Restored and Healed
Restored and Healed
Pastor Jim Quigley
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
It was not a tragic accident. It was not random. It was not without purpose that Jesus’s hands and feet were pierced with thick nails. It was not senseless that He was crushed by the wrath of God on the cross. He was pierced and crushed with the distinct purpose of paying off the infinite debt of our sin and satisfying God’s wrath reserved for our sin. We saw that in yesterday’s devotional. And the result of such purposeful sacrifice—according to Isaiah 53:5—is that we receive peace and are healed.
The peace we receive is with God—that is, because the entire record of all past, present, and future sins has been paid for in full, our relationship with God is restored and we are no longer His enemy. We have everlasting peace with God. The healing we receive is spiritual and is healing from the condemning effects of sin. Sin spreads like cancer throughout every aspect of our lives—particularly affecting how you behave and what you behold. The result of Christ’s death on the cross in our place—that is, “by His wounds”—is that we obey and please God (see Ezekiel 36:25-27), and we have eyes that are opened to see and know God (see Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4-6). We are healed from the poison of sin and enabled to live for the glory of God in all that we do.
Receiving a restored relationship with God and being healed from the condemning effects of sin are essential elements to what it means to be saved. You who were once His enemy now have eternal peace with God! You who were spiritually blind, lost in the darkness, and enslaved to sin are now healed such that you delight in Him and His ways! Oh praise God that He sent Jesus to purposefully die in our place with the result that we would be restored and healed! Oh praise God for His marvelous salvation that He freely gives by grace through faith in His Son!
Reflection: Do you know someone who right now is not “restored and healed” by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross? Or maybe that person is you. Today, ask God to grant them (or you!) saving faith to trust in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross to purchase your peace with God and healing from your sin.