Isaiah 53:5 With His Strips We Are Healed
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) 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.
Isaiah prophesied the coming of Christ more than 700 years before His birth. And Isaiah tells us that Christ will suffer to bear the penalty for man’s sins. Four descriptive terms were used.
Firstly, Christ was wounded for our transgressions. The word “transgression” speaks of man’s rebellion against God. Our transgressions were wounds inflicted upon our Lord Christ, who bore the brunt of our rebellion against God.
Secondly, Chrst was bruised for our iniquities. The word “iniquities” describes the outworking of sin in a man’s life in crooked behaviour. It comes from the verb that means “a bending or crooked”. Christ was therefore “crushed” that’s the literal meaning of the word “bruised”. It means also “be broken”. It has a sense of being thoroughly afflicted.
Thirdly, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. For a man to find peace with God, Christ was chastised. The word “chastised” means “discipline, correction”. The writer of Hebrews well explained this – Hebrews 12:10-11 (KJV) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Fourthly, the word “stripes” means literally “blows”. Christ was whipped, His skin tore, He bled, to wash away our sins, the disease of sin is thus healed – Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The gospels do not give a more vivid description of Christ’s suffering than here in Isaiah. Christ suffered in our stead that our sins might be forgiven. What a debt we owe to our Lord for redeeming us.
Let us meditate upon our Lord’s suffering so that we may better understand that we have been bought at a price. Amen.