Fear and unrest have done two things to modern men, women, and children: either lulled them into a fatalistic lethargy where nothing matters, or driven them into such a neurotic state of mind that they feel a desperate need, but do not know what they want. How are we going to reach down inside of these people and awaken them to the fact that their only hope of happiness in this life and assurance of eternal life is to become acquainted with the Great Physician, who can heal their disease of body, soul, and spirit and through faith make them whole?
Today even the medical profession is recognizing that men's hearts are "failing them for fear," for never before has the world been so filled with people suffering from neurotic conditions. It is estimated that two thirds of the patients who frequent the doctors' offices are there with complaints whose origin is emotional. Hence the field of medicine that deals with such cases has come out of its eclipse.
Frank G. Slaughter, M.D., in his book Medicine for Moderns, writes:
"We strive to be healthy in order to be happy, but how many of us strive to be happy in order to be healthy?
"It is a sound psychological principle that given the choice between being unhappy or unhealthy, most people unconsciously choose the physical pain of ill-health rather than the mental pain of unhappiness.
"Out of this principle has come a new concept in medicine which recognizes that all illness must be considered in relation to the entire person involved. . . . We are not merely bodies which operate under the direction of a mind, but an entirety which includes both body and mind, working in so close a relationship that no arbitrary separation is possible or should ever be made."—Page 1.
In the book Psychoanalytic Therapy, by Franz Alexander, M.D., and others (The Ronald Press Co., New York, 1946), another significant statement appears:
"Neurotic tendencies lie latent in every person. When anyone is exposed to difficulties beyond his powers of adaptation, these latent tendencies may be called into action and an acute neurotic state develop. . . . Psychoneurosis is a failure of the individual to deal successfully with a given situation. . . ."—Page 8.
As workers we know that we can deal with unsettled minds only as we learn from the Great Physician, who can heal the wounded soul. Jesus healed the "whole man," body, soul, and spirit.
Raymond Calkins, in his valuable book How Jesus Dealt With Men, gives us a thought-provoking insight into the, methods of Jesus, gleanings of which can be summarized as follows:
Jesus had qualities of grace, moral and spiritual power, sympathy, insight, and a deep, abounding love. He ever distinguished the individual from the mass, and looked through the physical to the spiritual. With deep love for men, Jesus began with what He knew to be in their hearts and then led them to higher truth. As a skillful surgeon He pierced the soul and cut away the disease at its very roots.
Any form of suffering aroused His compassion. He always had time to deal with every human problem. He let men know He had faith in them, thus inspiring confidence. Nicodemus, the woman of Samaria, the paralytic, blind Bartimaeus, the rich young man, Simon the Pharisee—each was given the same consideration according to his need.
To Jesus, each was in the darkness of mental night, and to each He pointed the way to regeneration. Jesus appealed to the hidden powers within man and made all aware of their need. For Him there were no hopeless cases. Men felt His deep love, and therefore did not resent the necessary criticism. Often He asked a favor of men, knowing that to be the most effective means of coming near to them.
Jesus knew how to reach the heart of man, the center of his emotions, and transform the life. When this transformation takes place a "new creature" is born.
"When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven."—The Desire of Ages, p. 173.
"Christ sought the people where they were, and placed before them the great truths in regard to His kingdom. As He went from place to place, He blessed and comforted the suffering, and healed the sick."—Medical Ministry, p. 319.
Jesus was the greatest physician who ever lived upon earth. He understood the need of humanity, the emotional tendencies of the human being and their result upon the body and mind and life of the individual. That is why He gave to men the invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. . . . Learn of me; . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:28, 29).
How would Jesus deal with individuals who suffer from emotional strain? To those who need confidence He promises, "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Cor. 12:9). To those who suffer from tensiod and nervousness, He bids, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46: 10). To those who are filled with worry and anxiety He counsels, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, . . . and all . . . [else] shall be added" (Matt. 6:31-34). To those who are living in remorse He promises to "cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:18, 19). He comforts the bereaved with the words, "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:23-26). Thus it is that the body, soul, and spirit may be restored through the living words of Jesus, bringing comfort, courage, and cheer and with them a new hope, a new way of thinking, and a new and glorious way of living. Psychologists speak of this as "re-educating the ego," yet how simple and uninvolved is the Master's method of dealing with human minds!
