A Noble Cause

Have you ever petitioned God for a "noble cause"? Or pleaded for someone's healing by reminding God that this person has small children at home or that they're a good person? To some degree I think we all have. We sometimes forget that Jesus Christ himself already became the noble cause for us.

I love the scene in the movie, Princess Bride, where Inigo and Fezzik take Westley to Miracle Max. (In my opinion, it's one of the greatest scenes in the movie.) Inigo and Fezzik are in a "terrible rush" to get Westley revived so they can storm the castle and rescue Buttercup.

Here's the brief exchange:
MIRACLE MAX: "Don't rush me, sonny. You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles. You got money?"
INIGO: "Sixty-five."
MIRACLE MAX: "Sheesh! I never worked for so little, except once, and that was a very noble cause."
INIGO: "This is noble, sir."(pointing to Westley)"His wife is crippled. His children are on the brink of starvation."
MIRACLE MAX: "Are you a rotten liar."
INIGO: "I need him to help avenge my father, murdered these twenty years."
MIRACLE MAX: "Your first story was better."

Roger Sapp (in "Healing Hints) presents it this way: "Occasionally someone will try to receive healing by presenting what appears to be a noble purpose in their healing. They may want to raise their children. They may want to "glorify God" in their healing. While sounding noble, these people are often unable to receive healing until they simplify their motives and simply accept that Christ wants them well. Often these "higher purposes" for their healing reveal that they do not really believe that Christ wishes them well simply because they are sick and in pain. Jesus Christ never had complex responses for hurting people. When the sick came to Him, He felt compassion for them and that compassion was enough to motivate Him to heal them. The people coming to Him did not need a noble purpose to receive healing. God is glorified in Christ's simple but profound love and ministry to hurting people."