A spiritual treatment plan: The mental video

Russ Waldrop / News Virginian
Published: February 23, 2008

First is the recognition that we are, indeed, wounded. As the Great Physician, Jesus came for people whose self-diagnosis was "I'm really sick," not for those who claimed to be fine (Matt. 5:3; Mark 9:17). Secondly, much of this healing is visual and auditory. To update an old saying, "A video is worth a thousand words."

Here it is: "Christ Jesus himself carried our sins in his body to the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24a). Even so, many people prefer "generic" alternatives - they don't cost much, don't require much and they lull us into peaceful unconcern about our condition before God.

One generic reformulation is that, instead of our sinfulness, Jesus took upon himself our faults, problems, mistakes and bad habits; things which almost anyone can admit. However, such a misdiagnosis is not the problem from God's point of view, and if left untreated, it can result in terminal spiritual illness.

Some want Jesus to carry other things to the cross - their achievements, sincerity, strengths, maturity and such. Yet, the positive attitude of "putting our best foot forward" with God only identifies what we drag behind.

Another revised plan changes the destination of Jesus' long uphill walk. Instead of the cross, the journey ends up in church, in a hospital, a movie, or at a friend or family member's house, maybe even in a support group. All of these can be important, but only after we keep that divine appointment at Golgotha where Jesus opened our "inner selves" to God and God's inner self to us, resulting in a mutual spiritual transfusion.

And who carries our sins there- Well, on the modified plans, anyone but Jesus. Many people expect their sins to be carried by their parents' spiritual health plan, or their spouse's or the preacher's plan. A few still believe that they can carry their own sins.

Conversely, some of us think that we can carry other people's sins for them - parents for their children, teachers for their students or preachers for the congregation. Realistically, most of us can't even pick up our own sins, much less someone else's. Where would we go with them, anyway-

The key phrase here is "in his body," which means "in his personhood." Jesus became so completely identified with us and our sinfulness that he actually experienced it and its consequences on the cross. Thus, his alienation from God on our behalf (Mark 15:34).

How does this healing work- Peter abbreviated his "prescription" from the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. Here is more of the longer version:

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; even as one from whom men hide their faces. He was despised and we esteemed him not.

"Surely, he has born our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him to be stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities. Upon him was placed the chastisement that made us whole; and, with his stripes we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, going our own way; and, the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all."

This is an "interactional" mental video. It comes with a "Re-play" button. Would you like to experience Jesus' spiritual treatment plan again- If so, press "Re-play" now.

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 540-332-8004 or at .

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