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Isaiah 53 – What Jesus bore, you don’t have to bear anymore

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Did you ever hear that you had to bear sin for the glory of Jesus? Of course not! We know that Jesus bore our sin at the cross of Golgotha. Through his blood we have been cleansed and we are forgiven. Strangely enough, many people, when it comes to sickness, think that they have to bear their sickness for the glory of Jesus. But the bible says something very different.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. Isaiah 53,4

Jesus bore your sickness! What Jesus bore, you don’t have to bear anymore. You never ever have to bear any sickness for the glory of Jesus. Jesus on the cross was not our example, but our substitute. Representatively for us, he took sin and sickness upon himself. Representatively means he did it in your stead. It means what you and I deserved was laid on Jesus so that what you and I didn’t deserve, namely forgiveness and healing, was laid on us. Jesus took the place of you and me so that we are free from sin and sickness. It does not glorify God if you believe you had to bear sickness. If we had to bear sicknesses ourselves, it would be a slap in the face of Jesus, who suffered unspeakably when he took our sicknesses upon himself on the cross. Jesus bore our sicknesses so that we don’t have to bear them. By believing that Jesus bore your sicknesses, you honour Jesus and his work at the cross.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8,11

The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. No matter what sickness may afflict you, Jesus bore it so that you never again have to bear it. Your sickness was nailed to the cross. Jesus, the great physician, lives in you. Where Jesus is, sickness must give way. Sickness can not persist in the presence of Jesus. Do not put up with sickness in your body. You are destined to live a life of abundance and this includes a healthy body. Decide to believe that Jesus truly bore your sickness and therefore you no longer have to bear it. Simply say: “Thank you, Jesus, that you bore this sickness. What you bore, I don’t have to bear anymore.” Sickness belongs at the cross and not in your body. What Jesus bore, you don’t have to bear anymore.

Isaiah 53 – Believe the message

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Isaiah 53 is probably one of the most famous passages in the bible. Isaiah lived long before Jesus, but he prophesied what Jesus would do for you and me at the cross. This chapter reveals lots of wonderful things about healing.

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53,1-3

Isaiah 53 begins with the question: “Who has believed our message?” The bible is full of wonderful promises of God. But for you to have a benefit off it, you need to believe what God says.

For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Hebrews 4,2

“They” refers to Israel. They didn’t believe what God said and therefore the message they heard was of no value to them. It is your decision if you want to believe God or not. Faith begins with a decision. You can decide whom or what you believe, and you can decide whom or what you believe more. The doctor may have given you a negative report, but Jesus says that he is the doctor who heals you. Now the question arises whom you believe more: The negative report of the doctor or Jesus, your doctor that never fails?

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10,17

Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Actually, it is expressed even more precisely, namely by hearing the word of Christ. You live under the new covenant. Engage in what Jesus did for you on the cross. See Jesus in his beauty and grace and depend on him having paid the full price for your salvation. After the cross it is no longer about what you have to do, but rather what Jesus has done. Fix your sight on Jesus and feed your faith by hearing good messages of grace. Fill you heart and your thoughts with God’s thoughts about you, how much Jesus loves you, how completely you are forgiven, how highly favoured you are in Jesus, the beloved, and how much Jesus wants to bless you. You are God’s beloved child and he whishes for you to believe him. To believe is essentially nothing else than accepting God’s word as true. The basis for your faith must never be experiences, but solely God’s word. His word is the unshakable basis that withstands and won’t waver in the storms of life. Today, decide to believe Jesus more than anything else.

Born to save

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Have you ever seen one of these superhero movies in which they have to save the whole world from evil people? Did you know that there is someone who indeed saved the whole world? His weapon was love, his sacrifice was he himself und the effect of what he did will last for eternity. Everything began with a little baby born in a stable in Bethlehem.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2,11-12

Jesus was born as baby in a stable. But he was not just a baby, he would grow up and save the whole world later on. Jesus was born to save. That’s what Christmas is really about: The saviour of the world was born! God has made humanity the greatest, most precious and unique gift ever: His beloved son! Jesus did not need to come, for he was blessed in heaven. There, he was loved, respected and honored. But he knew, only he could save humanity.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3,16

You are so deeply loved, that God gave his beloved son for you. You are so deeply loved, that Jesus voluntarily sacrificed his own life for you, so that you can be free forever.

