The Meal That Heals

The Meal That Heals

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 This English translation is taken directly from the Hebrew text of Isaiah 53:4. In Matthew’s Gospel, the Greek word for sickness is astheneia, which means want of strength or weakness. The Greek word for sickness is astheneo, which is translated in the New Testament as disease, infirmities, or sickness. Christ not only bore our sins; He also carried our sicknesses. Some liberal theologians believe this sickness was sickness of the spirit, or “sin sickness.” I would argue, why would God, for 2,000 years, heal the physical sicknesses of those who believe in Him, then suddenly stop this important blessing under the New Covenant? If we have a better covenant established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6), then how could God withdraw His physical healing covenant and yet consider the New Covenant to be a better covenant? If we carefully examine the sufferings of Christ, He was literally made sin with our sins and sick with our sicknesses. But the atonement does not end with spiritual and physical healing. Christ also bore our mental (emotional) healing. Emotional Healing Emotional problems are the underlying root of many spiritual and physical problems. I have several friends who are medical doctors and, according to them, there are many people in hospitals today whose root cause of sickness is a problem with unforgiveness, strife, and bitterness. This inner spiritual crisis creates stress that affects the well being of the physical body. Many of God’s children are seized by the fear of what may happen in the future. Others have suffered emotionally for years, grieving over the loss of a loved one or close friend. Some live with a spirit of rejection, trapped in a zone of inferiority. The good news is that Christ’s redemptive work included emotional and mental healing. Isaiah tells us: 1. He was despised and rejected of man (Isaiah 53:3).

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