信仰の手引き（英語・English）
Peter and the Paralytic Aeneas
Author
goodnews2
Date
2025-02-06 21:52
Views
736
Why We Go to Church
Students go to school to learn. Even those who can’t yet read find their way through the guidance of teachers and by taking in many lessons at school. Why do we go to church? At church, we hear the word of God through the pastor. As we listen, we come to know God and learn to understand the vastness of His power.
Aeneas, Who Suffered from Paralysis
Acts chapter 9 in the Bible tells the story of Peter visiting the believers in Lydda. There, Peter met a man named Aeneas. Aeneas had been bedridden for eight years due to paralysis. Why did he suffer from this illness for eight years? Because he did not know Jesus. His illness persisted because he did not know who Jesus was or how He worked.
Peter said to Aeneas,
“Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.”
Hearing Peter’s words, Aeneas may have thought,
‘Jesus is going to make me whole? That’s right! If it’s Jesus, He can cure my illness too!’
A new kind of faith arose in Aeneas’s heart.
Learning About Jesus Through the Bible
I have attended church since I was a child. However, because I did not know much about Jesus, I thought that reading the Bible, praying, and giving offerings were the ways to truly believe in Him. But when I was nineteen, something surprising happened while I was reading the Bible. I discovered that when Jesus was crucified, He cleansed all of our sins. Before that moment, although I had heard that Jesus died on the cross, I didn’t understand why He did. Then, I realized that He died in place of my sins. I thought to myself, “If Jesus died for my sins, doesn’t that mean my sins are gone?” After that, I began reading the Bible more and more. It became clear to me that Jesus died for my sins so my sins were forgiven forever.
Also, after seeing in the Bible how Jesus healed the sick, I thought, “If Jesus healed the sick, then He can heal my illnesses too.” So, whenever I was unwell or in discomfort, I relied on Jesus, and each time, I experienced Him healing me.
When You Know God
No one has ever seen God or Jesus with their own eyes. However, the fact that we cannot see God or hear His voice does not mean He doesn’t exist. When we go to church, listen to the Word, or read the Bible, we come to understand the existence of God. As we realize, “Ah, God is truly great,” we grow closer to Him, and our hearts begin to become one with His. From that moment, God’s power begins to work within us, driving out the dark thoughts and sins that reside in our hearts. This allows us to live with brightness and joy.
Aeneas, Who Relied on Jesus
When Peter spoke to Aeneas about Jesus, imagine if Aeneas had responded, “Jesus can heal my illness? No way. I’ve been bedridden for eight years. How could I possibly get up?” If Aeneas had said that, Peter might have replied, “You don’t know Jesus well enough. To Him, eight years or ten years makes no difference. He doesn’t want you to suffer from your illness.”
Fortunately, Aeneas listened to Peter and probably had the thought, “If it’s Jesus, then He can heal my illness.” So, he immediately got up and made his bed.
Even today, Jesus wants to heal us when we are sick. But more than just healing our illnesses, Jesus desires to make us children of God and for us to live within His grace. Understanding this heart of Jesus allows us to rely on Him with confidence, even in times of sickness.
We, Too, Like Peter
Peter didn’t know Jesus well from the beginning. He was just a simple fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. However, Peter met Jesus and received salvation. He became a disciple, following Jesus and gradually coming to understand His heart. As a result, Peter’s heart became one with Jesus’. He preached the gospel and healed the sick with Jesus’ power.
In the same way, when we learn about Jesus and our hearts are one with His, we too can experience similar outcomes. Through us, many people can find salvation, and the sick can be healed.
