WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HEALING
Some time ago I had discussion with a dear believer about her ideas concerning “healing and the old time religion.” She shared with me her belief about the scripture, Isaiah 53 in which the prophet foretells the coming of the Messiah, his work and his mission. In it we read “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed.” She insisted that the healing referenced in this passage was for our sins-sick-souls and not for our physical bodies. Sickness, she said, is how God teaches us humility.
She was shocked when I pointed out Matt 8:16 & 17 “…He cast out the spirits with his word and healed ALL that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying Himself took our infirmities and bare our sickness.” The beauty here is that scripture actually interprets itself.
If you’re confused about the Bible or a passage of scripture, ask Jesus. He wrote it. He’ll tell you exactly what it means. He is the WORD made flesh. That’s why “by him (Jesus) and for him were all things created” (Rom 11:3 & Jn 1:3).
But, you might ask, creation happened before the birth of Jesus. How could Jesus create everything? Good question. Recall in Genesis, God who is a Spirit (Jn 4:24) spoke words right out-loud and said several times, “Let there be…..” Indeed, in John’s Gospel we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh to dwell among us.” Jesus is the Word made flesh to dwell among us.” He also says, “Lo I come in the volume of the book.” (Ps 40:7 & Heb 10:7). Who better to ask than the author himself.
And this idea of physical healing should not be new to the believer. It IS the old time religion. Matt 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing ALL manner of sickness and ALL manner of disease among the people. And Matt 9:35 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing EVERY sickness and EVERY disease among the people.”He healed them ALL.
But that was then. We’re now in a new dispensation, my friend argued. And besides, that was Jesus. He healed them to prove his deity. It’s not for us to pretend we’re Him.
NO NO NO, I said.
“JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOREVER.” Heb 13:8. And Mark 16:17, “These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues…. they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.”
Yes, it was necessary for him to die on a cruel cross and there shed his blood for the sins of the world. But it was also the Father’s will that he been beaten, tortured, whipped and scourged that you and I might, by his stripes – be healed.
If you are tormented, addicted, sick, diseased or racked with pain today, I say to you: “Rise and be healed in the name of Jesus.” Your cure, your remedy has been purchased. Jesus already paid ALL your medical expenses. Hallelujah!
