The Poor Man's Portions

Our Beloved Physician

By Robert Hawker

My soul, catch a thought of what the apostle speaks here about the servants of the Master. And think of the Master! If Luke the physician was beloved, how much more so ought Jesus to be by you in this beautiful picture? The Son of God came, as the great physician of the soul, to heal all who were diseased, to bind up the broken hearted, to give sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

My soul, do you know Jesus in this tender and affectionate office? Has he examined you in your illness, and told you his diagnosis? And are you, through his mercy, restored to health? Because of your shame and fear, you would never have made known your case to him, if he had not first, of his own free accord, called upon you. Has he done so? Have you heard him ask the tender question, "Will you be made whole?" And have you rejoiced to come under his care? Do you know what it is to have his blood applied to heal the wounds of sin, his righteousness to cover them, his grace to refresh under them, and his Name as ointment poured forth, to purify you from all uncleanness?

Moreover, has Jesus dispensed to you freely his remedies, without payment, without money, and without price? And does he do all this, and a thousand affectionate offices beside, which belong to the physician, calling himself by that endearing name, Jehovah Rapha, I am the Lord who heals you? No longer let it be said, then, "Is there no balm in Gilead; no physician there?" But tell to every poor sin-sick soul, Jesus is the beloved physician, who visits the poor and the needy, and heals every kind of sickness, and all types of disease among the people, he has healed me.