Tag: Healing

Healed By His Stripes? Eh???


I still don’t understand Isaiah 53:5. Maybe it’s others’ reading of it that I don’t understand. Yet again, last Sunday, someone said all of our illnesses and diseases would be healed “by his stripes (or wounds)”. Someone mentioned it for a pre-communion message and the main speaker echoed this in his sermon. In fact the speaker went on to cite an example of a physical healing, to say “by His stripes we are healed”, in clear reference to Isaiah 53:5. In fact he referred to the pre-communion message and said he agreed with that.

Next time I hear this I will ask the person who makes that statement, to explain why he or she thought that verse meant physical healing. Everything in that verse suggests it refers to our spiritual healing.

“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The whole context of that verse was on our spiritual healing. Our disease and illness was rejection of God which leaves us on the road to eternal separation from God, ie death. Jesus came to cure that – He came to bear our sins and die in our place. By His wounds, we are healed.

The problem with saying we are physically healed by His wounds is: the Scriptures doesn’t say that. Also, Jesus’ death and sacrifice is the perfect solution for its purpose, ie redemption of our soul and restoration of our relationship with God – that is  the “illness” it heals, not physical ailments. Very often we have unhealed diseases. Many suffer physical ailments for an extended period of time, without ever getting healed. Some go to their graves with their ailments. Does it mean Jesus’ stripes/wounds are inadequate in their case? Is Jesus’ death and suffering imperfect for our bodies? I sincerely believe this teaching is wrong. I am only a little a little guy – a puny one – when it comes to theology. This one however, is clearly problematic.

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