Introduction
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
From the moment that Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, we humans have been sinning against God and each other. And all this sinning has brought with it much pain and suffering for everyone. Some have been wounded to death, but most of us are the walking wounded—those whose wounds allow us to keep moving (most of the time) despite the crippling effects of sin on our hearts and minds.
Some teach us to “put on a happy face” and “fake it” until we “make it,” but we know that faking is just lying. We will never be healed by pretending that we are.
Others tell us that our healing comes by talking about our wounds in therapy. The idea is that we must revisit, examine, and work through our heart wounds with a professional to be healed from them. And while talking about our sin struggles or the sins that have been committed against us might be necessary for us to receive our healing, we cannot talk our way to healing (Jeremiah 6:14).
Still, others tell us to pursue our healing through hard work. We are instructed to “work the program” and try all manner of self-help approaches, but the problem with this approach is that we eventually wear ourselves out. At the end of all our work, we still feel bad about our sin or the sins committed against us.
But there is a way that is powerful and effective for healing our heart wounds whether they are self-inflicted or received at the hands of others. That way is to come to the cross of Jesus Christ and look up! When you look at the cross, you see that Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions,” which means that He paid the penalty for sin. And you see that “by His wounds, we are healed,” which means that we are received and loved, forgiven, comforted and made whole through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Illustration
When Jesus was on this earth He had an encounter with a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse” (Mark 5:25-26).
This poor woman was sick and bleeding for many years. She tried to get help for her condition, spending all that she had, all to no avail. But then she heard about Jesus, and notice what she did:
Mark 5:27-29 (NIV) “When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.”
This woman exercised faith, believing that Jesus was a great Physician who could heal her wounds when no person in her past could. She reached out and touched Jesus’ cloak, and immediately she was healed; that is, she was freed from her suffering.
Before she went on her way, Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:34). Jesus knew He was on the way to the cross, and would take her sickness on Himself, along with her sin and suffering. As He foresaw that event, it was as if He was saying that her bleeding would stop because His would start, and she would be made completely whole because He would be completely broken and spilled out for her.
Application
Are you suffering today with heart wounds that drain and discourage you? Are you despairing that you can ever know healing? Have you spent time, energy, and money trying to find healing? Receive this good word today – there is healing for you at the cross of Christ. Look to Jesus now to receive it.
At the cross, you will see that Jesus has taken all the wounds of sin in His own body on the tree. He took on all the abuse you’ve endured, the self-loathing and feelings of worthlessness, all the anger, rage, and hate. Christ took to Himself all the injuries of body, heart, and mind that you would ever experience. He suffered bodily pain and agony of soul on the cross so that you, dear friend, would be healed. Jesus tasted death itself in order to heal you, that’s how much He loves you. If you want to experience your healing, reach out to Jesus in faith believing that by His wounds you are healed.
Do you have self-inflicted heart wounds? By your own sinful behavior, have you destroyed your life or the lives of others? Have you exhausted yourself trying to find healing only to discover that you are no better and perhaps even worse off than before? There is healing for you, too, at the cross of Christ. At the cross, you will see that Jesus was pierced for your transgressions. He was bruised for your sins. The punishment that brings you peace was poured out on Him. By His wounds, you are healed! Jesus has reversed all your wrongs. He has set things right by His atoning death. He has removed your sins and given you His righteousness. You’ve only to look to the cross of Christ and believe the better word than the blood of Abel speaks to you. Look to Jesus now and see that love, forgiveness, and healing are yours in Christ.
Question: How does looking to Jesus bring healing to the wounds of your life?
Jen writes, “By His wounds, mine have been healed!!! Jesus took all my sin on Himself and gave up HIS LIFE so that I can have healing! Looking to Him, seeing Him on that cross, heals me in ways I can’t even imagine but will experience if I look to Him alone to be healed!!!“
Joe writes, “I love the phrase, “but God…” All the therapy, counseling, medications, self-helps, etc couldn’t fix me. Nothing could, but God! Through the cross of Jesus, God set me free, healed me, washed me, removed the curse from me, redeemed me, and so much more!“
Sophia writes, “My wounds are self-inflicted. They’re from making the wrong decisions, from lusting, from impurity, from feeling worthless and self-loathing after the fact, disgusted with myself. Just like the woman who suffered for 12 years, but was not cured, I have dealt with this for a long time. Just having faith that Christ can heal is the first and only step. Thank you god for taking on all my weakness, sin, and wounds on the cross with you. Your sacrifice paid for EVERYTHING for me and the entire world. You endured suffering, you endured agony, worthlessness, self-loathing, all the things I struggle with. Feeling dirty and not good enough. Now, I don’t need to feel that way! I can live in the truth that you already endured all of that. That you forgive me. That I can walk in newness of life. “With your wounds, I am healed” I am received, loved, forgiven, comforted, and made whole through your death and resurrection.”
Mike L. writes, “I struggled with the same sin for over 40 years, at first I thought I could overcome it with my own will power, my own self-righteousness. Then it went on for so long I thought that I would never be able to overcome it, that I was going to have to live with it my whole life.
Then I was introduced to the cross where the love of Jesus was put on display for my behalf. It wasn’t me trying harder, it wasn’t a 12 step program, no white-knuckling it day in and day out, it was the extravagant love, mercy, and grace from Jesus that changed my life. Sitting at the foot of the cross meditating on what Jesus did for me is life-changing, seeing the King of the Universe, the creator of all things, offering His life for mine, giving me a clean slate, a hope for a better life!!! Nothing can change a life like the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus thank you for healing me, thank you for dying so that I could experience life.!“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.