But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53: 5
Heavenly Father, it is with a heart full of gratitude that we enter into the study of Your holy word. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Healing feels good! Healing gives hope! Healing brings joy! Healing comes from God! Healing is a gift! To all who have experienced healing, our hearts can resonate to these statements; perhaps to one more than the others; perhaps to all in the same measure. My heart resonates to all.
Our promise today talks about the Gift of Healing that was purchased for us on Calvary’s cross. In other words, our healing comes to us at the cost of Someone else’s suffering. This gift, was paid for with blood! It is offered to us free of charge, but very costly to the Savior. This is a healing that produces wholeness: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual healing is included. We will take a few minutes to look at each one.
Physical Healing. We live in a sick world. Each year we hear of new types of influenza, and each year the age groups recommended for vaccines against the flu keeps getting lower. It is not only those 65 years and above that should be vaccinated: Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday (CDC: CCIDC, NCIRD) are also on the list.
But this is only one of the more controllable maladies of our day. We have a series of auto-immune diseases that are becoming very prominent in our midst. Diabetes and hypertension are two of the diseases that plague today’s societies. Everyday some new illness with an unpronounceable name appears on the horizon threatening the lives of thousands. When Jesus’ head, and back, and side, were bruised, the blood that flowed from His body had every antibody necessary for our healing! His body collapsed under the weight of the cross, that ours might be able to withstand any and every disease!
Mental Healing. “Each year, almost 44 million Americans experience a mental disorder. In fact, mental illnesses are among the most common conditions affecting health today… Two of the most common mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness” (SAMHSA’S National Mental Health Information Center). It is bad enough to be physically ill, but when the mind becomes affected it is truly a tragedy. Christ suffered not only physically, but also mentally, when He felt Himself separated from the Father, for the very first time in all eternity. He was willing to endure in order to alleviate the pain caused by depression and other types of mental illnesses that so many face in our society today. You are not alone. He is holding your hands!
Emotional Healing. “Although this is a very rare phenomenon, bloody sweat (hematidrosis or hemohidrosis) may occur in highly emotional states or in persons with bleeding disorders. (18,20) As a result of hemorrhage into the sweat glands, the skin becomes fragile and tender” (Defending The Faith. Reprinted from JAMA – The Journal of the American Medical Association
Spiritual Healing: “They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” We have all sinned. We all stand in need of spiritual healing. Praise God a healing fountain has been opened. When the soldier thrust the spear into the Savior’s side, and from that wound flowed blood and water, it became the symbol of our eternal source of cleansing. “The cleansing stream I see, I see, I plunge, and O, it cleanseth me! O praise the Lord it cleanseth me, It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me” (Mrs. Phoebe Palmer, Church Hymnal, p. 332).
Thank God; with His stripes, we are indeed healed!