During my years of study of the Bible, the word immediately has often leaped off the pages of the New Testament’s accounts of Christ Jesus’ healing work. When this word is used in relation to the Master’s healing work, it is referring to the quickness of the effect of Christ-healing on the individuals Jesus healed.
One such account is recorded in the book of Matthew when Jesus came down from the mountain where he gave the Sermon on the Mount. A man with leprosy approached Jesus saying that if Jesus were willing, he could cleanse him. Leprosy was believed to be an incurable illness, yet Jesus, evidently not impressed at all by this dreaded condition, responded to the man’s call for help. “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (8:3). From this account we see that this fearsome affliction disappeared from this man that moment. It did not get better gradually and fade away; it vanished instantaneously.
Something I’ve noticed about this account that has made a deep impression on me is the fact that not only was the healing immediate, but Jesus’ response to heal the condition was also immediate. The immediacy of Jesus’ deep and compassionate response to this man’s receptivity and faith was followed with an immediate healing.
