By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

By His Wounds….

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“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 English Standard Version

Do you have any noticeable scars on your body?  Perhaps they remind you of a serious wound that you received in a car crash or other accident.  But those scars also remind you that your body has been healed and restored from those wounds.

Jesus was wounded in many ways.  His back was lacerated with whips, his head bled from thorns, his hands and feet pierced with nails and his side pierced with a spear.  But his wounds were not a result of an accident.  Jesus’ wounds were intentionally inflicted upon him by cruel men and he willingly received these terrible punishments.

Why did Jesus allow these wounds to be inflicted upon him?  So that he might bear our sins upon the cross.  That he might take the punishment for our iniquities.  That he might suffer and die so that we might be saved.  He was the Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of the world.  He was the Innocent Sacrifice who died that I might be forgiven and live.

The wonderful news about Jesus’ wounds is that he not only died for your sins and was buried but that he rose on the third day to give you life forever.  In a very real sense, in Jesus Christ’s death you died to sin and in his rising you are given healing and life.

Jesus was punished horribly so that you might not suffer the effects of sin for eternity.  In Jesus’ wounds you are healed.  And for all eternity we will see those scars on Jesus’ hands and feet and be reminded of His amazing love for you and me!  Praise God for Jesus’ sacrifice for you!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado