Healing the Whole Person

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5

What I really want us to see in this essay is what an awesome Savor we have in Jesus. I truly want us to be overwhelmed at the what Jesus accomplished for us, in his life and on the cross. We are acquainted with the idea that "Jesus died for me". When we understand that at all, we sometimes think that Jesus' death is only to take away sins – the spiritual problem.

But sin's curse is a cancer that spreads beyond our judicial standing before a holy God. We also have brokenness spiritually, relationally, emotionally, and physically. We mostly focus the spiritual aspects (a huge part, no doubt!). But the work of Christ goes beyond that. We must apply the cross to all the effects of sin.

• Emotional: "He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows" – Jesus cares about our emotional wounds and struggles. The cross is for our hearts too.
  
• Spiritual: "He was wounded for transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities" The guilt and condemnation of our sins has been put away – now we can deal with the "idols of the heart" with transparent integrity.
  
• Relational: "Upon him was he chastisement that brought us peace" Our relationship with God has been restored! Now we can be reconciled to others as well. Even the "hard people" in our lives, past and present.
  
• Physical: "By his stripes we are healed". And yes, we pray for God to heal our bodies even as we await our resurrection bodies on the day of resurrection.

Who do you know that would care for you like that? Who do you know that would take up all our problems, issues, garbage, hang-ups, rebellion, and sins - love us all the way to the cross - take all our sin on his sinless self - and then turn in love to heal all our wounds? Only Jesus.

A healing community reflects the work of Christ when we care for the whole person, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and physically. My hope and prayer is that our church would become such a healing community – applying the whole gospel to the whole person.

The well wisher of your soul's happiness,

Pastor Tom