But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his woulds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 ESV 

     Imagine with me what the experience of seeing the vision of things to come involving Jesus would like. Hundreds of years before Jesus became a man, the prophet Isaiah wrote of the events surrounding his birth, life, death, and resurrection. Everything Isaiah foretold concerning the life of Jesus happened. We have the privilege of looking back in the history of Isaiah and are blessed in seeing the prophecy fulfilled. These prophecies as well as many others concerning the life of Jesus in he Old Testament would validate that he, Jesus, was and is the Son of God. It would be impossible for one man to fulfill all the prophecies surrounding his life in such a perfect, detailed way like Jesus did except for this fact – he is God’s only Son.
Years ago I heard a term that is sad and dangerous at the same time. That term is “gospel hardened.” That is when you have heard the stories and historical facts surrounding the life of Christ so much that they cease to have an effect upon your life. It is when you begin to take for granted all that you have received as a person/Christian form God. One dangerous part of being gospel hardened is you fall away from your first love with Jesus. When this love wanes, your lifestyle evangelism for Christ becomes less evident. In fact, at times it may be difficult to see the difference between the person who claims to be a Christian and the person who does not. With this thought let us take a moment and remember what it took for Jesus to be the Savior of the world. For all those who would believe and call upon him for Salvation from the consequence of personal sin, let us remember the sacrifice and punishment Jesus took in our place.

HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSION
     The nails that were placed in his hands and feet were nails of punishment for crimes that required capital punishment. The crime? Sin…. My sin. We have been taught that Jesus died in our place, and He truly did, for the nails that pierced his hands and feet were nails provided by our sins.

HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES
     Every time the fist of a Roman soldier hit Jesus, it was a fist intended for our sin. The crushing weight of the cross was the crushing weight of our sin. The mental crushing of rejection from all who followed him just days before was rejection intended for us. All of this because of our sins.

UPON HIM WAS THE CHASTISEMENT THAT BROUGHT PEACE
     When all the wrath that was intended for us was poured upon Jesus, he died. However, just before he died, He said these words, “It is finished.”  What was finished? the plan God had intended was complete. the plan to redeem us back to Himself by paying a debt He did not owe… our debt. The debt of sin for which there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood by the perfect lamb of God…. His only Son. We can have peace of mind because as a Christian, we know that one day we will stand before God debt-free of sin. All the consequences of sin are taken care of on the cross of forgiveness provided by Jesus.

WITH HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED
     Every wound Jesus experienced was the salve that healed the wounds of sin in our life. The suffering that God, in the flesh, suffered for the pain and suffering that sin causes in our life. We do not have to suffer the consequences of sin and separation from God any longer because of Jesus.
     Oh what a Savior!!!! May we never be gospel hardened concerning Jesus. May we reflect, meditate, and think often of all that Jesus, the perfect lamb of God and Savior of the world, accomplished for us. To God be the glory, for great things he has done…… OH WHAT A SAVIOR!!!!!!!

Because of His Grace ~Pastor David