The Letter of James James 5:13-18 This section is a prayer for health. In the format of the standard Greek Letter, it is one where the writer wishes the reader good health by the gods. However, James is offering something much better. He is offering God and the provision He has made for our healing. Of course this is not new for the letter’s recipients. He is merely reminding them of what they should be doing. In the blessing for health, James divides health into two categories. The first is tests or trials that come from outside us. These are the trials and tests James has mentioned throughout this letter. He reminds those suffering in this way to pray. He does not necessarily instruct them to pray for deliverance, as many think, but for patient endurance (James 1:2-18). As an additional point, James reminds those readers who are not suffering trials and tests to pray also, but this time prayers of praise. The second category is that of physical illness. James admonishes those who are spiritually mature amongst the fellowship to pray over those who are ill and anoint them with oil as a physical reminder of Jesus’ healing. The prayers and anointing are done in the name of the Lord and it is He who will provide the healing. Sometimes this will take time and may not take the form we expect it to take. When talking of the physically ill, James makes a connection between illness and sin. As noted in John 9:3, not all illness is the result of sin but sin can cause illness (1 Corinthians 11:30). The illness James particularly discusses in this passage is that caused by sin. For healing to take place the sin at the root of the illness needs to be dealt with. To prevent this form of illness, James reminds the readers to confess their sins to each other. We are not required to do this always. Not every Christian is in a position to find others to listen to their confession. If it is possible, the acknowledgment of sin to each other and praying for each other, helps in knowing that the sin has been forgiven. As a final note, James encourages those who feel they are too ordinary to pray for another person so remember that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16b). He cites the example of Elijah who prays for no rain. For three and a half years there was no rain in Israel. When he prayed fervently again for rain God answered his prayer (1 Kings 18:42-46). As human beings we are ordinary and ineffective. However with the Holy Spirit within us and our lives surrendered to Jesus we can perform mighty acts in His name.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:49:41 +0000
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