Christ Over Cancer

Recently, cancer has hit the heart of our church family. Two sweet little girls, Gabbi (2 years old), and Caroline (11 years old), were diagnosed with cancerous tumors. They both have been through surgeries and are under extensive treatment. Through radiation and chemotherapy, the doctors plan to attack and eliminate the abnormal growth of cancer cells invading the different parts of their little bodies.

Photo Credit: JPS webcon

Needless to say, Gabbi and Caroline have been in the front of our minds and bottom of our hearts as we bombard heaven with prayer. Even my own 3 year-old girl knows to pray for “little Gabbi” and “sweet Caroline” daily. Having lost members of my own family to this disease, it’s hard to know why things like this happen. But since one of the purposes of this blog is to magnify Christ, let’s do that today in light of cancer.

Here are a few reasons to remember why Christ rules over cancer.

• People with cancer were created by Jesus. Scripture tells us all things were created by and for Jesus. Everything in heaven and on earth, including our own bodies, were made by the intelligent design and wisdom of Christ. We tasted life from Him, through Him, and for His glory. He formed each of our very unique figures and frames. If something attacks our bodies (especially cancer), it is an attack on the vessel of God’s glory. And God promises to uses even bodily weaknesses to make the name of Jesus more powerful. [Nehemiah 9:6, Col 1:16, Romans 11:36]

• People with cancer can cope with Jesus. When Christ saw the crowds of people, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless. We can be sure today that Jesus looks on us the same way, with love. As a shepherd with sheep, he knows when we’re tired and and sick. And I can’t help but think about Jesus holding us on his shoulders after the wolf of cancer has attacked the smallest sheep in his flock. [Matthew 9:36, Psalm 23:1-4]

• People with cancer will be healed by Jesus. As Jesus preached the good news of his kingdom, he was healing every disease and sickness among the people. We can be sure cancer was among those illnesses he cured.  By the power of His spirit, He commands the division of every cell and molecule.  Jesus, the source of eternal life, has the power to heal the nations. Every doctor is a shadow of the Great Physcian. Every medicine a shadow of His cure. Every treatment a shadow of His care. [Rev 22:2, Matthew 4:23]

• People with cancer who die can die with Jesus. Though cancer lives in their body, faith can reign in their heart. Christ felt the full extent of sin and death in the world by the crucifixion He endured. When he suffered death, he fully experienced the pain, suffering, aching, weakness, sorrow and heartbreak. Our family members lost to cancer are not lost alone. They have a friend, a brother who knows the darkness of that dying day. [Romans 6:10]

• People with cancer can be raised back to life with Jesus. The story of Jesus’ resurrection is hope for even those who lose the battle to cancer. As humans die like Adam because of sin, we can also rise like Christ because of His righteousness. This means that even life’s greatest enemy, death, can not stop life. The body cancer kills is perishable, weak, and dishonored. The body raised by the Spirit is imperishable, powerful, and glorified. [1 Cor 15:42-44, Romans 8:21]

• People with cancer can be given new bodies like Jesus. This makes the hope of heaven so much sweeter. To see our family suffer with such an agressive attack upon their fragile bodies is painful. But the transformation happening everyday by faith is inwardly beautiful and promising. Renewal of our broken bodies will reflect God’s glory, as we undergo a change to perfect, cancer-free, eternally protected by Christ. What a thought.