Discerning You, Jesus

Sin and death are linked. One affects the other.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12).

Sin is the root of sickness. No sickness strengthens, blesses, or enhances anyone’s life. If given the opportunity, sickness can lead to an untimely death. 

Adam’s sin released death, and sickness is a product of the power of death in us. If we can understand sickness as a fruit of sin, then we can understand that sin is the root that must be addressed. If sin, the root of sickness, can be destroyed, then sickness has no authority and no right to be in us.

There is an unholy union between sin and sickness. David understood this connection and prophesied man’s future deliverance from both the root of sin and the fruit of sickness.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:2–3).

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus: “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 bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4–5).

In quoting Isaiah, Matthew revealed Jesus as the fulfillment of his prophecy.

“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses’” (Matthew 8:16–17).

Healing didn’t end with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. 

“And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people” (Acts 5:12).

The Great Commission to go into all the world, preach the Gospel, and lay hands on the sick so they recover are promises of the church age (Mark 16:15–18). The spiritual gift of healing was given to equip the body of Christ for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:9).

If we can still receive forgiveness for our sins today, healing is also available for us to receive. Forgiveness and healing are inseparable in the Gospel message.

Jehovah Rapha is one of the redemptive names of God revealed in the Old Testament. His name is “the Lord our Healer.” He is also our Jehovah-Tsidkenu, which means “He is our righteousness.”

God’s redemptive names mirror His eternal nature. If healing were to vanish, God would cease to be God.

Jesus carried both the root of sin and the fruit of sickness to the cross so that we could be free of their power. When the power of sin was defeated, the power of sickness lost its authority. 

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Just as there is an unholy union between sin and sickness, there is a holy union between the forgiveness of sin and healing. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:29–30, Paul speaks of taking communion: “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”

The holy union between forgiveness and healing is experienced when the Lord’s body is discerned. 

To discern the Lord’s body means recognizing and reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It calls for a repentant heart, acknowledging that His body was broken for us and His blood shed for us. When we don’t discern the Lord’s body properly—when we don’t recognize and acknowledge that Jesus gave His physical body not only for our sin, but also our sicknesses, sickness prevails. Some even die before their time. 

Jesus, I discerned You yesterday during communion. I experienced Your love for me on the cross. Deep within, I knew Your body broken for me and Your blood shed for me. As we took communion together, we were one bread and body in You. You are our head, our Jehovah-Tsidkenu and Jehovah-Rapha. You are my righteousness and my healer. Communion will never be the same. Discerning You, Jesus, is my healing of sin and sickness. My communion is in you.  By your stripes, I’m healed.