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RECEIVE
HEALING
through
the BLOOD OF CHRIST
by Pastor Max Solbrekken
"He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities, the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we
are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
HOW
TO RECEIVE TOTAL HEALING
though the Blood of Jesus
The
ancient prophet Isaiah set forth a graphic picture of the coming
Jewish Messiah in the 53rd chapter of the book we call "The
Gospel of the Old Testament."
"He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with
His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
We
can receive total healing through the wounds of Jesus Christ
- According to the prophets, the Messiah would suffer, bleed and
die for His people. He would be cut off in death, but rise again
in power. He would be wounded, bruised, chastised and
striped in order to purchase our salvation and bring deliverance
from sin, sickness and eternal death.
And
St. Peter records the glorious results of Christ's terrible
sufferings as our substitute. "Who His own self bare our
sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were
healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
THE SEVEN WOUNDS OF JESUS SPELL COMPLETE REDEMPTION
Jesus
Christ received seven specific wounds in His body during His
week of suffering and death. The number seven in biblical terms
speaks of perfection and completeness.
Wounds
according to the dictionary are divisions of the soft part of
the body by a mechanical force applied externally. They are
classified as: contused, lacerated, penetrating, perforating
and incised! Jesus Christ received each of these plus an
additional two, by mutilation and falling.
1)
THE CONTUSED WOUND - produced by a sharp instrument.
"They
shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek."
(Micah 5:1)
St.
Matthew wrote, "They smote Him with rods."
(Matthew 26:67; John 18:22) (Newberry & Revised) "Then
they did spit in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him
with the palms of their hands." (Matthew 26:67)
Very
definitely, Jesus suffered pain and humiliation as Roman
soldiers beat Him about the face with their rods!
Others,
including the servants smote Him with their hands. The rod would
cut into the flesh, leaving a contused wound.
2)
THE LACERATED WOUND - produced by a tearing
instrument.
The
Romans used the cruel cat-of-nine tails to scourge criminals. On
the end of the whip were nine pieces of leather to which were
attached sharp ivory or metal balls with protruding nails. As
the whip was cracked, it would tear out pieces of the flesh.
Jewish
law demanded that not more than 40 lashes be administered, since
often the victim would faint or even die during the scourging.
The
Romans did not need to adhere to Jewish law. As a matter of
fact, crucifixion was a Roman mode of execution! The Romans
always scourged a condemned man before crucifying him.
Some
historians and Church Fathers believe that Jesus Christ may have
received many more than 30 stripes. The more punishment a
prisoner took on the whipping pole, the shorter was the guard
duty for the Roman Soldiers at the scene of execution.
Since
the Jewish leadership had accused Him of perverting the people,
the Romans certainly had no reason to "go easy"
on Him! And no doubt the tough Roman soldiers would have been
happy to see Jesus squirm and cry out - especially since he had
refused to talk to the Governor!
We
do know that St. Paul was whipped by the Jews on five separate
occasions: "Of the Jews five times received I forty
stripes save one." (2 Corinthians 13:24) Paul was
not a candidate for crucifixion, by the Romans. He was
prosecuted under the jurisdiction of the Jewish hierarchy!
If
Jesus received 39 stripes in Pilate's Judgment Hall, that would
have inflicted a total of 351 gashes on His lacerated back. If
He received more than 39 stripes, the gashes would have been
more numerous!
EACH
WOUND HELPED TO PURCHASE OUR HEALING: SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL
The
Old Testament prophet declared, "The ploughers ploughed
upon My back. They made long furrows." (Psalms 129:3)
Seven hundred and fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied
concerning the Messiah, "I gave My back to the smiters"
(Isaiah 50:6)
"But
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with
His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
St.
Matthew records, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and
scourged Him." (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1)
Prisoners
who were scourged usually lost a lot of blood and sometimes
fainted. Jesus suffered the agonizing and brutal scourging for
us!
3)
THE PENETRATING WOUND: a deep wound caused by a
sharp, pointed instrument.
