Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Isaiah 53:5
Pierced for our Transgressions
Even at the cross we see that Jesus was pierced in His side, just as had been prophesied where Isaiah wrote “But he was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5a) which was fulfilled at the cross where “one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John 19:34) and the blood of the Lamb and the water represent eternal life. We know for sure that “he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” (Rev 1:7) but Isaiah’s point was He was pierced for our transgressions, which is like transgressing God’s law. If your neighbor has a sign up and you can’t legally trespass on his property, but then you go over his fence anyway, you are transgressing the “no trespassing” law and that is sin.
Crushed for our Iniquities
Not only was Christ “pierced for us,” He was also crushed for us, but why!? Isaiah says “he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5b). An iniquity is like an inequality. The greatest inequality of all; it is between us and God (Rom 3:23) that is an unbridgeable divide (Isaiah 59:2). The Hebrew word the author uses for “iniquity” means “to distort or twist” and even “to bend,” as in bending the rules. When we bend the rules to suite ourselves, we are committing iniquities and all iniquities are sin that need to be repented of.
Chastised to bring us Peace
When Jesus was scourged by the Romans, this was a form of chastisement; a severe one to be sure, but that might explain why Isaiah wrote “upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace” (Isaiah 53:5c). This is what Paul writes in Romans 5:1; “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:10). We receive the peace of God and now we are at peace with God but this peace came from Jesus’ chastisement.
Wounded for our Healing
Finally, Isaiah writes, “by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5d) which can certainly mean physical healing and in many cases, miraculous events took place and someone who was thought gone is healed, but the larger context of this chapter we can see it’s more about our sins, iniquities, and transgressions that colds, the flu, or a physical sickness. The subject matter in this chapter is about sins, iniquities, and transgression and not about those who are lame, sick, deaf, and so on. If a person is healed, they’re going to die again, but if a person trusts in Christ, Jesus was pierced for them, crushed for them, and chastised for them, and they receive the greatest gift of all; eternal life through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 4:12).
Conclusion
Can you even imagine the torture on the cross that Jesus endured for us who were still His enemies and the most wicked of sinners (Rom 5:8-10)? Thankfully, “while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6) but there is no way you can earn this (Eph 2:8-9). All you need do is repent and trust in the Savior. If not, you’ll bear your own sins, iniquities, and transgressions in a place of no escape.
