Isaiah 53:5 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. 6 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.
This passage of scripture teaches us the whole purpose of the sacrifice that was made for us on Calvary, which is so that we can be healed. By His death for the human family Christ has accomplished many noteworthy feats, prominent among which is the forgiveness of sins whereby the healing process begins. Without forgiveness, the merits of Christ's life would have no practical meaning for us, because He would just have proven that a human being could live righteously by depending on God. This is all well and good, but of itself it does not open up to us the new and living way that was demonstrated in the life of Jesus. It is by His death on Calvary that every member of the human family can now have access to the life and righteousness that is in Christ, and thus it is the will of God, that the sacrifice of His Son be held in the highest esteem in the minds of all of us who are the beneficiaries of His loving kindness. Let's read:
1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Another great accomplishment of Christ's death for us on Calvary is that we can now have a new body that is not subject to disease, decay, cancers, and viruses. A part of the collateral damage that sin has done, is that a multitude of sicknesses and diseases have come upon the human family, and as a result we are subject to death and decay. But God has granted to us through Christ, a completely new body that will be given at the second coming of Christ to all who appropriate the merits of His life and sacrifice. As a matter of fact, this is one of the cornerstones of our hope in Jesus, that one day His glorious body will also be ours. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 15:2 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
In our day it seems as if all hope is lost in the minds of millions of people, whereas the grace of God which bringeth salvation is at our very fingertips. Many homes across the land and around the globe contain one or more Bibles, yet many people are not aware of the great accomplishments that have been made in our behalf by Christ. God is now calling on people everywhere to take the time to read and learn of The Christ who died on Calvary, so that we may not lose this golden opportunity to be partakers with Him in his righteousness, and also in His coming kingdom of glory.
We therefore end with a promise to everyone who sees the importance and relevance of appreciating what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross, and it is God's will that the appropriate response of love, gratitude, surrender, and willing service be the hallmarks of our Christian experience, for these are essential to experiencing the blessed hope. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May The Christ of Calvary be the joy and theme of our song, now and forever. God bless!