In the multitude of our many problems, troubles, afflictions, pains, sicknesses, sorrows and sufferings, there is a promise that we have received from the scriptures on which mankind should run with whenever we encounter these situations.
“….and by His stripes, we are healed;” these words were part of the concluding prophecies of the prophet Isaiah concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It once again speaks of the nature of His sufferings, His stripes and the accompanying benefit – “are healed” for all mankind, “we”.
Faithful witnesses in the four gospels: Mathew, Mark, Luke and John testified that indeed those sufferings predicted by the prophets were fully meted out on Jesus without exception; and if the prophecy was true concerning His suffering, it is undoubtedly true also that we are healed.
In view of the above fact, the Apostle Peter in his first epistle addressed to strangers abroad who did not witness Christ’s death, plainly declared “…by whose stripes ye were healed;” indicating that all (Jews and Gentiles) have been healed already.
These glad tidings should rejoice the heart of all who are plagued with any form of bodily ailment, be it major or minor, curable or terminal. It is a message of hope to you rich man on your dying bed who has spent and is willing to spend all you have just to be whole. The languishing pauper who cannot afford even the least Medicare should also not despair; this fountain of health is full and free.
However, just as a medicine in the hand or before the eyes does no good until it is taken into the body, so also it is with this promise until it is correctly appropriated by the sick and afflicted. Failure to do this accounts for the myriad of torments and in most cases death at the hand of sicknesses even in the church for the devil takes advantage of our ignorance and failure, have wounded some and cast down many; painting the prophecies a lie and the gospel a mere fantasy.
Thank God the Great Physician did not leave us the medicine without a prescription. Scattered within the holy writ are clues to how the healing balm from Immanuel’s side may be applied. Tracing back to Isaiah’s prophecy, the leading verse in the fifty third chapter from which the promise was extracted reads thus, “Who has believed our reports and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” The above question could be rephrased and rendered as, “the saving and healing arm of the Lord will only be revealed to those who believes this report.” Depicting that faith in Christ Jesus, believing that He suffered, accepting His sacrifice and cure for one’s sickness, is the only currency with which this healing may be purchased.
This proves true; for when the Great Physician walked among men and healed many incurable sicknesses, the basis for healing was exclusively the faith of the sick. To blind Bartimaeus and the woman with the issue of blood, he said, “thy faith hath made thee whole”; to Jairus, he said, “believe only and she shall be made whole”; and being moved by the faith of the paralyzed man, he healed him.
In the epistle of James, we were told that a prayer of faith shall save the sick. May we all find cheer, comfort, hope and healing in the assurance that “by His stripes, we are healed!”
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