The
crown of thorns that was pressed upon the head of Jesus caused
such wounds. The Jerusalem thorn, known as the Arabian Nebulae,
was 4 inches long and as sharp as a needle. The cruel
diadem containing over 100 spiculets, was driven into His head
with blows from the rod.
The
Bible scriptures record, "And when they had platted a
crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His
right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him,
saying, Hail, King of the Jews." (Matthew 27:29)
"Then
came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple
robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" (John
19:5)
It
was the Governor's intention to scourge Jesus and then release
him. He had hoped the pitiful sight of a weary, weak and
bloodies man would satisfy their blood lust and evoke sympathy
for the prisoner.
Instead
of being satisfied, they craved more blood, crying out "Away
with Him, crucify Him, crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)
THORNS
SPEAK OF THE ORIGINAL CURSE
Thorns
speak of the original curse, "Cursed is the ground for
thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy
life;" "Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee..." (Geneses
3:17-18)
JESUS
TOOK THE CURSE FOR US
Jesus
Christ bore the penalty for our sins, transgressions,
sicknesses, diseases and pains!
St.
Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree:
“That
the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)
In
the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, Moses enumerates the
blessings of keeping covenant with God. He also lists the
curses! The curses include sickness, disease, insanity,
torments, plagues, pestilence, famine and war. The Apostle
to the Gentiles states unequivocally that, "Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law." So we are free!
The
Roman soldiers tried to drive Jesus insane by beating that crown
of sharp Arabian Nebulae into His head. But He didn't lose His
sanity but rather through this horrible experience purchased our
peace and tranquility.
"And
having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to
reconcile all things unto Himself." (Colossians 1:20)
Because
of the penetrating wounds He bore for us, WE HAVE PEACE!
4)
THE PERFORATING WOUND: From
the Latin word; "to pierce through"
A
Messianic psalm stated, "They pierced My hands and My
feet" (Psalms 22:16) At the time of David's
prophecy, he knew nothing of crucifixion, for the Hebrew method
of capitol punishment was stoning!
The
prophet Zechariah also foretold of the Messiah's death by
crucifixion. "And one shall say unto Him, What are these
wounds in Thine hands? Then shall He answer, Those with which I
was wounded in the house of My friends." (Zechariah
13:6)
By
the time Jesus was born, the Romans had conquered Palestine and
crucifixion had become the mode of execution. The New Testament
records: "And when they were come... to Calvary, there
they crucified Jesus." (Luke 23:33; John
19:16-18)
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Jesus
Christ suffered the torments, agony, pain and death of the most
horrible of all deaths - The Death of Crucifixion! He suffered
for us. He bled for us. He died for us! And He arose again from
the dead, for us!
5)
THE INCISED WOUND: a
cut produced by a sharp edged instrument.
"But
one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith
came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)
As
the Sabbath was approaching the soldiers helped speed up the
expiration of the victims by smashing their thigh bones, thus
allowing asphyxiation. When the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he
noticed that He was already dead. The soldier then went on to
the thief on Jesus' other side and with his large axe, smashed
the femur bone (thigh bone) causing a quicker death.
In
order to verify Jesus' death, the soldier then plunged his spear
into the left side of Jesus!
This
fulfilled the scripture, "They shall look upon Him Whom
they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10) So large was the
wound that after the resurrection, Thomas "the
doubter" was invited to thrust his hand into that wound.
"Then
saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My
hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side:
and be not faithless, but believing." (John
20:27)
St.
John was standing near the cross and noticed blood and water
coming out of His side. The pericardium is a closed sac
encasing the heart, lubricated by a small amount of fluid to
facilitate the motion of the heart.
Mallory
& Wright's pathological technique answers the question,
"How could John have seen such a small amount of water flow
out of the wound? The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is
about a teaspoon, but it may be increased to 100 c.c. (24
teaspoonfuls) where death agony is prolonged."
Another
miracle was that contrary to nature, blood flowed from a dead
man, proving that the blood of Jesus did not die but is
efficacious even today !
"There
is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel's veins,
And sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty
stains."
The
blood and water which St. John saw coming out of the side of
Christ may also have been the physiological aspect of death.
