By His wounds...or not.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  - Isaiah 53:5

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:24

We have entered a season where these verses become especially meaningful. Aren't you grateful we are given the opportunity to be healed?  Obviously, we must ask from what we are healed and how does this healing come about?

We are each plagued with a sin disease. Without healing, we are doomed without any hope. No hope of eternity in Heaven. No hope for righteousness. No hope for goodness. No hope for acceptance by the one, true, living God.

How does this healing come about? The ESV, NIVand HCSB translations say "by his wounds". The NAS translation says "by his scourging".  The KJV and NKJV say, "by his stripes". So what images come to mind? The passion of the Christ? Jesus beaten to within a breath of His life? If that is accurate, we are saying that Jesus brought us healing because man beat Him. Which stripe? Which bruise?

The Hebrew and Greek texts are singular, not plural (Meaning our translations are lacking). Therefore, by His wound, we are healed. Which wound could possibly bring us healing? A scourging? A crown of thorns? Nails in His hands or feet? I contend that none of the above could bring us healing from our sin.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

JESUS BECAME SIN. For the first and only time in eternity, Jesus was separated from God the Father. Becoming sin was THE wound that could bring us God's righteousness, the condition that can be obtained only in the absence of sin. By the work of Christ, not the efforts of man, we can be healed. Have you?