Concepts and names
In the previous chapters, we looked at what the Old and New Testaments say about healing. In this chapter, we will explore specific concepts and names related to healing. We will see that many key Christian truths are connected to healing and that healing is an important part of the gospel of God. In fact, the gospel of God includes the restoration of the whole person—spirit, soul, and body.
Reason 92: The LORD Your Healer
In chapter 3 of this book, we looked at what the Law of Moses says about healing. One of the key verses we studied was:
Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” (Exodus 15:26, ESV)
Isn’t it extraordinary that God revealed Himself to the Israelites as their Healer—or we could say, their Doctor? And what does a doctor do? A doctor’s task is to promote, improve, and restore health. In the same way, God desires to be our Doctor. He wants to promote, improve, and restore our health.
Earthly doctors do not always have all the answers and cannot always bring healing. But our heavenly Doctor always can. He is never limited, and His power to heal is complete.
When you visit a doctor and he says, “I’m Robin, and I’m your doctor,” you understand that his role is to help restore your health. He will do what he can—whether through advice or medication—to help you get well or relieve your symptoms. God also wants to introduce Himself to you. In His Word, He says, “I am the Lord, your Healer.” In other words, “I am the Lord your Doctor.” God has taken on this role. With love and compassion, He wants to promote, improve, and restore your health. And unlike any earthly doctor, God can do what no one else can—He can fully restore and heal.
Let’s read the same verse again in the New King James Version:
And said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)
God not only bears the title “Doctor”—He also acts as one. He has not retired. He was the Doctor for the generation of Moses, and He is still the Doctor today—for you and your generation. God is not the “I was” or the “I will be.” He is the eternal “I AM.” He is with you now, and He is your Doctor now.
He was not only your Doctor in the past, nor will He only become your Doctor later in the future. He is your Doctor today—and forever. You can live in the assurance that right now, God is your Doctor. Today, He desires to promote, improve, and restore your health. Let’s also look at this name of God in Hebrew. The word “Healer” in Hebrew is “rāp̄ā’”, which means “to heal,” “doctor,” or “healer.” It is used to describe someone who brings healing, or someone who has visited a doctor. God wants to restore your body completely.
Reason 93: Jesus Saved Us - Sōzō
“Sōzō” is a very important word in the Bible. It is a Greek word that appears often and means “to save,” “to make whole”, “to heal” and “to rescue from danger or destruction”. Let’s look at some Bible verses where this word is used.
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save (sōzō) His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (sōzō). (Matthew 10:22)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (sōzō). (John 3:16-17)
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (sōzō). (Romans 10:9)
As you can see, this word is used at key moments. Sōzō means that God saves us and blesses us. When someone comes to faith, we often say, “This person is saved.” In Greek, instead of saved, we would say “sōzō”. But what does this word really mean? I would like to share part of the explanation from the Dutch Study Bible, with some phrases highlighted for emphasis:
The verb sōzō means “to save, preserve, redeem.” The word primarily means “to keep alive” (see, for example, Mark 5:23)—that is, to save from death or to deliver from mortal danger. It is therefore contrasted with apokteinō, “to kill” (Mark 3:4), and apollumi, “to cause to be lost, to destroy, to perish.” (Luke 6:9)
Sometimes the source of the danger is mentioned, such as “out of Egypt” (Jude 1:5), “from this hour,” referring to the threat of death at that moment (John 12:27), or more generally, “from death” (Hebrews 5:7; cf. James 5:20).
The word also means “to deliver from sickness,” whether life-threatening or not—that is, “to make well, to heal” (for example, James 5:15). In the passive form, it can mean “to be healed” or “to recover” (see Mark 6:56; Luke 8:36; John 11:12).
In several passages, sōzō seems to refer to more than just physical healing. It points to physical healing as a sign of spiritual salvation. This is especially clear in the phrase “your faith has made you well” or “your faith has saved you” (see Mark 5:34; Mark 10:52; Luke 17:19; 18:42).
