By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read: Isaiah 53:1-12

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

By Rev. Ron Purkey

First, Jesus Christ died to heal us emotionally. He bore our grief and sorrow; he carried them away. His sacrifice gave us victory over bitterness, unforgiveness, fear, grief and depression. No regret for the past nor fear of the future has the power to diminish our lives. He fills us with a peace beyond our comprehension.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:6-7).

Second, Jesus Christ died to heal us physically. He had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. Jesus was tried, condemned and led away by wicked people in what was clearly a miscarriage of justice. But this innocent one had to die — the righteous for the unrighteous — because of people’s rebellion (see Isaiah 53:8).

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53: 9-10).

Third, Jesus Christ died to heal us spiritually. God laid on him the sins of humankind, our wrong rolled onto Jesus so that we could be made right with God. Though our sins were as scarlet, Jesus washed them white as snow. He nailed the record of our debts to the cross, canceling our IOU debt. Jesus Christ bought our way into Heaven. Through him, we are set free.

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:11-12).

Yes, Jesus Christ is God’s son. Yes, he died for me. Yes, he died for you too. Anyone who sincerely says “yes” to Jesus Christ and “trusts” him as Lord and Savior will have their sins forgiven. The Lord will give us a home in Heaven.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines at www.rcpbibleoutlines.com free on the website. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years