By His Stripes...

~~~ Good Friday ~~~

~~Isaiah 52:13-53:12~~Psalm 31~~Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9~~John 18:1-19:42~~

 ...he was pierced for our offenses,
crushed for our sins;
upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by his stripes we were healed.

The prophet Isaiah reveals in detail the gruesome evidence
 of how Jesus suffered for each of us.

Jesus was pierced, crushed, and chastised.
His horrid brokenness makes us whole;
for we came into this world already scarred.

His torn bleeding flesh slashed by brutal soldiers
result in our healing.
Not the healing of our physical bodies, but the healing of our souls.
For it is not the healing of the body
that allows us to enter into heaven. but rather the healing of our soul.

We had all gone astray like sheep,
each following his own way;
but the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all.
I am not sure if we can be compared to sheep who are docile creatures.
Yes, it is true that when we turn away from God we are like the lost sheep.
We sin even when we know better; we make the choice to sin.
When we follow our own way it is because we think
we know what is better for us.

I have often reflected on how it was possible for Jesus to be silent
as false accusations were hurled at him one after the other.

Most of us today would be eager to defend our innocence.
We would have the best legal representation available to us.
We would be coached; to choose our words carefully.
...he was silent and opened not his mouth.

Jesus stood in humility while they humiliated,
scorned, and mocked him.

Sometimes the best we can do is to keep silent.
But can we?

...he was cut off from the land of the living,

Jesus came down to the land of the living to save us
who call this land our home.
This 'land of the living' was never the home for Jesus.
His home has always been in heaven with the Father.
This is where he also wants us to reside.
Our home is also in heaven with the Father and the Son.

...because he surrendered himself to death
and was counted among the wicked;
and he shall take away the sins of many,
and win pardon for their offenses.

We give you praise and adore you...
For you have set us free...
you have redeemed us.

Jesus suffered and died once for us;
he sends down his saving grace and blesses us each and every day.

The bleeding stripes upon his precious body heals our soul.
He suffered and died for you.
There is no greater love.
Amen.