Daily Reflection

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

There are those who might think Christians are masochistic with all our talk about the suffering and death of Jesus. Wounded, crushed, punished, bruised: we can see why they might think that. But for Christians, who seek to follow and call him Lord, these descriptions simply amplify the deepness of our sin, and the greatness of God’s love for us. Jesus suffered because of us—and really suffered because our sin is great. And God loves so much that God in Christ would endure such suffering, for us. God takes us on and bears us up. The scriptures testify that that is not an easy, comfortable thing to do, even for God. God suffered and suffers for us. And by doing so, grants us life in abundance.

How astonishing to know that in Christ You suffer for us. You are not aloof and apathetic; You feel with us and for us. By Your bruises, we are healed. By Your wounds, we are made whole. Though we have turned away, in Christ You have brought us home. In the Crucified One we find life. Praise be to You, loving God. Amen

Christian Seasons Calendar

Daily Reflection

Friday, April 18, 2025