The Greatest Physician

AS WE LOOK at the field of medicine today, we are amazed at the knowledge and skill that has been imparted to some of our fellow men for the betterment of mankind. Today's knowledge and skill are the result of God unfolding the mysteries of the human body down through the centuries.

SIX GREAT MEN

For 800 years, the Greeks led the world in medicine, owing much of their knowledge to the Egyptian civilization. Yet there was very little progress until Vesalius paved the road for anatomy by publishing his artistic book in A.D. 1543, showing the structures of the human body. Today, as a result of research in this field, surgeons are able to operate successfully on the human body. Shortly after this achievement, William Harvey, the great 17th century physician, was able to correctly describe the mysteries of the circulation of blood in the human body, thus planting another milestone in the progress of medicine.

How grateful we should be today to William Morton, a meek dentist. In his day, the operating table was called "the torture table," for there the victim of the surgeon's knife had to bear the full pain of surgery in total consciousness. In 1846, Morton administered his mysterious clear fluid to a victim on the operating table. For the first time in medical history, a human being was cut open while sound asleep! Thus anesthesia was born and the era of painless surgery started.

Now the wheels were moving more rapidly than ever in the progress of medicine. Medical knowledge was advancing as God continued to reveal these mysteries to men. In 1857 a humble chemist, Louis Pasteur, was the first to discover a living germ and its habits, thus laying the foundations of bacteriology. As a result, doctors today have considerable understanding of the problems of infections, diseases, and their prevention. Lister, another great, introduced in 1870 the antiseptic principle which prevented infection of wounds. Twenty-five years later, Roentgen invented the x-ray, thus rendering diagnosis and treatment more efficient.

THE GREATEST PHYSICIAN

However great these men were, they must stand aside as we bring the greatest Physician into view. This Physician was born in poverty and had no schooling; yet He was able to heal the sick and give immediate relief, but He never charged a penny. He never turned a patient away -- no case was too difficult. His cure never failed and was lasting! Matthew's gospel speaks thus of Him; "Jesus went about -- healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matthew 9:35). His power and knowledge were unlimited in all things since He was the Creator (Colossians 1:16). Since He made man, why would He not have perfect understanding and control of man's body? He cleansed the leper, gave speech to the dumb and hearing to the deaf. "Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind" (John 9:32). With mere clay and spittle, the Lord Jesus anointed the eyes of a man born blind, and he received his sight! What a Great Physician He was! His works were marvellous, to say the least!

However, His greatest concern was not the healing of the body, but the healing of the soul! Even though we may be free from bodily disease, we are all spiritually diseased from within by sin! What a dreadful disease: "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

The worst of all diseases
Is light compared with sin,
On every part it seizes,
But rages most within.

Israel's spiritual state was described by God: "Thy wound is grievous -- thou hast no healing medicines" (Jeremiah 30:12,13). Their sins were like ugly wounds in the sight of God. They tried to heal them by turning to everything but God for help. It is no different today. Folks are using many "medicines" such as good works, confession, penance and reformation in an effort to cover their sins. However, God says, "In vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured" (Jeremiah 46:11). How sad to see so many doctoring themselves with quack cures!

THE ONLY CURE

Since our case is so desperate, what can be done? Oh, dear reader, let me direct you to a Physician who, without question, already knows your case and has the remedy as well. He will not charge you one penny, penance, or prayer but will gladly and absolutely cure you of all your sins. He says, "They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:31,32).

On Calvary's cross He suffered, bled and died. The cure for the disease of sin can be found only in His death. If you repent and come as a sinner to this Physician and take the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you will be healed from the power and penalty of your sins. It only took His touch to heal a body, but it took His death to heal your soul! Believe and be saved!

"I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee." (Psalm 41:4)

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

ROBERT E. SURGENOR, Evangelist