“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 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 53:4-5)
Isaiah 53 clearly teaches that bodily healing is included in the atoning work of Christ, His suffering, and His cross. The Hebrew words for “griefs” and “sorrows” (v.4) specifically means physical affliction. This is verified in the fact that Matthew 8:17: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying; ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. Further, the words “borne” and “carried” refer to Jesus’ atoning work on the cross is made clear by the fact that they are the same words used to describe Christ’s bearing our sins. 1st Peter. 2:24: “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might believe for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.“
These text unequivocally link the grounds of provision for both our salvation and our healing to the atoning work of Calvary. Neither is automatically appropriated, however, for each provision – a soul’s eternal salvation or a person’s temporal, physical healing – must be received by faith. Christ’s work on the cross makes each possible; simple faith receives each as we choose.
You are loved, Pastor Don
Cornerstone Worship Center 