What is your Perfect Panacea?

What is your favorite morning beverage? Mine is coffee! The stronger, the better. I pursued coffee and breakfast while at one of my favorite places, Lake Junaluska. Finally, I found the perfect spot called Panacea Coffee House and Café in a historic warehouse with artistic décor and a relaxing quiet atmosphere. While savoring my second cup of coffee, I noticed a bulletin board that read, “What is your panacea?” 

Panacea: noun

1. A remedy for all diseases or ills; cure-all.
2. An answer or solution for all problems or difficulties
3. Synonyms: universal cure, cure-all, cure for all ills, universal remedy, elixir, magic bullet.

On the bulletin board, I observed many beautiful pictures of family, pets, cars, boats, motorcycles, runners finishing a race, hikers on the summit of a mountain, scenes of exotic beaches and, of course, coffee. All these things are extraordinary and add zest to life. However, I did not see a picture of my panacea on the bulletin board.  

A desperate woman’s story

Three of the four Gospels in the Bible tell of the story of an unnamed desperate woman suffering from constant bleeding for twelve years. (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48) Countless doctors could not cure her malady. Jewish law declared she was unclean, as was anyone or anything that she touched. (Leviticus 15:25-30, NIV).

Therefore, she could not live a normal life because of isolation from the community. Desperation led this untouchable woman to reach out and touch the hem of Jesus’s robe. Forbidden to be in public, let alone close enough to touch a man that was not her husband, she had nothing to lose. Truly, she was at the end of her rope.

The Bible says, “She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, ‘If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.’ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition” (Mark 5:27-29 NLT).

Instead of condemnation for her presumptuous behavior, Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over” (Mark 5:34 NLT).

After twelve years of disease and difficulty, Jesus cures her completely, calls her daughter and commends her faith. Imagine the immeasurable joy of this brave and bold woman! She found her perfect panacea in Jesus.

What is your perfect panacea?

Who or what do we look to for healing, a cure-all, magic bullet, or the answer to all our problems and difficulties? Yes, coffee perks me up in the morning, but it doesn’t last. Where else do we look? Maybe our job, money, relationships, family, wonderful vacations, and possessions. Or perhaps food, alcohol, drugs, or other addictions. For sure, none of these things solve our problems long term, though we may feel better for a while.

Jesus is our perfect panacea, the sinless lamb of God who died instead of us. Son of God. Savior of the World. Messiah. The incarnate Word of God. Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Light of the World. Bread of Life. The Way, the Truth and the Life.

Jesus comforts the brokenhearted (Psalms 34:18 NLT), heals the sick, and soothes our suffering. (Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT) He is faithful and his promises are true. (Psalm 145:13 NIV) He saves the lost and restores our souls by his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Above all, Jesus suffered a horrible death to reconcile us with God forever.

As the Bible says, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed” (1 Peter 2:24 NLT).

I enjoyed my visit to the coffee shop and I highly recommend the coffee and the atmosphere. But the best part of my visit was the realization Jesus is my perfect panacea. Is He yours?