In most places where the word sōzō appears in the New Testament, it refers to spiritual salvation—being saved from eternal destruction. In this context, we read about being saved “from sins” (Matthew 1:21), “from wrath” (Romans 5:9), “from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40), and “from death”—that is, spiritual death (James 5:20; cf. Jude 1:23).
On the other hand, the word also refers to being “preserved for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18), and it is closely connected with “to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25–26) and “have everlasting life” (John 3:16–17).
The Study Bible gives a beautiful explanation of what the Greek word sōzō means. This word shows that we are saved from a specific situation. The context of each passage makes clear what we are saved from—whether it is eternal death, sin, sickness, or another form of danger.
When Jesus died on the cross, He died to save us completely. First and foremost, Jesus died to save us from sin and eternal death. But He also died to save us from sickness. When we say, “Jesus wants everyone to be saved,” the word saved includes more than just salvation from eternal death. It also includes salvation from sickness.
Again, the context in which “sōzō” appears in the Bible determines how we should understand it. Often, the Bible speaks of salvation from eternal death. But very often, it also speaks of salvation from sickness. Here are some verses where the word sōzō clearly refers to being saved from sickness:
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well (sōzō).” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well (sōzō).” And the woman was made well (sōzō) from that hour. (Matthew 9:20-22)
And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save (sōzō) life or to kill?” But they kept silent. (Mark 3:3-4)
Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well (sōzō). (Mark 6:56)
Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well (sōzō).” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Mark 10:52)
If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well (sōzō). (Acts 4:9)
This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed (sōzō), said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:9-10)
And the prayer of faith will save (sōzō) the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15)
So what does Jesus save us from? Jesus saves us from eternal judgment and sin. But He also saves us from sickness. His salvation is not only spiritual—it is also physical. Through Jesus, we are saved from sickness. Jesus has fully redeemed us.
Reason 94: Jesus Gives Us Shalom
Another important Biblical concept is shalom. This is a Hebrew word that means “peace,” “harmony,” “wholeness,” “prosperity,” “completeness,” “well-being,” and “rest.” It is often used as a greeting or blessing.
Jesus desires to give us His shalom. God also wants us to live in His peace. The peace that God gives goes beyond all understanding. But how can you experience supernatural peace when your body is in constant struggle?
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
Jesus wants us to live in peace, free from worry. On one hand, this is a command: we are told not to let our hearts be troubled. On the other hand, it is a promise and a blessing from God—we do not have to worry, because He will take care of us.
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Matthew 6:25-27)
So Jesus tells us not to worry about the things of this life—not about food or clothing, and not about the ailments we may face in our bodies. God wants to care for us and provide for our needs, so that our minds can be at peace.
When someone is sick, it can be harder to remain at peace. In the Netherlands, where I live, we have many safety nets. If someone is sick and cannot work, the government provides financial support, so the person does not end up homeless or without food. But in many other countries, these safety nets do not exist. And when someone also has no family, they may find themselves completely alone. It is very difficult to have peace of mind when you are sick, unable to work, and forced to live on the streets without food or clothing.
But God is a God who wants to give us peace. Shalom is not only a spiritual idea. It is something we can experience in our minds and in our bodies. God desires to care for us, just as a father cares for his children. He wants to give us true shalom.
In addition, the word shalom is often used among the Israelites as a way of wishing someone “health” or “prosperity.” When you wish someone shalom, you are wishing them complete harmony. First of all, this means inner harmony—health in the body, peace of mind, and a sense of safety and rest in the home. You also wish them protection from disaster or any other hardship that could disturb their peace.
Reason 95: Rephael and Rephaiah
When you name your child, you choose a name that is meaningful and beautiful. Everyone thinks carefully about what name to give their child. In the Bible, we read about many people with different names, and these names often reveal something about God. For example:
- Daniel – God is my Judge.
- Joshua – The Lord saves.
- Lazarus – God has helped.
- Elijah – My God is the Lord.
- Elisha – God is salvation.
Through these names, we can discover something about God's character. In the Old Testament, we also find the name, Rephael.
