But HE+ was wounded for our transgressions,
HE+ was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+;
and with HIS+ stripes
we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
+ + +
Bruised. Crushed.
For WHAT ?
The LORD JESUS was bruised and brutally crushed for OUR crooked-ness, for OUR twisted-ness, for OUR perversions.
This “crooked-ness” does not refer to merely dishonest money dealings.
That “twisted-ness” does not refer simply to our bent-over bodies or handicapping conditions.
Instead, they refer to our PERVERSIONS…
… our moral perversions that are twisted
and warped in GOD’S eyes,
according to HIS Word.
+ + +
Even though PERVERSIONS are clearly included in New Testament prohibitions, we have lists IN DETAIL in the Old Testament too. These lists in the Old Testament Law of Moses are SO valuable. Not only are they listed in detail, but the OT states clearly exactly what THE LORD thinks of them.
The WORD CLEARLY states that THE LORD hates such abominations.
Perversions are so REPULSIVE to THE LORD that HE issues an ultimatum: repent or die.
For those who repent…
Our Heavenly FATHER sent HIS Only-Begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to be bruised and crushed for our iniquities… for those moral PERVERSIONS that will put us into Hell and into the Lake of Fire afterwards with the devil and his angels.
BRUISED AND CRUSHED ….
Yes, the kind Face of our LORD JESUS CHRIST was bruised beyond recognition from the slaps and fists of the Temple guards and Roman soldiers and from the Thorns in His+ Crown.
His+ Back and Shoulders were crushed from shouldering the Cross and being thrown down upon it.
Bones were crushed in His+ Hands and His+ Feet.
Other parts of His+ Body may have been painfully crushed on the sedile, according to some old writers, which was a partial seat used to hold the weight of the body --- partially --- upon the Cross until death occurred by asphyxiation.
His+ Body was the Divine Grain of Wheat, fallen to the earth, to die and bear much fruit.
That Divine Grain of Wheat had to be winnowed, crushed, and bruised before it could become the BREAD+ of LIFE…
…OUR True BREAD+
Which cometh down from Heaven
and giveth LIFE unto the world
+ + +
HIM+ being our BREAD+ of LIFE nourishes us , especially as we share His+ Body and Blood around our Communion Table.
Then we, too, become little grains of wheat, to fall to the earth and die out to Self . . . and bear much fruit.
His+ Death is our LIFE.
His+ Example …. is to be followed.
+ + +
Now, O LORD, we present unto THEE+, our selves, our souls, and our bodies, to be a Living Sacrifice unto THEE+, which is our Reasonable Service.
+ + +
Glory be to The FATHER
WHO created us;
and to The SON+
WHO+ washed us by His+ Blood;
and to the HOLY SPIRIT
WHO enables us
to Follow HIM+.
No comments:
Post a Comment