Psalm 103:3 (NKJV): Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.
The word 'forgives' here in Hebrew is 'calach' (pronounced 'saw-lakh'), which means 'to spare (from any judgment), to pardon', and the word 'heals' here in Hebrew is 'rapha', which means 'to mend (by stitching), to cure, to repair, to make whole, to make complete'.
Forgiveness and healing go hand in hand. They are inseparable. Jesus Himself went about preaching the forgiveness of sins and healing all who were oppressed (see Acts 10:38). He also taught His disciples to do likewise and sent them forth (see Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9). Forgiveness leads to healing and wholeness. When Jesus ministered to a paralytic lying on a bed, He said, "Your sins are forgiven you... Arise, take up your bed." (see Matthew 9:2-7).
Let's now look at Exodus 12:7-9. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "And they (Israelites) shall take some of the blood (of the lamb) and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire,... Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire - its head with its legs and its entrails." The lamb here speaks of Jesus Christ Himself, your Passover Lamb, your sin offering & your burnt offering (i.e. roasted in fire) when He died on the cross for you some 2,000 years ago.
Notice the words 'blood' and 'flesh' here.
The blood was meant to protect God's people from judgment on that night (Exodus 12:12-13). As a believer in the New Covenant, Jesus' blood protects and covers you from the judgment of sin. All your sins have been punished when Jesus died for you on the cross. This speaks of forgiveness.
The flesh was meant to be eaten to give strength and sustenance through the Israelites' journey. In fact, Psalm 105:37 says 'there was none feeble among His tribes' after the Lord's Passover! As a believer in the New Covenant, Jesus' body was broken so that yours can be made whole. By His stripes, you were healed. This speaks of healing.
The sacrificial lamb in Exodus 12:7-9 therefore served 2 purposes:
(a) The blood protected God's people from the judgment.
(b) The flesh provided God's people with health, strength, and sustenance for their journey ahead.
Likewise, as a believer in the New Covenant, the communion you partake serves these 2 purposes as well:
(a) The 'juice' you partake (representing Jesus' blood) is to remind you that your sins have been forgiven.
(b) The 'bread' you partake (representing Jesus' body) is to remind you that your body has been made whole.
Believe for both every time you partake the communion, because you are meant to walk in His forgiveness, health and wholeness every day! Amen.
