FEVER 40ºC = 102ºF
India
This testimony comes from a tiny foothills village in India. That region has no hospital, nor doctor, nor nurse. Not even running water. We were visiting in the village when a distraught mother spoke to Solomon, a local pastor with us; he was able to translate only one word to me: "fever". I touched the baby, he was burning hot, perhaps 40ºC (102ºF). My heart nearly burst with pain for the child and for his mother; she had nowhere to go.
My spirit told me that only Jesus could help. We know that Jesus "was pierced for our transgressions, our rebellion. He was crushed for our iniquities and sins. The punishment that brought our peace was on Him; and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus always showed compassion (Matthew 14:14). He would meet a sick or demonised person and immediately be filled with compassion. This is what I remembered when I touched this child.
Personally Powerless
My own experience did not help. Many times I had felt great compassion towards a person who came seeking healing from God; I, or others, prayed with no clear result. I too have been prayed for many times without any apparent healing.
At other times miraculous healing does occur (amidst great joy and praise). The Scriptures show where Jesus "healed all who came" (Matthew 8:16), they also show where Jesus seemed to choose just one person to be healed, at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22) and at Bethesda (John 5:6-8).
With this little boy there was no opportunity to equivocate, or to hide behind the Bible. I knew absolutely that this was completely beyond me .. there was nothing that I could do in my own strength, I felt a sense of helplessness and desperation, would I let this child down and his mother and my Lord, out of my inadequacy? I laid hands on the boy and asked for help from two of my companions who are nurses. We prayed together and individually. I knew that my prayer was weak, I knew that this was a "Jesus" emergency. "Come Lord Jesus".
Compassion. My heart was aching for the boy and his mother. Where was the father? Did he even know his son was so desperately ill? "Come, Lord Jesus".
Clearly the family was Hindu, the mother had a mark on her forehead, the pastor did not know her. Was the father not there because we were Christian and he was opposed to Jesus? I do not know. "Come, Lord Jesus" was our prayer.
"Come, Lord Jesus"
The baby's temperature went down. Very quickly. It seemed that one minute he was desperately hot, then the next he was normal; perfectly cool, quiet, well, snuggling up to his mum, content.
The mother glowed with joy and relief. I glowed also. The mother turned to thank me, much as the crowd did to Peter and John (Acts 3:12-16); I could only respond with "Yessou Christo, Yessou Christo", the only words in her dialect that I knew, for it was Jesus who healed this child. I was as blessed and excited as she was.
I cannot forget. That whole village now knows that Jesus is real, He has compassion because He is love, He heals, He saves to the uttermost. Words are not enough here.
Favourite Scriptures
(Matthew 14:14) Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
(Matthew 20:34) Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
(Mark 6:34) Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and He began to teach them many things.
(Psalm 103:1-5) Praise the Lord, O my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Amen.
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Bless us all.
