Isaiah 53:5

NASB	NLT	VOICE
5 But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.	5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we can be healed.	5 But he was hurt because of us; he suffered so. Our wrongdoing wounded and crushed him. He endured the breaking that made us whole. The injuries he suffered became our healing.

Cost of Christ’s Punishments

Transgressions is one of those words you often hear in variations of the Lord’s prayer and in Scripture and that’s really it. We don’t use it in our day-to-day life, so what does it mean? A transgression is the deliberate sin or violation of God’s law, showing that we need redemption through Christ. Jesus was the redemptive sacrifice for us through His pierced crucifixion. Iniquities is another word like transgression, but it takes a different meaning. An iniquity is the moral corruption and wickedness that shows the depth of our sin. Jesus was crushed for them, going through intense suffering to be the complete sacrifice we needed for redemption. The crucifixion of Christ was the punishment needed to obtain justice for sin and provide peace between God and humanity. This peace provides wholeness, well-being, and reconciliation with God. This peace is healing – spiritually and physically. It healed the wounds of Jesus on the cross. It heals our spirit, bringing restoration and wholeness into believers. 

Restoration Destination

Jesus provides us a path to restoration. It can be a physical restoration, for God is our almighty healer. Does this mean that if you are sick or struggling with your health, that you can pray and be healed alone? Personally, my answer is – possibly. There are many stories that exist where people do recover just overnight or over time on their own. However, there are many stories when people pray and they get worse or pass away. I would lean on the Holy Spirit in these moments and trust the guidance that you receive there. Sometimes it’s prayer + medication. Sometimes it’s prayer + procedures or surgeries. Sometimes it’s prayer + therapy. Sometimes it’s just prayer. Use the power of the Holy Spirit to discern what path you need to find that restoration physically. The same mindset applies on the mental and spiritual level too. Sometimes we need prayer + small group gatherings. Sometimes we need prayer + changing relationships. Sometimes we need prayer + worship. Overall, we can find healing and restoration through our different transgressions and iniquities, and it’s found solely through the healing sacrifice of Jesus. 

1 Peter 1:24

NASB	NLT	VOICE
24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off,	24 As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flowers fade.	24 For as Isaiah said, “All life is like the grass, and its glory like a flower; The grass will wither and die and the flower falls,

Time Stands for Eternity

In biblical times, grass was a common metaphor for frailty and temporary items, as it quickly died under the sun. This reminds believers of how quickly the things of this world come and go, but everything about God remains the same. The glory/beauty described as achievements, beauty, and strength. The imagery of flowers represents their short-lived beauty. Culturally, they would have understood that imagery because the flowers in the Middle East bloomed and faded fast. Withering grass and failing flowers are a reminder to us about the mortality of the living. 

Finding Our Moment in God’s Eternal Word

As believers, we need to prioritize reading, studying, and applying God’s Word. I’ve talked about how I study and apply the teachings of God’s word before. Simply: 

• I read it.
• Try to find the cultural/historical context.
• Try to see how God’s moral law is found in it.
• Apply the greater takeaway to my life. 

We must remember that the stories we find in the Bible were not written to us, but they were written for us. The stories were written in a specific historical and cultural context that applied to only the original audience. There are certain things that were written to the Gentiles that could apply to us because we were not the original Jewish audience the Bible was written to or for. We are the people that this story got stretched out to. We are the people that the original Jewish organized religion had to make adaptations, changes, and exceptions to allow us to join in the belief of Christ. Over time, it evolved into the general Christianity that we know today. Now, it’s branched into Catholic and Protestant, and even that broke down to the Pentecostals, Baptist, Methodists, and more. However, these all have the same end goal (or at least should.) They all want to honor God with all parts of who they are and to love each other as God loved them. They may have different ways and reasons for accomplishing these commands, but they are all present for a reason. 

Above all, remember this: I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.

Discussion Questions

1. Explain a time when you felt God’s restorative power. 
2. Have you ever used “iniquity” or “transgression” outside of biblical contexts?
3. How do you study and apply God’s Word? 

Call to Action

Read Matthew 24:35. Thank God for His word and how His teachings are eternal. Pray for a spirit of discernment in your next Bible study. Ask for ways to apply God’s teaching in all parts of your life. 

Check out the next part of this series: Who Am I Again? #13