Welcome to Hank’s Place
I’ve been sharing chapter titles for Michael Card’s wonderful book, “A Violent Grace.”
Our chapter title today is “He was wounded so I could be healed.” John records that Pilate handed Jesus over to be flogged. Matthew and Mark, to be crucified. Totally barbaric. The Romans had no limit to the number of strokes – people might died before they could be crucified; or died within hours, like Jesus.
Jesus, an innocent man. 1 Peter 2:24 says it well, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. Were healed.
Virus? You were healed. Cancer? You were healed. Head cold? Hangnail? Healed. I urge you dear friend, to look beyond the doctor or medical report or the symptoms – However real they may be at the moment, but look beyond – and see Jesus on the Cross. With His back brutally laid open – those cords likely tore around the front of His body as well. Horrific torture, endured for our healing. See Jesus. Then confess your healing. Declare it IS yours. And you shall have it. Keep seeing the price ALREADY paid in FULL.
The pain Jesus endured was the prelude to the outpouring of God’s favor. By enduring the violence in that circle of hate, Jesus accomplished a costly exchange. With each blow, he carried away our grief and our brokenness and brought back for us, for that howling mob, for every person since, the treasures of grace. Healing through wounding; wholeness through brokenness. That is the way of the cross, the way of Jesus. It is the method of an upside down kingdom, whose king dies for his subjects.
“He endured mockery so I could know dignity and joy.” Jesus guards made fun of him. Herod and his men ridiculed him. The Roman centurions who flogged him jeered at him. Jesus endured their scorning for OUR sake. The religious leaders scorned him in theological fashion. The crowds of passersby shook their heads and hurled insults at him. And this was the Passover so Jerusalem was packed with people. Many passersby.
Yet Hebrews 12:2 declares, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame.
See Jesus bearing your shame my friend – and COME ALIVE!
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