March 22 - The Iniquity.

Isaiah 53:5-6                            
“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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
 
His wounds, His bruises, His stripes… they were because of our transgressions, our iniquities. Our sin made the crown of thorns. Our sin caused the scourging. Our sin drove the nails in His hands and feet. Our sin caused the spear to pierce His side.
 
But because of His stripes we are healed. His suffering was sacrificial and substitutionary. He gave Himself as the sacrifice. He took our place.
 
The reason we can have peace today is because the penalty of our sin was purged that day on cross of Calvary. The weight of our sin was upon Jesus Christ. He bore our judgment. He paid our debt. We can be healed from our sin by believing in the payment He made on the cross outside the gate of Jerusalem at the Place of the Skull. If you travel to Jerusalem today, you can still see the skull face within that hillside.
 
Reflect today on His wounds, His bruises, and His stripes that He endured because of our iniquity. We put Him there, but the amazing thing about all of it is that He willingly took our place. He did not have to die for us, but He knew it was the only way to save us.
 
If you are a sheep that has gone astray, come back to Him today. He is waiting for you with His arms wide open just like they were when He died on Calvary. Run to Him today.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Deuteronomy 7-8  |  Mark 9  |  Psalm 51