VERSE:
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:5–6
THOUGHT:
“It was my fault.” We don’t hear those words very often any more. We are quick to blame everyone or everything but ourselves: “It was my parent’s fault;” “I came from a dysfunctional family;” “I have an addiction.” “It’s genetic.” The possibility that we are sinners and that we sin is no longer acceptable. Even within our “seeker-sensitive” churches we shy away from speaking of sin for fear of making people feel uncomfortable.
Jesus knew no such hesitation toward sin. When he encountered it, he named it for what it was and when the time was right, he faced the punishment for sin. Not for his sin, for he was sinless, but for our sins. As we think of the crucifixion, we should remember that Christ suffered so that we might have forgiveness from our sins.
