NOTAS EN ESPANOL
When Jesus died on the cross was healing included? Did Jesus carry not only our sin as He hung there, but our sicknesses as well?
Isa. 53:4
“Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows…”
The word in the Hebrew for griefs is “cholly” which means primarily sickness and disease. The succeeding verse Isa. 53:5 says “…with his stripes we are healed.”
Not only did Jesus bear our sicknesses on the cross, but specifically the stripes on His back that He received before His crucifixion were for that reason. The word for salvation “sozo” in Greek means to be redeemed and healed spirit, soul, and body.
Sickness entered the world at the same time that sin did, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. At that time the whole world began a process of decay, which in the end led to physical death. But God’s plan was to redeem fallen man, and that plan was through the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus broke the authority of that curse at Calvary. Then why do we still deal with it today? Even though the curse is broken we, the Church, must enforce that authority in the world. God is at war with sickness and disease and so should we be.
The Fiery Serpent
Num. 21:5-9
“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”
This picture of how the Israelites were healed was prophetic of Jesus dying on the cross for us. He was lifted up and became a curse, so that we could be freed from sin, sickness and disease. Even as the people were healed when they turned their eyes upon the serpent on the pole, so those who look to Jesus today can be healed as well.
God’s Word Declares that He Wants to Heal
Ps. 30:2
“O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.”
Ps. 103:2,3
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”
Ps. 107:20 “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
Mal. 4:2
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”
Mark 16:17-18
“And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
James 5:14-15
“Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up…”
3 John 2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Jesus’ Life and Ministry was Spent Primarily in Healing People
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.”
Heb. 13:8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Since Jesus is our example and the One we emulate, we cannot deny that he spent a majority of his time healing people. If He is living inside of us, doesn’t it make sense that He would want to still be doing the same works that He did when He was on earth? And He wants to do those works through us.
The Early Church Demonstrated God’s Healing Power
Acts 3:2, 6-7
“And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple…Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”
Acts 5:14-16
“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.”
Acts 8:6-7
“And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.”
Acts 9:17-18
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”
Acts 9:36,37,40
“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha…And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died…but Peter…kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter she sat up.”
Acts 19:11-12
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”
Acts 28:8
“And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.”
Methods of Healing
1. The Prayer of Faith
Mark 11:23-24
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them.”
2. Anointing with Oil
James 5:14-15
“Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
3. A Gift of Healing
1 Cor. 12:8
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.”
4. The Laying on of Hands
Mark 16:18
“…they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.”