This document discusses the topic of sickness from a Christian perspective. It makes three key points: 1) Sickness is universal and affects all people, rich and poor. The only explanation given in the Bible for sickness is the entry of sin into the world. 2) God allows sickness, pain, and disease to benefit people for eternity, not to vex them. Sickness can help remind people of death, make them think seriously of their souls and God, soften hearts, level and humble people, and show what their faith is made of. 3) When sick, Christians should turn to Christ for comfort, bear sickness patiently, show empathy for others, and keep close communion with Christ

1. Practical Religion
Chapter 15: Sickness
J. C. Ryle

2. John 11:1-10
Note the simple humility of their
language about Lazarus. They call
him ‘He whom you love.’ They do
not say, ‘He who loves you,
believes in you, serves you,’ but
‘He whom you love.’
Martha and Mary had learned that
Christ’s love towards us, and not
our love towards Christ is the true
ground of expectation, and true
foundation of hope.

3. He whom you love is sick
The message is short, but Christ
might easily learn from it what the
two sisters wished; for, under this
complaint, they modestly state their
request that he would be pleased to
grant them relief. We are not
forbidden, indeed, to use a longer
form of prayer; but our principal
object ought to be, to pour into the
bosom of God all our cares, and
every thing that distresses us, that
he may afford deliverance.

4. He whom you love is sick
Lazarus was a good man,
converted, believing,
renewed, sanctified, a friend
of Christ, and an heir of glory.
And yet Lazarus was sick!
Then sickness is no sign that
God is displeased. Sickness is
intended to be a
blessing to us,
and not a curse.

5. Sickness is universal
Sickness is in every country
and region
Sickness is among rich and
poor
Every part of us is subject to
be sick
Sickness is humbling
Generally, sickness is not
preventable
The only explanation for sickness
is the one the Bible gives.
Something has come into the
world which has marred the
perfect order of creation.
That something is sin.

6. Sickness is beneficial
How do we reconcile the
notion of a loving God with
allowance of suffering?
Do we ever say, “no pain,
no gain?”
God allows pain, sickness, and
disease, not because he loves to
vex man, but because he desires
to benefit man’s heart, and mind,
and conscience, and
soul, to all eternity.

7. Sickness is beneficial
Sickness helps to remind us
of death.
Sickness make us think
seriously of our souls and of
God.
Sickness helps to soften
hearts
God allows pain, sickness, and
disease, not because he loves to
vex man, but because he desires
to benefit man’s heart, and mind,
and conscience, and
soul, to all eternity.

8. Sickness is beneficial
Sickness helps to level and
humble us
Sickness helps us to see
what our faith is made of
God allows pain, sickness, and
disease, not because he loves to
vex man, but because he desires
to benefit man’s heart, and mind,
and conscience, and
soul, to all eternity.

9. Sickness gives rise to duty
One paramount duty is that
of living habitually
prepared to meet God.
Another is being ready to
bear sickness patiently
Empathy and help for
others
When are you prepared to meet
God? Never till your iniquities are
forgiven, and your sin covered!
Never till your
heart is renewed,
and your will
taught to delight
in the will of God!

10. Practical application
What will you do when you are
ill? Where will you turn for
comfort?
No one lives forever
No one can die in your place
Acquaint yourself with the
Lord Jesus Christ without delay.
Repent, be converted, flee to
Christ, and be saved.
One dying thief was
saved that men
might not despair,
but only one that
none might
presume.
I repeat the question.
What will you do
when you are ill?

11. Practical application
Jesus was never sick because
he never sinned.
But He was not exempt
from sickness, because of
his union to, and sympathy
for, his flock.
“None have such an
opportunity of learning the
mind of a suffering Savior as
suffering disciples.” - Ryle
Octavius Winslow

12. Practical application
Keep up a habit of close
communion with Christ
If you and I want ‘strong
consolation’ in our time of
need, we must not be content
with a bare union with Christ
(Heb. 6: 18). We must seek to
know something of heartfelt,
experimental communion
with him.
Never, never let us
forget, that ‘union’
is one thing, and
‘communion’ another.
Thousands, I fear,
who know what
‘union’ with Christ is,
know nothing of ‘communion.’

13. Lean confidently on Christ
Let us live the life of faith in the
Son of God. Let us lean all our
weight on Christ, and rejoice in
the thought that
he lives
for evermore.

14. For next time:
Chapter 16: The Family of God