By His wounds
(Isaiah 53:4-5)
Throughout life, no one can escape from suffering. From childhood, people endure illnesses, wounds, and pain, ultimately living in the world and facing death. However, our Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself the suffering and punishment that we would endure, bearing them on the cross. This sacrificial act of suffering and death served as a means of redemption, guiding sinful humanity back to God.

1. He was pierced for our transgressions

About 700 years before the arrival of Jesus on this earth, the prophet Isaiah recorded that Jesus would bear the sins of humanity and suffer (Isaiah 53:4). Jesus bore a crown of thorns upon His head, nails pierced His hands and feet, and a spear pierced His side. The sacred body of our Lord was pierced and bled because of our transgressions. Jesus endured piercing and suffering throughout His entire body to forgive all the sins we committed with our hearts, thoughts, hands, and feet.

2. He was crushed for our iniquities

We should never forget that Jesus, who was without sin, came to this world and endured suffering for the sins we committed. The prophet Isaiah confesses, "He was pierced for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5). Here, 'pierced' signifies more than superficial wounds but a severe, life-threatening injury that could cause bones to be broken. Jesus, the Son of God, whom no one could harm, endured piercing in His body to reconcile for our sins.

3. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him

Originally, due to sin, we could not approach God, but through the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God and can enjoy peace with Him. The punishment endured by Jesus on our behalf has eliminated the barrier that once separated us from God (Colossians 1:20). Consequently, anyone can confidently approach God, relying on the merits of Jesus' blood, to present offerings of praise and gratitude before Him.

4. By his wounds, we are healed

Before His crucifixion on Golgotha, our Lord Jesus endured scourging. The whips that were used for the scourging had sharp pieces of metal or bone tips that caused agonizing pain. The fact that the glorious Lord allowed Himself to be struck by the hands of sinners, enduring all manner of ridicule and shame, was to bear the weight of our sins and heal all our diseases (Isaiah 53:6, 1Peter 2:24). We earnestly hope to receive the daily grace of healing made possible by Jesus' scourging and to be messengers of this blessed news to the entire world as we journey through life.