It is not an easy thing to understand human nature." Perhaps one reason for this is found in the words of Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Yet Jesus had keen insight in dealing with the individual and his problems, and if we study and follow His methods, we can expect success.
Let us examine the technique of Jesus in dealing with a few individual cases.
I. THE PARALYTIC. Based on John 5:1-15 and The Desire of Ages, pp. 201-204. I. Problem of the paralytic.
- Multitude at pool.
- Illness of long duration.
- Alone, friendless and unaided.
- Disease result of his own sin.
- Could not contend with crowd.
- Nearly in despair.
- Continual disappointment.
2. Jesus' method of instruction.
- Jesus ever watchful of humanity.
- Aroused an interest.
- Inspired hope.
- Was a friend to friendless.
- Was full of compassion.
- Jesus heals the body.
- Jesus heals the soul.
- Wise purpose underlay Christ's act.
3. Attitude of paralytic (reaction).
- Through faith obedient.
- Did not doubt but acted upon Christ's words.
- Witnessed for Jesus.
4. Object lesson for us.
- Through faith, spiritual healing.
- Speak boldly for Christ.
- Have compassion in soul winning.
- Be ever watchful for opportunities.
- Comfort in need, poverty, and sickness.
- Act upon God's Word.
- Lay hold upon His power.
- Jesus forgave; we must be forgiving.
II. THE RICH YOUNG MAN. Based on Matthew 19: 16-22 and The Desire of Ages, pp. 518-523.
1. History of rich young man.
- A ruler.
- Well educated.
- Wealthy, had many possessions.
- High estimate of own righteousness.
- Felt a need in spite of riches.
- Awakening of love for Jesus.
- Felt the desire to become one of His disciples.
2. Jesus' method of instruction.
- Jesus tested his sincerity by question.
- Invited obedience.
- Jesus read his heart.
- Urged self-surrender.
- Jesus alert to need of the soul.
- Pointed the way to the kingdom for him.
- Jesus invited fellowship.
3. Attitude of rich young man.
- Spiritual blindness.
- Wanted heavenly treasure, valued temporal more.
- Not willing to make sacrifice.
- Riches became his idol.
- Proved an unfaithful steward.
4. Object lesson for us.
- Christ weighed against the world.
- To have Jesus means full surrender.
- Position or possessions must not keep us from Christ.
- Must hear the words "Follow Me" and obey.
- Reward only to the faithful steward.
"In every human being He [Christ] discerned infinite posSibilities. He saw men as they might be, transfigured by His grace,—in 'the beauty of the Lord our God.' Looking upon them with hope, He inspired hope. Meeting them with confidence, He inspired trust. Revealing in Himself man's true ideal, He awakened, for its attainment, both desire and faith. In His presence souls despised and fallen realized that they still were men, and they longed to prove themselves worthy of His regard."—Education, p. 80.
In the Bible the Great Physician has diagnosed man and has also given the spiritual prescription for his healing. We should be ever faithful in helping men and women to "taste and see that the Lord is good," and thus we shall be able to accomplish what psychosomatic medicine tries to accomplish, and much more. Paul understood the importance of the mindand-body relationship when he counseled, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).
Paul also understood that man must face experiences of life with a well-balanced "adult attitude," for he said, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Cor. 13:11).
It is not an easy age in which to work, but as we study God's textbook, the Bible, and acquire His graces of sympathy and understanding, we go forth with courage. The Great Physician will give insight to us as He did to Paul, to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; . . . to comfort all that mourn; . . . to give unto them . . . the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isa. 61:1-3), and to bring to souls that endurance to bear the "tribulation" of "the world" with that "peace, . . . which passeth all understanding."
