The Cross and Healing: A Bible Study

The Cross and Healing

In the weeks leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, I have been reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and how it impacts my daily walk as His follower.

 

We were all born into this world as sinners because we descended naturally from Adam (Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22), whose sin produced multiple consequences, including death and sickness.

 

The penalty we deserve from God for our sins is death (Romans 6:23). But God loved us so much that out of His abundance of grace and mercy, He gave Jesus as a gift to save us from sin (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2).

 

When Jesus died on the cross, He willingly gave Himself up, paying the debt we owed because of our sins. The core of Jesus’ sacrifice is that He took our punishment upon Himself. Through the power of His shed blood, God forgave our sins and delivered us from the devil’s dominion. (See Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:5.) Jesus took our sin upon Himself and, in exchange, bestowed His holiness and righteousness on us (Hebrews 10:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He died on our behalf so that we may enjoy His eternal life (John 3:16).

 

With forgiveness of sins taken care of, the way opened for deliverance from all other consequences of sin. The rest of this post addresses one specific consequence of sin, which Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid for – that is, physical illness.

 

On the Cross, Jesus Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law

 

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Galatians 3:13-14

 

Jesus was made a curse by hanging on the cross. We were the ones who deserved the curse, but He took our curse on Himself and exchanged it for all His blessings.

 

Deuteronomy 28 gives us multiple examples of the curse of the law, which God warned the Israelites that they would endure if they disobeyed the law. See Deuteronomy 28 verses 21 to 28, 35, 59-61 and notice that sickness and disease were listed as part of the curse.

 

“The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.” Deuteronomy 28:61

 

Under the Old Covenant, God did smite people with sickness as an act of His judgment, but He never used sickness as a tool to reveal Himself to His people. However, under the New Covenant, Christ has redeemed us who believe in Him from the curse of the law. His redemption covers everything associated with the curse – including mental and physical illness.

 

Next, let’s look at Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus’ suffering on the cross documented in Isaiah 53.

 

Jesus Provided Healing on the Cross

 

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

 

On the cross, Jesus took care of our spiritual needs – forgiveness of sins, and He also paid the price for our physical needs – healing.

 

The word “pain” in Isaiah 53:4 is the Hebrew word choli. Using the free online tool, Biblehub, choli is defined as sickness (Strong’s 2483). This same Hebrew word occurred multiple times in the Old Testament in contexts related to physical sickness. Specifically, this same word is used in the two Scriptures below.

 

“the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.” Deuteronomy 28:59

 

“The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.” Deuteronomy 28:61

 

The words “illnesses” and “sicknesses” from Deuteronomy 28 refer to the same term used in Isaiah 53:4 for pain.

 

The word “suffering” in Isaiah 53:4 is the Hebrew word makob (Strong’s 4341). Still using Biblehub, makob is defined as pain, (physical and mental) and sorrow and is used in many contexts in the Old Testament to depict both physical and mental pain.

 

The AMPC Translation of Isaiah 53:4-5 brings this out more clearly

^” Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” Isaiah 53:4-5 AMPC

 

Jesus took care of both our spiritual and physical needs.

He bore our sins and gifted us His righteousness, and our bodies are healed by His wounds. Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus shows how closely forgiveness and healing are related. This relationship between forgiveness and physical healing is also expressed in Psalm 103:2-3.

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”

 

New Testament References

During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed many people at Peter’s house. Matthew, who documented the miracles, commented that the healings took place to confirm Isaiah’s prophesy about Jesus.

 

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:16-17

 

Peter also referenced Isaiah 53 and applied it to Jesus.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter: 2:24

 

The Greek word used for “healed” in 1 Peter 2:24 is defined as “To heal, generally of the physical, sometimes of spiritual, disease.” (https://biblehub.com/strongs/1_peter/2-24.htm)

 

It gives me great confidence to know that Jesus covered all the bases on the cross – including my physical needs.

 

Healing is Part of Salvation

The Greek word defined as “to save” in the New Testament is sozo. Sozo is an umbrella word that encompasses salvation, healing, preservation, and deliverance (Strong’s Greek 4982).

 

Here are five examples of the use of sozo in the New Testament.

 

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved (sozo) it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (sozo).” Acts 4:12

 

“He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed (sozo) you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:34 (The woman who had the issue of blood)

 

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed (sozo) you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” Mark 10:52 NIV (Blind Bartimaeus received his sight.)

 

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed (sozo).” Luke 8:50 NIV (Jairus’ daughter raised from the dead.)

 

All these references show me that the salvation Jesus provided on the cross for us is truly all-encompassing.

 

These benefits did not only apply to the people to whom Jesus ministered to Himself. They did not end when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross opened the way for us, His followers, to receive everything He came to earth to accomplish. He sent the Holy Spirit to ensure that His work continues.

 

Just before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus instructed His disciples (and, by extension, us) to drive out demons and heal the sick.

 

Jesus’ Final Instructions

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (sozo), but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18

 

PERSONAL Application 

Believe that Jesus provided healing at the cross

My first step in appropriating what Jesus accomplished on the cross is to believe and receive it wholeheartedly. I have chosen to put my faith in everything that the grace of God has provided for me, and I acknowledge and accept every single blessing Jesus bestowed on me through His death, burial, and resurrection. It is with the same faith that I believe and receive salvation for my sins that I also receive healing as a gift of grace.

 

Renew my Mind and Speak the Word regarding healing

When sickness knocks, I answer it with God’s Word. I resist the temptation to accept sickness with wide-open arms, and I endeavor to renew my mind with the Word of God. To achieve this, I locate Scriptures about healing, and I listen and speak them over myself consistently.

 

Pray

God has given us the privilege to come into His throne room to ask Him for whatever we need (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus was God’s will in action. While on earth, He demonstrated that it is God’s will to heal the sick. So, I pray when I am ill and trust God for healing (1 John 5:14-15). James also recommends that we call our church elders to pray over us.

 

 ^“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15

 

Resist sickness

If I have symptoms in my body, I don’t deny them or pretend they do not exist. But by the same token, I don’t live by sight and allow myself to be ruled by sickness. Instead, I exercise faith in the powerful promises of God’s Word regarding healing.

 

I acknowledge that since we live in a fallen world, we will not all walk in divine health on this side of eternity all the time. The New Testament gives accounts of disciples of Jesus Christ who experienced physical ailments – Trophimus, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. (See 1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20; Philippians 2:25-27.)

 

However, there is no documentation that their sicknesses were blessings from God. Sickness is not a gift from God. Therefore, I resist everything that the devil has his hands in. Irrespective of my symptoms, even in the face of a long-standing diagnosis, my response remains to resist sickness with the Word of God.

 

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:38

 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

 

Conclusion

My conclusion is simple. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, let us praise Him, and let us not discount any of His benefits— “He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases” (Psalm 103:2-3). Let us rest in His promises and leave the results to Him.

 

Our ultimate prize is that our natural bodies will be transformed into Christ’s glorious body, and we shall see Him face to face and spend eternity with Him (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21).

 

Now, that’s a prize worth looking forward to!!

 

Until next time …

Chizobam Idahosa

 

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Except where indicated, Scriptures are from the NIV.

© The Cross and Healing: A Bible Study. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.