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. Isaiah 43,11

Jesus claims the title Saviour for himself, he even says apart from him there is no saviour. Do you know what this means? He wants to be your savior in every situation. Whatever it is, you need saving from, Jesus wants to save you. He was born to save you. First and foremost he wants to save you for eternity. All humans have sinned, and no one is able to keep the law. That’s why we need a savior. Someone who can free us from all sin and cloth us with righteousness so that we can stand freely before God. This someone is Jesus. Let him save you by praying a simple prayer: “Jesus, thank you for being born to save me. I believe, that you carried all my sins on the cross and cleansed me through your blood. You died for me and rose again so that I can live. Come into my heart and be my saviour. Amen.”
You are now a child of God and saved for eternity! But that’s not all yet. As a child of God, you are under God’s favour and entitled to receive all his blessings. This includes Jesus wanting to save you from all kind of situations. No matter if it is sickness, a broken relationship, loneliness, addiction, financial need or a problem at your job, Jesus wants to save you. Stop trying to solve everything on your own and let the saviour do his job. Tell it to Jesus, what bothers you and were you need salvation. And then lean back and look how Jesus changes your situation and saves you.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. He didn’t mind starting his life on earth as a little baby, wrapped in diapers in a manger. But today he is no longer a baby, he is the true God, dead and risen and he lives! He is the true saviour of the world and he wants to be your saviour too. Do you want to be saved by Jesus?

Love has triumphed at the cross

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Over 2’000 years ago, three days have forever changed the story of humanity, and the power of what happened then is as strong today as it was back then. Easter took place. Jesus gave his life and his death and resurrection brought a mighty change for every human being and heralded a new age.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2,19

The people who heard Jesus say this didn’t understand him. They thought he was talking about the temple that was built in 46 years. But Jesus spoke about himself, of the temple of his body. He knew that he would die and rise again after three days. That’s why he said he would raise the temple up again. Three days have formed and changed the story of humanity like nothing else. Till then people lived under the law of Moses and had to fulfill its demands. The problem with that was, that no human being is ever able to fulfill the law. God knew that from the start which is why he provided the option of offerings, through which people would receive forgiveness of their sins. But the blood of animals couldn’t wash away the sins, but only cover them. A greater offering was needed. Someone who would be able to fulfill the law including its demands and redeem humanity once and for all from sin and its consequences. There was only one man who met these criteria: The son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus who was innocent and totally sinless gave his life representatively for you and me so that we are free forever.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19,30

 Jesus fulfilled the law at the cross, he took upon himself the consequences for every breach of law, he bore the sin of all humanity and carried every single disease, pain and affliction. He fulfilled the law and the consequences of breaching the law. Therefore, he could say: It is finished! For Jesus has truly accomplished what has never been possible before: Through his blood sin has been washed away, forgiveness flowed and by his stripes healing came. Hence the price was paid. It’s truly finished. You and I have been ransomed from the prison of sin, guilt and condemnation and have been redeemed from the curse of the law which stuck to us through diseases, affliction, pain and death. It would have been so easy for Jesus to get down from the cross and thereby put an end to all his suffering. After all he was innocent. Yet his love for you kept him on the cross and let him endure this awful torture. At the cross love has triumphed and won the day. Jesus thought of you when he was hanging on the cross and because he loves you so much, he stayed there till his work was finished. Yet the best thing is, that Jesus didn’t stay dead. After three days he rose, and he lives!

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10,4

Jesus conquered death! Before Jesus came, the law applied but Jesus has fulfilled and ended it. What has come to an end is no longer valid. Today, you no longer live under the law. Thus, you no longer must follow rules and regulations to please God and receive his blessing. Through Jesus grace came. Now it’s all about receiving the gift of God’s love and grace, by accepting Jesus. Since Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, he thereby legally heralded a new age, the age of grace. Those three days have changed the story of humanity forever and the power of the cross is as strong today as it was back then. Jesus cancelled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2,14). Jesus offers you his forgiveness, his redemption, his healing and his grace. He offers you everlasting salvation and a life under his grace. What will your answer be?

Do not let your heart be troubled

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Sorrow, troubling thoughts and fear rob us of joy and peace. Jesus does not want us to live anxious and with a heavy heart.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14,27

Jesus gave you his peace. A peace that can’t be shattered by anybody or anything. Jesus knows that sorrow and fear can get our hearts in turmoil, which is why he said: “Do not let your heart be troubled!” That’s the key how you silence the voices of sorrow and fear. You don’t have to worry about how the problems will get solved. That’s God’s job. Your job is to guard your heart. Whenever sorrowful thoughts and fears bother you, say it: “Do not let your heart be troubled!” By doing so, you remind yourself that Jesus has everything under control and he already knows how he is going to solve the problem. By not letting your heart be troubled, you keep the peace of God in your heart. Try it and you will see, how your heart will calm down and the assurance that Jesus has everything under control will take root in your heart.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4,23

Before you take care of anything else, guard your heart. You exactly do this by not letting your heart be troubled. Cast out sorrow and fear by reminding yourself that Jesus has everything under control. Do not let your heart be troubled! Whenever you say this, you make yourself dependent on Jesus and his abilities. It’s a confession that you can’t do it on your own and fixing your eyes on the one who will turn everything around for your good.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1. Peter 5,7

Do not let sorrow poison your heart, but cast them to Jesus, he cares for you. The next time sorrow, fear or other troubling thoughts are coming up, just say: “Do not let your heart be troubled!”