Medical
science teaches that, "Blood in a cadaver readily separates
into clear serum and red blood cells, thus certifying that the
person is clinically dead." It could be that both of these
things were happening at once. Either way, it proves that the
death of Jesus was a reality and that there is life through His
precious blood!
The
Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no
remission of sins." (Leviticus 17:11,14)
"It
is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." (Hebrews
9:22) "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth
us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)
THE
BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, SHED FOR US ALL ON GOLGOTHA, HAS
PURCHASED OUR SALVATION!
(I)
WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"In
Whom we have redemption through His blood, even THE FORGIVENESS
OF SINS, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians
1:7)
(II)
WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD!
"Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers;"
"But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:18-19)
"Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."
(Acts 20:28)
(III)
WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"But
if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, And the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanseth us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)
(IV)
WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD
"And
from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own
blood." (Revelation 1:5)
(V)
WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Much
more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:9)
"Being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in His blood, to declare the righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of
God;" (Romans 3:24-25)
(VI)
WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD!
"And
having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to
receive all things unto himself;" (Colossians 1:20)
(VII)
WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH
HIS BLOOD
"Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath
consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His
flesh;" (Hebrews 10:19-20)
(VIII)
WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS
BLOOD!
"But
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with
His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
"Who
His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose
stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
(IX)
WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11)
(X)
WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD!
"Wherefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own
blood, suffered without the gate." (Hebrews
13:12)
(XI)
WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"How
much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal
Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience (mind) from dead works, to serve the Living
God?" (Hebrews 9:14)
(XII)
WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"These
are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day
and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall
dwell among them…
"For
the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
(Revelation 7:14-17)
6)
WOUNDS BY MUTILATION - the plucking out of His beard.
"I
gave My cheeks to them that plucked out the hair." (Isaiah
50:6)
Not
only did they slap and spit upon His face but they yanked out
His beard causing the wounds of mutilation. Can you imagine the
awful pain, as cruel Roman soldiers pulled out His beard! The
blood flowed down upon Christ's chest as cruel tormentors
mutilated His face by tearing out handfuls of His beard.
He
did it for us, because by "His Sore" (original
Hebrew) we are healed! He was "one sore" from
head to toe, by the time He had undergone the full mistreatment
which the Roman soldiers heaped upon Him! He suffered more than
any man and He did it all for us - to purchase our salvation!
7)
WOUNDS BY FALLING:
They
laid the rugged cross upon His lacerated, bleeding back and
forced Jesus to carry His own cross, as was the custom for
condemned criminals. Due to loss of blood because of the
scourging, He was unable to do so.
As
He stumbled and fell, His body received more bruises and sores,
and He suffered more pain, for us!
Historians
claim, that after His striping in Pilate's Judgment Hall, Jesus
was subjected to a heavy wooden cross laid upon His raw,
bleeding back.
Apparently,
the cross bar was tied to His wrists and the stock to His left
ankle. When He stumbled and fell, He had no way to protect
Himself, so His body was further bruised and battered! And Roman
soldiers then forced a stranger, Simon of Cyrene to bear His
cross up Calvary's hill.
"And
He bearing His cross went forth to the place of a skull..."
(John 19:17) "And as they led Him away they laid
hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and
on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after
Jesus." (Luke 23:26) (Mark 15:21)
Apparently
that event caused such an impact upon the Cyrenian that he
became a convert to Christ. And it appears that his two sons
also entered the Ministry and preached the gospel of Christ
after His resurrection.
CHRIST
WAS WOUNDED FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH SEVEN WOUNDS IN ORDER TO
BRING US HEALING!
And
St. Matthew stated, "When the even was come, they
brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He
cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were
sick:"
"That
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Easias the prophet,
saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)
"It
is no wonder, St. Thomas, upon his encounter with the risen
Christ declared, "My Lord and my God." (Jn.20:28)
MAY
THE RISEN CHRIST BLESS AND HEAL YOU AS YOU APPROPRIATE HIS
PROMISES FOR YOURSELF!
I
pray you will receive total healing through the wounds and blood
that Jesus Christ shed for you.
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