“He was wounded and bruised for our sins…and we were healed.” Isaiah 53:5 ( TLB)
A fall on uneven pavement is rarely graceful. Mine produced a blooming black eye just before Easter. I whined; how could I stand and sing in the choir with a black eye? The pity-party ended when God reminded me that Jesus willingly bore his wounds and bruises for me.
Jesus, God with us, made himself of no reputation pouring himself into mortal, human form. Full divinity in fragile, flawed, flesh. God planned it that way from the beginning of time. He chose to come to earth by the miracle of Mary’s conception and Jesus’ birth. Jesus, this God-man, bore the evidence of our fall and our sin in his flesh when he willingly died for us on the cross.
Jesus could have called down ten thousand angels to avenge him. He did not. He could have said forget it. I’m out of here. He did not. with humility and grace he submitted himself to the will of God. In power and victory he rose again…for us. Jesus Christ, beaten, battered, bruised by and for our sins put to death forever the image of a stone-faced, unmoving, unchangeable and uncaring God.
How do I respond to a love like this?
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