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. ” The term "Messianic Prophesy" refers to a prediction of the yet future Messiah, informing readers as to what that Savior would do when He finally came to earth. In perhaps one of the most important of Messianic Prophesies, the book of Isaiah declares details about the Passion of Christ. Approximately 700 years before Jesus walked the earth, this prediction of His mission was recorded. In it, the author tells us not simply what Jesus would do for us, but also what we have done to Jesus.
While it is never helpful to be pessimistic about our spiritual potential, nor overly critical of the sins we battle; nevertheless, it is interesting that this 55th chapter of Isaiah focuses on the whys of Jesus' suffering, rather than simply pointing out the fact that He would suffer. The verse informs us that Jesus had to be "wounded" and "beaten" specifically because we chose to sin (or, as the Hebrew can be rendered, "we chose to live in perversity"). Our "evil" required His suffering. Isaiah also says that the "punishment" Christ suffered for us, the "blows" He endured for us, can "make us whole." Isaiah is not trying to fill us with guilt. Rather, he's pointing out that Christ loves us so deeply, that He has "given unto us beauty for ashes" (Isaiah 61:3). He has taken the darkness of our sins and replaced them with the light of His love. This passage is a beautiful testament to Christ's ability to fix all things, to make every mistake go away, to forgive every sin, to heal every wound, and to bless ever soul who will believe in Him and love Him for what He has done.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
