THE CHASTISEMENT FOR YOUR PEACE

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Jesus through His scourging, crushing, beating, and bruises. He didn't have a choice. In Matthew 26:39 (NIV), the Bible says, 'Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."' That means, if Jesus had a choice, He would've avoided it. It was hard on Him. The cup was without mercy; full of mental torture and brutality, yet He fulfilled His Father's will because of you and me.

Reference: Isaiah 53:4-5 New King James Version (NKJV)Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Jesus bore all our sufferings and His death paid all the price we were supposed to pay. That is why there is no pending sacrifices for you. All that was to be paid for your well-being was fully paid. All sicknesses, diseases - past, present and future were dealt with and His stripes brought healing to all nations (see John 11:51).

Each time we celebrate the death of Jesus, we rejoice; We don't cry or mourn. Why? Because Jesus had already shed tears in pain and shed blood on the cross on our behalf. So it's too late to feel sorry for His death. Even at the time of incidence, Jesus disapproved those who willingly offered themselves to mourn for Him. When a large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women, Jesus, turned to them, and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children' (Luke 23:28 NLT).

Have you ever seen anyone grieving the death of Jesus? That's unpalatable and it means that what the death of Jesus brought to the world, means little to them. The freedom and salvation we enjoy now is because He suffered for us. He paid it all so that we don't have to pay. In fact, He received a rare public chastisement, which the authorities of His day authorised. They inflicted serious injuries on Jesus and a Roman centurion thrust his spear into His side at the crucifixion.

The Bible says, 'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God' (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). He was made sin so that I should no longer walk in sin. I've been made the righteousness of God through His death, burial and resurrection. That means initially I was destined for Hell but now He died and plucked me out of hell domain. So I can only afford to rejoice all the time. Cry is too expensive but joy is affordable in Christ. Hallelujah!

Romans 5:8 (NIV), 'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' While I was wallowing in my sinful nature, Christ already died to spare me from damnation. Now I'm in Christ, wallowing in the luxury of righteousness because He reached out to me. Same way, this season, we must endeavour to reach out to others and show them what Christ already did for the world.

Reach out to the unsaved and win them for Christ. Remember no one can walk in absolute freedom and uncommon safety unless they receive Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

Scripture Reading - John 15:13; Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 5:6,10.

Exuberant Declaration:

I'm forever grateful that Jesus bore all my sins, sufferings, wrongdoings and paid all the price on the cross. Lord, through your chastisement, I have access to uncommon peace, security, wealth, health and all the good things of life now and always. As I think, talk and live by the Word of God, I enjoy divine safety and walk in absolute dominion in my world. Blessed be God!