A Brief History of Bandages

 

 “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”  Psam147:3

I’m sitting here thinking about the history of bandages. Back in Jesus’ day they didn’t have Band-Aids. They would have to tie a long strip of cloth around the injured appendage, limb or body. I’m pretty sure they didn’t even have an understanding of the need for cleanliness or the risk of infection. As time progressed, humanity became aware of such things, like the importance of washing your hands before surgery or sterilizing equipment, including bandages. Then came the advent of adhesive and no longer did you need a long strip of something to wrap around and around and arm or leg. Single use, disposable Band-Aids took over and slowly they learned about different adhesives and materials to make them better and better. Now we have clear Band-Aids, waterproof Band-Aids, even Band-Aids to match different skin tones. My kids had princess and Cars Band-Aids. We actually still have quite a few in the bathroom cupboard!

Bandages are used to cover the wound, to absorb the bleeding, to protect it from the environment. In Luke chapter 16, starting in verse 19, we read about Lazarus the beggar for whom the dogs came and licked his sores. He didn’t even have bandages to protect him. The bandages themselves don’t heal a wound, God does that through His incredible design of the human body, and sometimes through a miraculous touch. Starting in Luke 10:30, we read the story of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told to answer the question of an expert in religious law, “Who is my neighbor?” The good Samaritan found an injured man on the side of the road and felt compassion for him. He bandaged his wounds pouring oil and wine on them. Now I’m not entirely sure what the oil and wine did for the wounds, but clearly in biblical times this was seen as the most caring, helpful thing to do. Odds are the good Samaritan wasn’t walking around with a go bag of emergency supplies including a giant ball of bandages. He likely had to tear his own garment in order to get the supplies he needed to care for the injured man. And, again, unlike us he couldn’t go to Walmart and get a dozen cheap t-shirts. He may have only had the clothes on his back with him. This implies a great sacrifice and a deep caring for a stranger. Someone that he owed nothing, who had no connection to him at all.

This is what Jesus did and does for us. He cares for us, though He owes us nothing. In fact, He died for our sins while we were still His enemies. He cares for the wounds on our bodies, sometimes through miraculous healing and sometimes through provision of care and the design He created in us. Moreover, He cares for the wounds on our souls. These deeper wounds cannot be covered by a cloth bandage, or a waterproof princess bandage for that matter. They require a special kind of bandage, a special kind of touch. While you may not be able to see the soul wounds of people walking by you on the street, I assure you that they are there, and Jesus sees them. He ascended into Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor and our Great Physician. Romans 8:26 tells us that when we do not know how to pray, when the pain is so deep that words cannot cover it, the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Here's the Thing: Wounds can be superficial, they can be deep, and they can be soul-deep. God sees them all and He is the perfect, the only One who can ultimately address them. The act of bandaging a wound is one of caring and love. When Jesus bandages us we are wrapped in His grace and mercy, covered by His great sacrifice, presented with His righteousness. That cleansing is perfect and complete.