The Meal That Heals

The Meal That Heals

not discerning the healing aspect of the atonement. For example, there are millions of Christians who accept the message of salvation from sin through Christ’s death and resurrection. Yet, if you were to inform them that by His stripes they could receive physical healing, their response would be, “We don’t believe God heals today,” or “We have doctors; therefore, we don’t need the healing gifts that once worked in the church.” Imagine the number of Christians who have departed this life early, possibly before their appointed time, because they did not discern the healing power available through the threefold atonement of Christ. After being a Christian for many years, one man came to the knowledge of Christ’s full atonement. He commented, “I had a wonderful wife who developed cancer. My church taught that God made people sick to teach them a lesson. I accepted this as fact and was angry with God for trying to teach my wonderful wife, a holy Christian, some type of lesson on suffering. No one told me about the healing power of Christ.” This man felt that his church traditions had cheated him. Perhaps his wife would have passed away anyway, but at least he could have been given the option of hope through the healing power of Christ. Some may say that telling people God can heal will only get a person’s hopes up. What if it doesn’t happen? Why do people see a doctor, have x-rays, or take medicine? They do so because they hope that the doctor will be able to cure them, or they hope the tests will be negative, or they hope the medicine will work. Yet, a minister who brings hope through the Word is lambasted by the voices of unbelief. Healing through the atonement involves discerning the Lord’s sufferings and connecting His atoning power to the act of Communion. Yes, healing comes in a variety of methods, but the bread and the cup are a visible demonstration of an accomplished work. The Bread and the Cup During the time of Christ, and even today at the Passover supper, the bread becomes the central focus. There are three pieces of bread called matzo used during the Passover meal. To the Jews,

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