By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Crushed For Our Iniquities

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“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.”
Isaiah 53:5 New International Version

The innocent man is led out to His death, beaten, bloodied, reviled. The crowds call out, “Crucify Him!” No one lifts his hand or utters a word to defend Him. He bears the cross alone, bereft of friends and adoring disciples. Mocked, insulted, spit upon, a crown of thorns implanted upon his brow, He walks the lonely path alone.

Why does He do this? Why does He suffer? Why does He take on this punishment that is not His? Why does He bear guilt for which He is not responsible?

The answer is simple, yet so deep that we cannot fathom it:  because He loves you and me. Because He loves you and me, He bears our sin, our punishment, our iniquities. He allows Himself to be crushed in obedience to the Father’s will, that you and I might not be eternally punished, but we might go free.

This should have been our punishment! This should have been our death sentence! We have sinned and yet He bears our guilty sentence and God’s wrath falls upon Him.

A lamb goes uncomplaining forth,
The guilt of sinners bearing
And, laden with the sins of earth,
None else the burden sharing;
Goes patient on, grows weak and faint,
To slaughter led without complaint,
That spotless life to offer,
He bears the stripes, the wounds, the lies,
The mockery, and yet replies,
“All this I gladly suffer.” (LSB 438)

Lord, this should have been my punishment, not Yours. I can never thank you enough nor understand the depth of your love for saving me. Lord, thank you for having mercy upon me and being crushed for my iniquities. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado