One greek scholar has pointed out that the greek word generally translated “saved” (sozo) “has the basic meaning of rescuing one from great peril. Additional nuances include to protect, keep alive, preserve life, deliver, heal, be made whole. The context must be considered to determine whether preservation of physical life or spiritual life is in view.”
With that in mind, consider Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV) 4 “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Now listen to the Apostle Peter comment on that passage. 1 Peter 2:23-24 — 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Now listen to the Apostle Matthew reference Isaiah 53 as well: Matthew 8:16-17 16“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Notice that the Apostle Peter quotes from Isaiah 53 in a way that highlights Jesus delivering us from our sins: “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Matthew, on the other hand, quotes from Isaiah 53 also, but clearly has Jesus’ healing ministry in view. "He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Let’s put those two ideas together. We need to repent of our sins and and be forgiven. That is, we must be saved. But in tandem with that is our need to be healed — healed of the inner woundedness that can give rise to our poor choices and even physical infirmities. I have noticed that usually healing must come to someone when they’ve experienced some measure of early childhood rejection. At times, such trauma issues in physical infirmity. Clearly that is not always the case, but when it is we know that Jesus took both dimensions of our need onto himself and by his wounds we are healed.
