Jesus: wounded to bring healing

" But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our inequities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed."

- Isaiah 53:5

           It was in January 2012 when I first saw healing through the power of the Holy Spirit happen before my very eye. It was a Thursday prayer meeting of our annual prayer and fasting in our church. By then, I have already watched Furious Love and even if I was amazed and empowered by the film, I never thought that it was possible for me. I though healing would only happen if a hardcore and radical missionary type kind of Christian would pray for the sick. But that night, our pastor exhorted and empowered our church congregation that we too can pray and declare healing to anyone who is sick. After all, its is and never will be about us. It is and always will be about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Since I  understood that every Christians has the ability to pray for set people free from the bondage of sickness through Jesus Christ, I got intrigued and excited to do exactly just that. To date, God has used me pray for healing to five people and by His grace and power, I was able to witness their healing right before my very eyes.

Many (even Christians) still remain doubtful and skeptic about this. Maybe it is normal to fear and doubt when you are faced with the facts about your disease. You have all the symptoms to it. It's been wracking you up and causing you pain and discomfort. It's been in your family for generations already. The symptoms that you have, your pain, your hardship, your genetic make up - these are all facts that explains your sickness. But there is truth that sets us free. The truth is this: that there is healing thru Christ Jesus.

And that is what Isaiah 53:5 reveals to us -"by his [Jesus] wounds we are healed." I tried to find the words "wound" and "healed" in my Oxford Dictionary for me to have a better mental picture and understanding of what this portion of the scripture meant. Here's what I found:

Wound - an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery)

that typically involves laceration of breaking of a membrane

(as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissue; 

a mental or emotional hurt or blow

Healed - to make sound or whole; to restore to health;

to restore to original purity or integrity;

to cause to be overcome

Jesus had to be wounded for you and me to be healed! If Jesus' only goal of coming down to earth was to save us, he need not to go thru flogging (to beat with or as with a rod or whip) to do that. Being pierced on the cross and having his body crushed (see same verse) would have sufficed. But Jesus would not have been satisfied with just that. He wants us to live a good life - to enjoy everything he has to offer. He wants us to live a good life and be healthy as we fulfill his calling and destiny for each and everyone of us.

I am not suggesting to not think about your sickness at all. In fact, you have to. And as you do, declare the Kingdom of God to your sickness. Declare healing in your life (or to other people's lives) in the Name of Jesus. Believe in what Jesus did for you two thousand years ago. We do not have to live defeated by disease or sickness because Jesus was already wounded for us to be healed. Pray and access that privilege that you have in Christ Jesus.