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men. (1 Chronicles 26:7)
The name Rephael means “God has healed.” It is formed from rapha (to heal) and El (God). Rephael’s parents likely chose this name because they wanted to acknowledge God as the One who heals. They gave their son a name that declared: God has healed. We also find the name Rephaiah in the Bible.
The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, and the sons of Shechaniah. (1 Chronicles 3:21)[1]
Rephaiah means “Yahweh heals.” This name is also based on the Hebrew root “rapha” (heal) and “Yah” (short for Yahweh, the name of the Lord). So again, this name reflects a deep trust in God as the One who brings healing. The parents of Rephael and Rephaiah understood that healing is one of God’s attributes. By giving these names, they acknowledged that the Lord is the Healer.
[1] See also 1 Chronicles 4:42, 7:2 and Nehemiah 3:9
Reason 96: God is the Guarantor
I want to share something beautiful with you: God is the guarantor of your healing. When Job was suffering and sick, he said the following:
“My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me. Are not mockers with me? And does not my eye dwell on their provocation? “Now put down a pledge for me with Yourself. Who is he who will shake hands with me?” (Job 17:1-3)
Job had reached a point where he saw no way out of his suffering. His hope was gone. He felt that his days were numbered, and the grave seemed to be his only outcome. In the middle of his misery, he cried out, “God, put down a pledge for me with Yourself.”
Job believed no one else would defend his innocence. Many thought he was sick because of sin. But Job looked to the only One who could stand as his guarantor—God. If God would stand surety for him, then his innocence could be upheld, and he could be restored and healed.
Job was not the only one who, in sickness and distress, asked God to be his guarantor. King Hezekiah also faced death. When God miraculously healed him, Hezekiah wrote:
I said, In the noontide and tranquillity of my days I must depart; I am to pass through the gates of Sheol (the place of the dead), deprived of the remainder of my years. (...) Like a twittering swallow or a crane, so do I chirp and chatter; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary and dim with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; take my side and be my security [as of a debtor being sent to prison]. (Isaiah 38:10-14, AMPC)
Hezekiah also asked God to “be my security” which means to be a guarantor—as if one stands surety for someone in debt. And God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and healed him. Likewise, God also heard Job and restored him.
God was willing to be their surety—and He gave them health. And today, God still desires to be the One who is the guarantor of our well-being, including our healing.
Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. (Psalm 119:122)
We also read in the New Testament that Jesus is our Surety. We have already seen that healing is part of the Old Covenant in the Old Testament, and also part of the New Covenant in the New Testament. Jesus is the Surety for us—and He is the Surety of the New Covenant.
By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. (Hebrews 7:22)
The Greek word for “surety” is “enguos”. This word was used in legal settings to describe someone who stands as a guarantor, ensuring that the terms of a covenant or agreement are fulfilled.
Jesus guarantees that we have access to the better covenant, and He stands as Surety to ensure that everything included in this covenant is fulfilled in our lives. This means that Jesus guarantees our healing, along with every other promise that belongs to us through the New Covenant.
Reason 97: Healing in the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a sacred meal in which we remember Jesus Christ. It is not just a ritual—it is a covenant meal. We partake of the Lord’s Supper because we are in covenant with God. There are many wonderful truths we can draw from this meal, but here we will focus on one powerful aspect: healing. It would be possible to write an entire book on the healing power found in the Lord’s Supper, but for now, we will focus on the main points.
1. In the Lord’s Supper we eat the body of Jesus Christ. The body of Jesus was broken for us so that we might be whole and healed.
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 53:5)
When we partake of the Lord’s Supper and eat the bread, we remember that Jesus’ body was broken for us. Because His body was broken, the price for our healing was paid.
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24)
Why was Jesus’ body broken? He was wounded and bore stripes for our healing. When we eat the bread of the Lord’s Supper, we remember that it represents His body, which bore our sicknesses. As we eat in faith, the healing power of Jesus flows into our bodies. It is important that we take the bread of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus. We are called to remember how He walked on earth—not only as our Savior and Redeemer, but also as our Healer and Deliverer. When we take the bread, we remember that Jesus bore the curse so that we could be set free from every power of sickness and disease.
