25: Christ’s Finished Work - Redemption from Sickness and Disease

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB)

Physical healing is part of the gospel, and Jesus still heals people today! Isaiah 53 is one of the main passages that support this truth. In it a parallel is made between Christ’s bearing our sins and his carrying our sicknesses and pains.

Physical healing is part of the atonement just as much as the forgiveness of sins.

In the passages below, I put the Hebrew words in parentheses.

Surely our griefs (choli - sicknesses) He Himself bore (nasa - to lift, carry or take), 
And our sorrows (makob - pains) He carried (sabal - to bear a heavy load); 
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, 
Smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 (NASB) 

 As a result of the anguish of His soul, 
He will see it and be satisfied; 
By His knowledge the Righteous One, 
My Servant, will justify the many, 
As He will bear (sabal - to bear a heavy load) their iniquities. ¹²Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, 
And He will divide the booty with the strong; 
Because He poured out Himself to death, 
And was numbered with the transgressors; 
Yet He Himself bore (nasa - to lift, carry or take) the sin of many, 
And interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:11-12 (NASB)

The same Hebrew verbs are used to describe Christ’s finished work on the cross regarding sickness and sin and pain and iniquities.

It would be disingenuous for an interpreter to come to any other conclusion; nevertheless, since translators, like we, have theological biases, in most versions of the Bible we are fed a watered-down translation. Sickness becomes grief and pain becomes sorrow. Below is a translation that more accurately adheres to the literal meaning.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain;[13] even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.[14] Isaiah 53:4 (NET1) 
 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done.[30] “My servant[31] will acquit many,[32] for he carried their sins.[33] ¹² So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes,[34] he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful,[35] because he willingly submitted[36] to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened[37] on behalf of the rebels.” Isaiah 53:11-12 (NET1)

Every Christian understands and believes that Jesus carried our sins to provide forgiveness and justification, but not everyone knows and believes that he also bore our sicknesses and pains so that we can experience healing for our minds and bodies.

We should ask ourselves how did the apostles view these verses? Fortunately for us, through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the Bible gives us the answer. Matthew’s gospel clearly tells us that physical healing is a fulfillment of Isaiah 53.

When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. ¹⁷This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES." Matthew 8:16-17 (NASB)

If we hold to this truth, then we are left with the following questions. First, is healing for today, and, secondly, is healing for everyone, all the time? To answer the first question, we understand that the ministry of Christ continues today via the church which is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

The answer to the second question is more controversial. This is how I understand things. Healing is our birthright in the Kingdom of God. Jesus already paid for it; therefore, it is always right and proper to ask God for healing and believe the Word of God when it tells us, “by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) In other words, our faith for healing is based on Christ’s finished work on the cross.

We place our confidence in what Christ has already accomplished on our behalf, realizing that it is God’s prerogative to apply that healing in His way and in His time.

To better understand this point, consider that we are also given eternal life through Christ’s finished work, and He told us that whoever believes in Him will never die. (John 11:26) Nevertheless, although the Lord has the power to instantly “translate” us into glory without our having to die (Philippians 3:21), as He did with Enoch and Elijah, most of us are going to die a physical death. This does not nullify Christ’s victory over death because the resurrection is God’s final solution.

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (NASB)

God’s truth regarding Christ’s victory over death has already been accomplished and paid in full, but it has not yet been fully manifested in history. Healing has been fully accomplished and paid, too, but it has not been fully revealed or experienced yet.

Healing comes in many ways. Sometimes it is an instantaneous healing akin to a miracle. At other times it may be a gradual matter. Some die of a sickness or disease while believing that God is their healer. In this last case, healing for them will not come until the resurrection when all things will be set right.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13 (NASB)

It is very important for us is to believe and confess the truth of God’s Word regardless of the circumstances and not become offended if things fail to materialize as we hope.

God is glorified when His people trust Him despite encountering and enduring what seems to contradict His promises.

As Job said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Physical death is not the end of the story. The resurrection will be the grand finale. That is where faith will be rewarded in full, even if we fail to receive here on earth that for which we are trusting God.

For now we choose to maintain a positive confession of faith that agrees with what God’s Word teaches, regardless of our personal experience.

We do not pretend that we are not sick when we are in order to maintain a “good confession.” That is denial. Instead, we can say, “I am sick, but I am trusting that through Christ I have been healed and have the promise of experiencing that healing in God’s timing.”

An important part to having overcoming faith during sickness is to ask God to give us a “personal” or “rhema” word from Scripture.

This is when God “quickens” or makes a portion of the Bible come alive to us so that we understand that the promise is specifically for us at this time. This is very personal and “subjective,” but it is real. This provides us with a firm ground of faith upon which to stand for a healing in the here and now. In lieu of such a “rhema” word, we simply stand upon what the scriptures in general tell us: “by His stripes we were healed.”

As members of the Body of Christ, we have the privilege of extending Christ’s victory over sickness to others. Healing is part of God’s means to authenticate the gospel to unbelievers and is part of His mercy ministry to mankind.

God not only intends that we learn to appropriate this wonderful gift for ourselves, but he wants us to share it with others who so desperately need it.

As Christians, we can proclaim healing in the glorious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to provide the power that backs up the authority we have in Christ. Never shy away from praying for others to be healed. Doing so provides God with an opportunity to demonstrate that he is real.

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:7-8 (NLT) 

These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. ¹⁸They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them." Mark 16:17-18 (NLT)