"Surely, he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Approximately 700 years before the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah foretold the deep mysteries and the sufferings of our Savior Christ. It seems as if Prophet Isaiah was standing at the foot of the cross next to Mary, Martha, and John, witnessing the wounded body of our Savior and His sufferings at the crucifixion. Isiah invites each of us reading this to come before the cross not merely as eyewitnesses but to offer praises to God's Only Begotten Son, who was offered as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.
Certainly, God's Only Begotten Son, perfect without sin, took our sin upon Him. He bore the punishment for our lawlessness, and in our place, he was beaten, tortured, and crucified. Apostle Peter sums it up like this: "By His wounds, you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:4). Every wound He bore, every drop of blood He shed, was for our sake. Our transgressions, our sins that separate us from God, were placed upon Him. In His suffering, we find forgiveness. In His wounds, we find healing.
This is the scandalous beauty of the Gospel. Our healing comes at a cost, a cost that Christ willingly paid. The punishment that made us whole was upon Him, and by His bruises, we are healed. This healing is not just physical but spiritual and eternal. Through His sacrifice, we are reconciled with God, restored to wholeness, and granted the promise of eternal life.
As we reflect on these verses, let us be moved by the depth of Christ's love for us. Let us remember that in our own sufferings, we are never alone; Christ, our Lord, walks with us, bearing our burdens and offering us His healing grace. Thus, come before the crucified Lord, and let us say: "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered and was crucified for our salvation, have mercy on us sinners."
