Jesus suffered as our substitute for our sicknesses and our sins. Isaiah 53.4-6 “Yet he was the one who carried our sicknesses and endured the torment of our sufferings. We viewed him as one who was being punished for something he himself had done, as one who was struck down by God and brought low. But it was because of our rebellious deeds that he was pierced and because of our sins that he was crushed. He endured the punishment that made us completely whole, and in his wounding we found our healing. Like wayward sheep, we have all wandered astray. Each of us has turned from God’s paths and chosen our own way; even so, Yahweh laid the guilt of our every sin upon him.” The prophet Isaiah was writing this prophecy some 700 years before Jesus was crucified yet he gives a remarkable insight into what Jesus sacrifice on the cross accomplished. There is no better commentary on this prophecy than Matthew 8:16-17. “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.” The cross is at the heart of the Christian Gospel. All have sinned and come short of God’s standards including all those who this world looks on as “good” people. We cannot earn our way back to a relationship with God but Jesus died in our place taking all of our punishment all of our blame all of our shame and all of our sickness. Because of what Jesus has done all who believe in trust in and rely on Him can receive all the blessings that Jesus deserves. Jesus bore my sins and sicknesses away outside the camp (Heb. 13:11-13) to the cross. Both sin and sickness have passed from me to Calvary—salvation and health have passed from Calvary to me. Hallelujah!

When Jesus bore our sins, our sicknesses, and our pains, He bore them away, or removed them. Both these words mean substitution, one bearing another’s load. In Deuteronomy, chapter 28, disease and sickness were a part of the curse. But Galatians 3:13 declares: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Since Jesus Christ, in His sacrificial death, bore our sicknesses the same as He bore our sins; then the fact is settled by the scriptures that the sick have the same right to be healed in their bodies as the sinful have to be healed in their spirits. The word “bore” in Matthew 8:17 implies substitution – suffering for; not sympathy, as in suffering with. If Christ has borne our sicknesses, why should we bear them?

We can say now based on Is 53.4 “Surely He has borne my sickness, weakness, distress and grief and carried my sufferings and pains”

Everything good thing we receive from God flows from our relationship with Him.

Adam and Eve were created perfect – physically, mentally and spiritually. Spiritually they were created in the image of God.

God placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful place – in a garden called Eden where everything was provided.

There was no sickness and no disease and no infirmity of any sort.

Adam and Eve were accepted by God and by each other. They were able to walk in fellowship with God without shame and without fear.

This is how God created us. This is the kind of life we were designed for.

What we see in the garden is Gods plan for humanity and that plan and purpose has not changed.

God desires the very best for every believer.

Adam and Eve allowed satan to rob them of their health, joy, blessing and abundance when they believed his lies rather than what God had said

They were separated from God by their sins. Sin always brings separation from God.

Then followed the terrible consequences of sin which devastate human life today.

I would like to emphasise some of the things Adam and Eve had in the garden because the heart of God is that everyone should have these things and this is why He gave them.

1. A right relationship with God -> instead there entered in sin, corruption, shame, guilt and condemnation.
   
2. Peace with God -> instead there entered in unrest, fear, hostility and lack of trust.
   
3. God’s presence -> separation and loneliness.
   
4. God’s guidance and direction -> delusion, deceit, confusion, perplexity.
   
5. Health and energy -> disease, sickness and physical suffering.
   
6. Purpose and dignity -> disappointment, intimidation, defeat, inferiority and becoming slaves.
   
7. Abundant provision -> poverty and lack.
   

Jesus says in John 10.10 The thief comes only to kill and destroy. I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.

The twin evils of sin and sickness have marched hand in hand ever since Adam and Eve.

The God given divine dignity that Adam and Eve had in the garden was compromised and could never be recovered UNTIL Jesus gave His life for usand we who were far away from God were able to be brought back as His friends and more than that as sons.

The good news is that God has provided the way for us to rediscover ALL. that Adam and Eve lost.

God has provided a way of salvation (Greek word used is Sozo means saved from sin, sickness, devils power and danger). A new life plan to restore to us all the blessings that were forfeited by Adam and Eve’s disobedience and lack of trust.

Jesus has taken not only our sin but our defeat and given us His success in exchange!

Adam and Eve were created perfect – physically, mentally and spiritually. Spiritually they were created in the image of God.

God placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful place – in a garden called Eden where everything was provided.

There was no sickness and no disease and no infirmity of any sort.

Adam and Eve were accepted by God and by each other. They were able to walk in fellowship with God without shame and without fear.

This is how God created us. This is the kind of life we were designed for.

What we see in the garden is Gods plan for humanity and that plan and purpose has not changed.

God desires the very best for every believer.

Adam and Eve allowed satan to rob them of their health, joy, blessing and abundance when they believed his lies rather than what God had said

They were separated from God by their sins. Sin always brings separation from God.

Then followed the terrible consequences of sin which devastate human life today.

I would like to emphasise some of the things Adam and Eve had in the garden because the heart of God is that everyone should have these things and this is why He gave them.

1. A right relationship with God instead there entered in sin, corruption, shame, guilt and condemnation.
2. Peace with God instead there entered in unrest, fear, hostility and lack of trust.
3. God’s presence > instead separation and loneliness.
4. God’s guidance and direction > instead delusion, deceit, confusion, perplexity.
5. Health and energy > instead disease, sickness and physical suffering.
6. Purpose and dignity > instead disappointment, intimidation, defeat, inferiority and becoming slaves.
7. Abundant provision > instead poverty and lack.

Jesus says in John 10.10 The thief comes only to kill and destroy. I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.

The twin evils of sin and sickness have marched hand in hand ever since Adam and Eve.

The God given divine dignity that Adam and Eve had in the garden was compromised and could never be recovered UNTIL Jesus gave His life for usand we who were far away from God were able to be brought back as His friends and more than that as sons.

The good news is that God has provided the way for us to rediscover ALL that Adam and Eve lost.

God has provided a way of salvation (Greek word used is Sozo means saved from sin, sickness, devils power and danger). A new life plan to restore to us all the blessings that were forfeited by Adam and Eve’s disobedience and lack of trust.

Jesus has taken not only our sin but our defeat and given us His success in exchange!