2. The blood of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper. When we eat the bread, we partake of the body of Jesus. When we drink the cup, we receive the blood of Jesus. What does the Bible say about His blood?
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
The blood of Jesus represents the New Testament, or the New Covenant. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we may think of it as participating in a covenant meal with Jesus. The cup represents the New Covenant, which was paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. Whenever we drink from the cup, we are reminded of the covenant that Jesus has made with us. So, what is included in this New Covenant?
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)
First, this speaks of the forgiveness of our sins.
Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)
Second, the New Covenant involves the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer. It is the Spirit who gives us life.
Third, the covenant includes freedom, as we read in Paul’s account in Galatians 4:21–31, where he contrasts the bondage of the law with the freedom found in the New Covenant.
Fourth, Jesus is the Mediator of a better covenant, showing that what we have in Him is greater than what was given through Moses.
By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. (Hebrews 7:22)
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
In the Law, we read about many blessings God wanted to give His people, such as healing. But according to the writer of Hebrews, the New Covenant is even better than the Old Covenant.
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Fifth, God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Notice also that Peter spoke of exceedingly great and precious promises. He did not say, “To the Jews were given exceedingly great and precious promises, but under the New Covenant we must settle for less.” No, Peter clearly says that God has given us the greatest and most precious promises. God has not given us promises that are less precious than those given to Israel. In fact, He has given us even better promises.
If healing was already part of the Old Covenant, then it is certainly part of the New Covenant. And when we drink the cup at the Lord’s Supper, we remember that through His blood, Jesus established this New Covenant. It is through His blood that we have access to these exceedingly great and precious promises.
3. The body and blood of Jesus bring life. Let us now consider Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of John:
“This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:50-58)
Do you see how important it is to receive the body and blood of Jesus? It is very important, because when we partake of the body and blood of Jesus, we share in the eternal life and power in Christ. This refers not only to eternal life in the future—eternal life begins the moment a person is born again. So when we participate in the body of Jesus, we experience the power of His eternal life. This life is not only about spending eternity with God, but also about receiving the life of Jesus here and now.
In addition, it is important to stay in Jesus and remain connected to Him. If we are not in Christ, we do not have access to His eternal life. That is why we must always seek Jesus and live in Him—to abide in Him, as He said.
4. The Lord's Supper replaces the Passover. The Lord’s Supper was instituted in place of the Passover. The healing power of God was also clearly seen in the Passover, as we already discussed in Reason 11. Therefore, when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, it is important to remember the full work of Jesus, including His work of healing. As we partake of the bread and the cup, we enter into fellowship with the covenant of Jesus Christ. And through this covenant, His healing power flows through us.
Summary
In this chapter, we explored important concepts and names related to healing in the Bible. We began with the revelation of God as the Lord your Healer. God revealed Himself to the Israelites as their Healer, showing that He is the Divine Doctor who restores, sustains, and promotes our health.
We then looked at the Greek word “sōzō”, which means “to save,” “to make whole”, “to heal” and “to rescue from danger or destruction”. This word refers to both spiritual and physical salvation. Jesus died to save us completely, and that includes healing from sickness.
Next, we considered the meaning of shalom, a Hebrew word that means peace, harmony, wholeness, well-being, and prosperity. Jesus offers us His shalom—an all-encompassing peace that includes both spiritual and physical health.
We also reflected on two Old Testament names: Rephael, meaning “God has healed,” and Rephaiah, meaning “Yahweh heals.” These names highlight that healing is an attribute of God.
Furthermore, we saw that God is a guarantor. In their suffering, Job and King Hezekiah asked God to stand as surety for their healing. In the New Testament, Jesus becomes the Surety of a better covenant, ensuring that all its promises—including healing—are available to us.
Lastly, we studied the healing power of the Lord’s Supper. This covenant meal helps us remember the body and blood of Jesus, given for our forgiveness and healing. It reminds us of the New Covenant, which includes both spiritual and physical wholeness. Through the Lord’s Supper, we are connected to the eternal life of Jesus Christ.