The Book of Isaiah prophesied that this brutal death would take place--the Messiah would be, "…bruised for our iniquities" and yet we are further told, "…it pleased the Lord to bruise him." (See Isaiah 53:5-10). What does this mean, and how does it affect you?
A small boy was once forbidden by his father from touching an antique vase. One day the child not only touched it, he accidentally broke it. But he wasn't concerned because he thought it could be easily replaced. When the father found out it was broken, he told his son that it was worth $25,000. It was only when the child understood the vase's true value that he saw the seriousness of his transgression and felt sorrow of heart. When the father saw that the child was truly sorry, he said, "Son, it's going to cost everything I have, but because I love you I will replace it myself."
To understand what an incredible thing God has done for you, let's look at your transgressions for a moment. Have you kept the Ten Commandments? Have you always loved God above all else? Or have you made a god to suit yourself? Have you ever used God's name to curse? Have you kept the Sabbath holy, and honored your father and mother? Have you hated anyone? God considers hatred to be as murder. Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (this includes sex before marriage). Have you looked with lust? Have you stolen anything? (The value of the item is irrelevant). Have you lied? (Including answering these questions). Have you ever desired what belongs to others? The Bible warns that the Day will come when God will punish all murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers, etc. He will even judge our words and thoughts. So, on Judgment Day will you be guilty or innocent? Perhaps you think that God is good, and He will overlook your sins. But it is His goodness that will make sure that murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, etc. receive justice. Or perhaps you think that your good deeds will outweigh the bad on that Day, but the fact that a criminal gives to charities has nothing to do with his crime. All the good works in the world will not bribe God to forgive your sins. Every transgression will be punished.
Can you see that you have broken the "vase" into a thousand pieces, and you can't make things right yourself? But God became a sinless Man to make us righteous in His sight. The horror of the cross reveals how angry He is about sin. The fact that He sees lust as adultery and hatred as murder shows us its serious nature, and that fact should help us feel sorrow for what we have done.
Think of what God did to make things right. Jesus of Nazareth was brutally bruised for our iniquities…"yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him." God loves you so much it pleased Him to make things right through the Cross, then He defeated the grave through the resurrection. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Make sure that you repent and trust the Savior (that you are “born again”—see John 3:1-5), or you will come under His fierce wrath, and end up in Hell.
God doesn't want that to happen, so confess your sins directly to Him right now (you may not have tomorrow), put your trust in Jesus to save you, and you will pass from death to life. Pray something like this: "Dear God, today I turn away from all of my sins (be specific). This day I put my trust in Jesus Christ alone as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, change my heart, and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen." Then read your Bible daily, and obey what you read (See John 14:21). Thank you for reading this.
Thank you for reading.
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