“With His Stripes We Are Healed”
In the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, “But 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” (Isaiah 53:5) And in the New Testament, the apostle Peter testified of Christ, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus Christ came to heal the mind (Luke 4:18) and the body (Luke 9:11). He offered both physical and spiritual healing. This was illustrated in the story of the paralytic, who was physically helpless and spiritually hopeless, until he came to Jesus. The Lord gave him both a new body and a new mind (Mark 2:5, 10).
It’s God’s desire that we have both forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9) and good health (3 John 1:2). Of God, the prophet David declared, ”who heals all thy diseases” (Psalm 103:3). And Jesus affirmed that whatever the believer asks in His Name the Father honors, if it is according to His will (John 14:14).
God is interested in our physical health, and desires us to have the best of health. Because of the close connection between mind and body, when a soul flourishes, the body gets healthy (Exodus 15:26). Inversely, when the health of the body is ignored and wrong habits are done, the spiritual life is affected.
A sound heart makes for a sound body. “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). Many sickness have been found to be the reason for dwelling on negative thoughts. And many cures have been gained by harboring peace with others and faith in God.
“Is Anyone Among You Sick?
When Jesus was on earth, He offered healing to all that came to Him (Matthew 4:24) and had faith in Him (Matthew 9:22). Today, this healing of soul and body are available for the believer. The apostle James wrote to the New Testament church, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgive” (James 5:14,15).
Healing in answer to prayer may be immediate or may it may be gradual. It may come about directly by a supernatural act, or it may come about indirectly by divine guidance in the use of natural remedies. The latter way is also an answer to prayer. The Christian will see that God does not do for him what he or others can do for himself.
Therefore, those who are seeking divine healing must be walking according to the laws of health (Exodus 15:26) and the moral law of God (Exodus 20:3-17). Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Christians should not allow bodily appetites and passions to control them. Instead, they should yield their bodies to their born again minds that are continually led by divine wisdom (Romans 6:13; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 9:25, 27).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
