Jesus' health regimen and yours
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When contemplating becoming healthier in body, mind and spirit, it is trendy to turn to the New Age movement or the practices of Buddhists, Hindus and others. What is often ignored is the ancient biblical tradition in which Jesus was raised.
This is undergirded with the promise expressed in Exodus 15:26: "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases/sufferings that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD your healer."
According to psychiatrist Gerald Epstein, "The Hebraic understanding of illness therefore makes a direct connection between health and more ethical living." Much of our imbalance and compromised immunity comes from not living by the Ten Commandments. We become healthy out of relationship with the Most High God and with family, neighbors and outsiders.
Jesus also taught us to love ourselves in a healthy way (Matthew 22:39, see also Leviticus 19:18).
Jesus' knowledge of spas
Jesus knew much about the health resorts of his day such as the new town of Tiberius set beside the healing thermal springs on the Sea of Galilee, and he likely visited Ein Gedi canyon, known for its herbal balms and lotions. He observed the sex-centered pagan temple spas at the Caesarea Philippi grottoes.
As the Messiah and Lord over nature and its "gods," Jesus contrasted pagan actions with the biblical way of abundant life.
The sun and earthing
During a span of years Jesus and his father, as highly skilled craftsmen (tekton in the Greek in Mark 6:3), were likely paid to work building the capital town of Sepphoris, a three-mile walk from Nazareth. In our era the pioneering Golden Door Spa has recommended such a daily walk in the sun for vitamin D.
Jesus walked barefoot or in leather sandals. The book Earthing by Clint Ober and cardiologist Stephen Sinatra reveals that rubber and neoprene-soled shoes block us from absorbing the earth's electrons which neutralize harmful free-radicals. Sinatra reports that "when you connect to the earth, you lower blood pressure, thin the blood and improve heart rate variability."
Earthing has been shown to improve sleep, alleviate pain and, in rats, lower blood sugars.
Olive tree extracts
The Mediterranean diet with its use of olive oil is touted to be very healthy. Perhaps Jesus also chewed on olive leaves to boost his constitution. Recent studies show that olive leaf extract has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, can lower blood pressure and has "cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-angiogenic and neuroprotective functions…." (See NIH and oncotarget.com.)
Physical cleanses
Jesus certainly advocated fasting (Matthew 6:16) and heeded Psalm 51:7 "Purge me with hyssop." Like the Bedouins today he would have known which desert herbs could rid the body of parasites. The salts of the wilderness (Exodus 15:25) and the Dead Sea have accomplished the same. Their magnesium and trace minerals are also necessary for proper cellular and heart functions.
Spiritual release
Jesus went apart (Mark 1:35) so he would not "come apart." In these times of silence he could also listen to his heavenly Father.
Instead of needing a "psychiatrist," the Hebrew people regularly prayed/shouted the psalms of lament including Psalm 13 which begins "How long, O LORD?"
Jesus also commanded his disciples to pray "Our Father … you must forgive our debts/sins" (Matthew 6:9,12). According to Eduard Thurneysen in A Theology of Pastoral Care (p. 316), God's forgiveness brings about a change of regime, exorcising us from Satan's beguiling and sway!
Naps
It is standard practice in arid climates to take siestas. According to Luke 8:23 Jesus took a nap at the rear of the fishing boat even during a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
A well-known NASA study demonstrated that a 26-minute nap improved pilot performance by 34 percent. A six-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 23,500 adults indicated that three naps a week led to a 37-percent reduction in coronary mortality (Newsweek 6/30/08).
Laughter
Some religious leaders have claimed that Jesus was always serious and never laughed. But Professor Elton Trueblood in The Humor of Christ records that Jesus shares at least 30 examples of outrageous actions in his parables which would be hilarious to his listeners. No wonder Jesus was such a popular speaker. There are 200 witty puns in the New Testament, but often understood only by those who can read the Greek version.
Today the average adult laughs 15 times a day, while a child may laugh 400 times. Jesus said, "Except you become converted (by God), and become like little children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).
However, remember Jesus is offering God's deep-seated joy, not just happiness.
What will you add?
The habits of Jesus greatly transcend the practices of both our health and beauty resorts and the avant-garde New Age centers.
 | Jim Farrer is the founder of Vital Signs Church Consulting and a member of the Society for Church Consulting. A broadly-trained church consultant, Jim is also a veteran of ministry positions in Canada and the U.S., he has trained leaders from 18 denominations and led seminars and coaching sessions nationwide. His articles have been published in the Journal of Evangelism and Missions and the Great Commission Research Journal. You can reach him by e-mailing revup1@yahoo.com or calling 814 629-5211. Learn More » |
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