and through medical work. That, it seems to me, is why it is no surprise that a lot of Christians end up in the medical services. Medical work reflects the kingdom of Christ.

What are the implications of all that for you if you’re a medical worker? Here are two things.

First, settle the issue of who you are working for. Are you working for yourself? Or your employer – whether that’s the NHS or whoever it might be? Or are you working for your reward – whether you value most the money, or the status, or the sense of being needed? Or are you working for your Lord –Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, and the Doctor of doctors. The question that boils down to is this. As you go about your work, are you self-centred or Christ-centred? Your patients will notice the difference! Settle the issue of who you’re working for.

Secondly, make sure that your convictions, and therefore your words, are in line with the word of God. The consequences when Satan’s lies hold sway are devastating. He distorts, twists and denies the truth. Lies are at the root of so much mental distress. They lie behind the fearful holocaust of abortions that rages all around the world including here in this country. They lie behind the rising notion that the helpless are worthless. They lie behind the increasing pressure for the legalisation of so-called euthanasia.

God is pro life. He gave us life. He created us in his image. That’s why the sanctity of human life is a Biblical and Christian doctrine. Human beings – all human beings however un-formed, however enfeebled – are loved by God. He gave his Son up to death in order to bring us life. He could not have paid a higher price. We dare not trample on his gift. He bought us with his blood. So we need to make sure our convictions are in line with God’s word. And then let what you say be ruled by your convictions. As opportunity arises, talk about your faith – don’t hide it.

That, then, is my first heading: Jesus brings the Kingdom of God among us. My next main heading is this:

Secondly, JESUS HAS COMPASSION ON US ALL

Take a look now at Matthew 9.36:

When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus, remember, is the Son of God. He is God come to earth. He is sinless and holy. He is the Lord of all things – with legions of angels at his command if he wanted to summon them. And wherever he goes he sees this pitiful collection of humanity pressing in on him. Think about how he could have reacted – and, indeed, how he could react to the crowds of humanity now. He could be contemptuous. Confident of his own superiority, he could look down his nose with contempt.

He could be condemnatory. He could look at our diseased frames and be fully aware of how much of our trouble we’ve caused ourselves. The alcoholics and binge drinkers. The drug addicts. The self-inflicted wounds. The sedentary lifestyles. The smokers. The sexually transmitted diseases. The injuries caused by and to the violent. The unwanted pregnancies. The problems caused by leaving it too late to come to the doctor. The careless drivers causing road traffic accidents. The list goes on. Jesus could look at us and condemn us to the consequences of our own folly. We could have no complaint.

He could be callous. He could see us as things not people – beneath his concern. He had a universe to rule, after all. He could have not bothered to get any grasp of what it’s like on the other side.

He could be contemptuous, condemnatory or callous. But, thank God, he isn’t. Instead, he is compassionate.

He sees that the crowds - and let’s include ourselves: he sees that we - wander around like lost sheep. We follow whoever happens to be in front even though they have no idea where they’re going. We listen to endless lies. We fall into vicious circles of self-destructive patterns of behaviour. We get ourselves into deeper and deeper trouble, torn apart by predators, worn down by fear, and with not the slightest hope of ever extricating ourselves from the valley of death that we have got ourselves trapped into.

“Harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” It is a graphic picture. And Jesus comes among us to be the good shepherd we need. And his heart goes out us. And he has compassion us. And he reaches out to help us, if we’ll only turn to him. The compassion of Christ lead him to the cross. Compassion is costly. But costly, active compassion is the way of Christ.

Jesus understands the pressures on the crowds. They are harassed. He understands their powerlessness. They are helpless. He understands their lost-ness and need of rescue. He forgives. He wants to do them good (even if that does require him to cause some hurt in the short term). He lays down his life to serve them. In other words, he loves them. It’s a response from the mind and heart and gut – and so much more than emotion only. And in this he is our model and pattern and example.

What, then, are the implications of that for you if you are a medical worker of some kind? Here are two things.

First, combine competence with care. Care for your patients. Have compassion on them. You could be aloof and indifferent. Don’t be. You could be condemnatory and dismissive. Don’t be. You could make excuses for people and down-play their sin. Don’t. You could despise the crowds of patients, caught up in all their petty absurdities. You could even begin to hate them for their bad treatment of you. Don’t. Instead, let your heart go out to them. Don’t just be professional and competent (though please be that – nobody wants to be treated by a compassionate incompetent). Combine competence with a deep, considerate care for each patient. Christ loved them enough to lay down his life for them. We can do no less.

Secondly, let the love of Christ fuel that care. Without that, it will run dry. Without that, we soon find ourselves running on empty. So be consistent with your use of the means of grace that God uses to refuel us – Bible study, prayer, small groups, church gatherings like this. We need to be like those Formula 1 racing cars. They get through fuel like nobody’s business, because what they are asked to do is so demanding and sapping of energy. So they need regular pit stops – when those huge diameter hoses are jammed onto their fuel tanks (when all goes according to plan) and a new load of fuel is pumped into their tanks, for the coming laps. Let the love of Christ fuel your care.

That’s the second point. Jesus has compassion on us all. Finally:

Thirdly, JESUS SENDS US OUT AS HIS WORKERS

Here are verses 37-38:

“Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”



Jesus is the Lord of the harvest. Immediately after this he sent out the twelve disciples to to preach, heal, raise the dead and drive out demons. Only the power of Christ can do those things. Healing happens now through prayer and medical work. Raising the dead in the post-apostolic era awaits the Day the Judgement and the general resurrection. But even now death can be delayed by the grace of God.

This was in a local paper the other day, under the headline: Dentist’s Thanks to Medics Who Saved Her Life:

“A dentist who almost died after suffering a brain haemorrhage has paid tribute to the surgeon who saved her life. [She] was a perfectly healthy 40-year-old when she collapsed in [her] surgery around two years ago. She was taken to Newcastle General Hospital, where, three days later, she had surgery to remove an aneurysm in her brain. [She said:] “It’s completely changed my life. I don’t worry about anything now. I feel like I’m a walking miracle and I’m just so thankful to everyone that had a part in saving my life… The treatment … was just fantastic. How do you actually thank someone who has saved your life?”… The effects of the operation [included] cancelling out her fear of spiders…I’m not sure that’ll catch on as a method for dealing with arachnophobia, but I’m glad it worked for her! I have personal cause to be very grateful to God for those involved in medical care. Almost certainly both my father and one of my daughters would be dead by now without the medical interventions they’ve been through. Jesus brings the kingdom of God among us. Jesus has compassion on us all. Jesus sends us out as his workers. Medical care in the name of Jesus and for Jesus changes people’s lives for good and changes the world. So I come back to where I began, by reminding us that that the key to that kind of medical work lies in what you say, what you do, and why and how you do it. In the words of Colossians 3:… whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.



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