This is a very odd set of verses to contemplate as we enter deep into the Christmas season! Isaiah 53 "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Last Sunday, the message in the first service flowed from the backstories and words of some familiar Christmas carols! It was when we were contemplating the text of "What Child Is This?" that the correlation with Isaiah 53 was revealed. In the second verse William Dix pens the words, "Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the Cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, Hail the Word made flesh the babe, the son of Mary."
In just a few poetic lines we are brought to the real meaning of Christmas. The babe would suffer and die for us and we get to worship (hail, hail) Him as truly the Word of God made flesh. 2700 years ago another poet plumed the depths of Gods gift in Jesus with the words, "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed."
This is a powerful Christmas gift for me - to me......... and to you! We get peace and healing! Do you see it? Look again at the verse! That is so what I need for Christmas - peace and healing! Isaiah also is telling me what I am NOT getting for Christmas! I not NOT getting the crushing punishment that my "transgressions and iniquities"deserve! Jesus got that so I don't have to. What I am NOT getting is as important in my grasp of Christmas as what I am getting!
This is God's promise to me in Jesus! He is asking me to wholeheartedly believe Him! In that act of believing faith I do NOT get crushing punishment and do get peace and healing!
All because "the babe the Son of Mary!"
Merry Christmas
delton