Another tasty quote from Jesus and Politics. In discussing the kingdom (reign) of God as part of Jesus’ ministry he says..

“Jesus moves around healing people—a man who is manic, a woman with fever, those who are paralysed and diseased, a man leprosy, and so on. It is clearly his prior concern: Jesus seeks out people who are ill and receives those who come to him. No one at that time or throughout most of human history has seen healings as part of politics. Wars? Yes. Taxation? Yes. Healings?No. That position is still resolutely held in the United States today. Yet, if care of our neighbour is part of just and righteous living, health and healing need to be a concern of the state, as they are now throughout much of the world. In Britain’s 2001 election, the National service was the dominant issue. So, we have this man walking around, lifting people up, giving them relief in mind and body, exhibiting what God’s rule is like, and it includes healing.”pp80-81