Before the Cross and After the Cross: By His Stripes
Emphasis: The Finished Work of Christ
Attribute: Healer
Theme: “By whose stripes ye were healed.” — 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
There is something powerful that happens when we look at healing from both sides of the cross.
Hundreds of years before Jesus came, Isaiah prophesied about the suffering Messiah:
“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 (KJV)
Isaiah was looking forward.
“We are healed.”
Then we come to the New Testament. Jesus has been beaten, crucified, buried, and resurrected. Peter is no longer looking forward toward Calvary. He is looking backward at something Christ has already accomplished.
“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 (KJV)
Isaiah says, “We are healed.”
Peter says, “Ye were healed.”
I believe the cross changed the words.
Emphasis — The Finished Work of Christ
Before the cross, we see people coming to Jesus asking Him for healing.
In Matthew 8, a leper approached Jesus saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Jesus answered him immediately: “I will; be thou clean.” — Matthew 8:2–3 (KJV)
The leper knew Jesus had the power. His question was whether Jesus was willing.
But we live on the other side of Calvary.
Jesus has gone to the cross. His body was broken. His blood was shed. He rose from the grave, and the Holy Spirit has been given to those who belong to Him.
This changes how I approach God.
I am not approaching Him trying to convince Him to become my Healer. I approach Him believing He has already revealed Himself as my Healer.
Attribute — Healer
Jesus did not only preach about God’s compassion. He demonstrated it.
Matthew 8 is filled with healing. The leper was cleansed. The centurion’s servant was healed. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed. Then Matthew tells us Jesus healed “all that were sick.”
Matthew connects those healings directly to Isaiah’s prophecy:
“Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” — Matthew 8:17 (KJV)
Then came Calvary.
Jesus bore our sins in His own body upon the tree, and Peter deliberately brings us back to Isaiah:
“By whose stripes ye were healed.”
Salvation and healing both point us toward Jesus.
I believe healing is obtainable for us because God’s Word gives me reason to ask, believe, and stand in faith for healing.
Theme — Before and After
Isaiah stood before the cross and prophesied, “We are healed.”
Peter stood after the cross and declared, “Ye were healed.”
One looked forward toward the suffering Savior.
The other looked backward toward the finished work.
And we stand where Peter stood—on the resurrection side of the cross.
That doesn’t mean we pretend symptoms aren’t real or condemn someone whose healing has not manifested. Nor does faith require rejecting doctors or medicine. Our confidence remains in Christ whether healing comes instantly, gradually, through medical treatment, or in ways we do not yet understand.
But neither do I want unanswered questions to cause me to stop believing what Scripture says.
Jesus Christ is still the Healer.
Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
So I will pray.
I will believe.
I will speak God’s Word over my circumstances.
And when what I see has not yet caught up with what I believe, I will continue to “have faith in God.” — Mark 11:22
Life Application
Read Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 together.
Notice the cross standing between them.
Isaiah looked ahead and said, “We are healed.” Peter looked back and said, “Ye were healed.”
When sickness speaks, let God’s Word have a voice too. Pray boldly for healing. Receive appropriate medical care without shame. Stand upon the character of God and refuse to measure His goodness solely by what you can see today.
The cross changed everything.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the finished work of Jesus Christ.Thank You that He bore my sin and suffered for me. Teach me to believe Your Word concerning healing. Strengthen my faith when what I see challenges what I believe. I place my confidence in Jesus Christ, my Savior and my Healer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
