That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. (Mark 1:32)

Soon as the Son and his crew left the synagogue, they hiked off ter the home of Old Pete and his brother Andrew. Turns out Pete’s ema-in-law had took sick and whar in bed with a fever. ‘Near ’bout on her death bed, she whar. Seeing her condition the Son went ter her, took hold of her hand and helped her up. Right away the fever that bound her bolted. Standing upright she began ter wait on ’em.

When the Son does us a good turn—heals us, helps us, provides fer us—this ought ter be our response as well. We ought ter offer ter help and serve others. Such be Skipper’s way. He don’ want us ter hoard our blessings. Instead our response ought ter one of gratitude expressed in generosity ter our neighbors. That be the call of Skip’s crew.

The Son Heals Many

That evening, with the sun low on the horizon, folks brought the Son all the infirmed, afflicted, and those bound by unclean spirits. The whole town crowded ’round the door, pressing in ter be made well and whole. The Son healed a goodly number who had various diseases drove demons out of folks.

The prophet Malachi said such would happen when the Son comes.

For you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2)

Fear the Lord. Revere Skipper’s name, character, and word. Trust that Skipper means what he says when said through his prophet Isaiah:

By His scourging we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

The Son suffered scourging befer he whar nailed on the cross, befer he died fer our sins. If in his death and resurrection we be set free from sins, then what be the point of the Son’s scourging? What sort of loving Father asks his Son ter suffer such wrath fer no good reason?

This Be What The Son Says ’bout Him Healing Folks

“Tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind see. The lame walk. Those with leprosy are cured. The deaf hear. The dead are raised to life. The Good News is being preached to the poor.” – Jesus (Luke 7:22)

“I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” – Jesus (John 10:10)

Jesus went everywhere in the country of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. And he healed all the people’s diseases. (Matthew 4:23) (Matthew 9:35)

Jesus drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases. (Matthew 8:16-17)

If we doubt that the Son came ter heal all, then search the Scriptures fer an instance when the Son refused ter heal a body—fer a day when he said, “Nope. Not you. Not today. Go on, now. Limp along with your affliction. Tough it out for I tell you suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope and though healing from me will not happen in this life, when you get a new resurrected body you will be fully healed then, so hope in that. Live with your affliction and make the best of it.”

Yes sir, find that verse, I say. Find ’em verses whar the Son says:

“Your faith has not healed you. Go in peace and be bound by your suffering.” (Mark 5:34)

“Rise and go; your faith has left you sick.” (Luke 17:19)

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has not healed you.” (Mark 10:52)

But praise be the Son ne’er said such rubbish. Instead we find the Son saying:

“Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” – Jesus (Luke 13:160

Sickness be the result of sin in the world. Sin whar brought on by Adam. This curse of sin be the thing we promote ever’ time we disobey Skipper. Sin and sickness be the work of the enemy and the reason the Son appeared whar ter destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8)

Therefer, let us go and preach this good news:  The Spirit of the Lord be among us. He came ter proclaim good news ter the poor. He came ter proclaim freedom fer the prisoners. He came ter proclaim recovery of sight fer the blind. He came ter set the oppressed free—even them bound by the devil and prisoners of afflictions. (Luke 4:18) Jesus heals many—all, in fact, who come to him. Let us teach and preach that good word, mate.

Parroting the Prayers of Skip’s Crew

Lord, I agree with your words. I believe you came to see free all those bound by sin and sickness. I believe you came to give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and healing to our bodies. I believe your promise of life to the full includes being fully filled with your Spirit. And where your Spirit resides no sin can remain, for you are fully righteous. When your Spirit shows up, unclean, impure spirits tremble with fear. Because of sin the enemy can bind us with spirits of sickness. But I also believe you conquered the enemy on the cross. Therefore, I declare that the enemy has no authority over my body. In your name and in your nature I declare I am set free from the curse of sin and now a slave to righteousness. (Romans 6:18) Amen and amen.

Pirate Facts

Pirates often made slaves of their captives and put them to work for their cause, on their vessel, and in their galleys in order to feed their wicked crew. Those who refused to become slaves were often killed on the spot. Pirates would make money later by selling their captured crew as slaves to others.