The news hit hard & fast this morning: “President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump test positive for Covid-19.” One news agency reported, “The diagnosis amounts to the most serious known health threat to a sitting American president in decades. At 74 years old and obese, Trump falls into the highest risk category for serious complications from the disease,” which has contributed to the death of more than 200,000 Americans and more than 1 million people worldwide.
On Facebook a friend of mine wrote,
… the virus is still out there and doesn’t care who you are. The President has testing capabilities for those who come into his orbit … and it still got to him.
The President, who is arguably the most powerful person in the world, could not withstand the infectious nature of this disease.
But what’s far more amazing — and this is where we find true gospel encouragement — is that the infinite God of the universe came into our orbit voluntarily and took on himself all the sickness and sins of humanity.
He himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.
— Isaiah 53:4-6
Not only did Jesus take on our sins and sickness, but by doing so, he made us whole. He was beaten so that we could become healthy! “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder [champion] of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Heb. 2:19). “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb. 5:8-9).
Our church family has been studying the book of Hebrews for the better part of 2020. As we have encountered these verses, we have experienced gospel encouragement amidst the spread of Covid-19. Despite the sufferings of this present time, we look forward by faith to that Day when our salvation will be fully realized, for we belong to an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb. 11:28).
The coronavirus is no match for Jesus Christ. In the face of this “jolt to the world,” we can sing “Joy to the World!”
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.