HEALED BY HIM by I. Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1879

HEALED BY HIM.

By I. Sanborn

“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.” Isa. 53:5.

This language of the prophet was written concerning the sufferings of our dear Saviour. It is difficult to conceive the degree of physical suffering, besides all the mental anguish, endured by the Son of God offered upon Calvary to provide atonement for the sins of the world. It would seem that his enemies exhausted all the depths of malice and cruelty to inflict physical torture and insolent abuse, while his soul was crushed down to the gates of death by the inconceivable weight of our sins. Forsaken by his friends, conducted through the mockery of a trial, derided, spit upon, scourged, and at last nailed to the rugged cross, his blood is poured out for the healing of the nations.

Scourging was a very common punishment among the Jews, in all ages of the nation. The law directed that the person to be beaten should lie down, and that the blows (which were never to be more than forty, though they might be any number less, according to the crime committed) should be applied to his back in the presence of the judge. Deut. 25:1–3. In later times the offender was tied by the hands to a low pillar, and stripped down to the waist. Cruelty invented, for its own gratification, a horrible whip, by fastening sharp iron points or pieces of lead to the end of the thongs. Among the Romans scourging was very severe, and was not limited to any number of blows. So cruel was the punishment that death sometimes took place under it.

The blessed Redeemer was cruelly beaten, till he became so weak that he was not able to carry his cross to Calvary. Luke 23:26. Thus exhausted and lacerated by cruel scourging, he is led like a lamb to the slaughter, and nailed to the cross. Thus was the dear Saviour bruised for our iniquities. In this way his soul was made an offering for sin.

Let the guilty transgressor remember that Jesus died that he might find pardon,—yes, endured such inconceivable suffering that he might be healed, cleansed from sin, and brought into a condition to keep all God’s holy commandments. Barnes says, “that we might be conformed to the law, or be obedient to its requirements.” For we know that the law is spiritual. Rom. 7:14. The carnal mind will always incline to transgress the law, because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to his law, neither indeed can be. Rom. 8:7. Then, according to Paul, those who are healed with Christ’s stripes and sufferings are brought into a condition to keep all God’s commandments.

Martin Luther agrees with Paul and Moses. “Wherefore Moses together with Paul doth necessarily drive us to Christ, through whom we are made doers of the law, and are not accounted guilty of any transgressions. How so? First, by forgiveness of sins and imputation of righteousness, because of our faith in Christ; secondly, by the gift of God in the Holy Ghost, which bringeth forth a new life and new notions in us, so that we may also do the law of God effectually. Now that which is not done is pardoned for Christ’s sake.”

Dear reader, remember that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, and by his stripes we are healed; so that God can now be just in forgiving all who will come to him through Christ. Being thus cleansed from the effects of sin, the Holy Spirit will aid you in keeping all his commandments. Are you a stranger to the healing balm provided for the sin-sick soul? Oh, do not delay till your malady lead to eternal death; but adopt the prayer of the prophet,—“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved.” Jer. 17:14.

I. SANBORN.