This is the third week of our study of Jesus is Greater. The first week was Jesus is greater than temptation; last week was Jesus is greater than poverty; and this week we are studying about how Jesus is greater than sickness and disease. Last week we saw that prosperity included more than just the dollar amount we have but also encompasses a healthy body. We really need to see the Father’s heart in relation to us being in good health; that He is the author of healing, not sickness.

God provided forgiveness of sins and for healing in the Old Testament Covenants, with the sacrifices of animals, and then expanded those blessings with a superior New Testament Covenant with the Blood of Jesus. No longer do we have to sacrifice animals for the remission of our sins because Jesus died unto sin once. (Romans 6:10) I know what you’re thinking – that we were talking about healing – and yes, we still are because sickness came into the human race by the way of sin. So, if the sin problem is done away with, then so is the sickness problem.

God has always been interested in his people having good health and receiving healing when sick. We see in Exodus 15:26 where God reveals himself as “I am Jehovah who heals you.” (NKJV) In Exodus 23:24-25, upon entering the Promise Land, the Israelites were instructed to not bow to the pagan gods; but to worship the Lord God, and his blessing will be on their food and water; and He would take away sickness from among them. Deuteronomy chapter 28 lists the blessings of God if they obey his commands, and also the curses if they did not carefully follow all his commands, if you’re so inclined to read them. We can see just from those two Scriptures that healing is a part of God’s blessings to us. The problem is that most people don’t want to do their part to live in obedience to God to position themselves for His blessings.

There are many instances of healing in the Old Testament. God healed Naaman of leprosy. (2 Kings 5:1); and God also healed King Hezekiah after he prayed. (2 Kings 20:4) Also, in Second Chronicles 7:14, we see that God provides the way for a nation to receive healing – by repenting and turning from their sin. Next is one of the first healing Scriptures I learned in my early years of God’s provision of healing: Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Sickness and disease are destructive to our bodies. Jesus delivered us from the destructive forces of sickness and disease by the stripes on his back!

Isaiah 53:3 is a prophesy that “with his stripes were are healed.” That prophesy is looking forward to the Cross, and came true when Jesus was beaten before they crucified him on the Cross, which is mentioned in all four of the Gospels. Peter also makes mention of this in his first epistle, First Peter 2:24. God’s Word was manifested in Jesus, (John 1:1, 14), who went about doing good and healing all those oppressed of the devil. (Acts 10:38) That means that sickness is an oppression of devil. Jesus said in John 5:19 that he does what He sees the Father do. He even went further to tell His disciples that when they see Him, they see the Father. (John 14:9) That means that God is all about us being healed and in good health. That is part of the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. (John 10:10) Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He is still healing today! (Hebrew 13:8) I still remember the joy of that revelation, when first learning that Jesus purchased my healing blessing, and that I can have faith in His Word for Him to heal me today.

What a good God we serve who provided Salvation in Jesus for the human race He created. The stripes on His back for our bodies to be healed. The crown of thorns for us to have sound minds to think correctly. His death on the cross for the punishment of our sins. Salvation is a package deal that includes deliverance for every part of us; spirit, soul and body.

Jesus didn’t just come to deliver us from our sins but also to give us a new nature that in Him we no longer desire to sin. Jesus didn’t just come to heal our thoughts and emotional hurts but also to give us His way of thinking so we can have peace of mind. Jesus didn’t just come to heal us from sicknesses and diseases but to give us the power to live in divine health. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Thank you, Jesus!

Next week we will study how Jesus is greater than death.