Healing the Brokenhearted 2 – the Great Exchange

The aim of this devotional study is to personally reflect on Christ’s substitution for our suffering and provision for our restoration.

Scripture

Isaiah 53:3-5

3  He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  4  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  5  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement [punishment] that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Observations

1. When you read this Old Testament prophesy of the Messsiah (about 700BC), what event do you think it refers to?
2. Reading verses 4 and 5, what is the core message the prophet wants to convey?
3. According to this Text,
   1. what did the Messiah suffer? [hint: look at the verbs / action words]
   2. what did we gain from the Messiah’s suffering? [hint: look at the nouns]
   3. what was our behavior and condition at the time of the Messiah’s suffering?
   4. for whom was the Messiah’s substitutionary suffering?

Personal Reflections

Transgression: breaking a law/ sinning while fully aware of one’s actions.  Deliberate or conscious sin.

Iniquity: “bend in the spirit”, some spiritual flaw which manifest as bad habit, character fault, addition, etc.

1. Considering that I am body, soul and spirit (cf 1 Thessalonians 5:23), what does this Text say the Messiah’s substitutionary suffering had accomplished:
   1. for my spirit (verse 5)
   2. for my soul (i.e. mind, will and emotions; verses 4 and 5)
   3. for my body (verse 5)
2. Consider the statement in verse 6.
   1. What does that suggest about my own state at the time of the Messiah’s substitutionary suffering?
   2. What does it suggest about God’s intent and commitment for my own healing?
   3. What does it suggest about my responsibility in earning this healing – current and future? [hint: what do I have to do to get it?]

Application and Prayer

Jesus, the Messiah has through his vicarious suffering [on your behalf] obtained healing for your spirit, soul and body.

• Regarding your spirit: Which iniquity was Jesus, the Messiah, crushed for that you are still in bondage for?
• Regarding your soul: Which grief, sorrow, anxiety or confusion are you still suffering from which Jesus, the Messiah, was punished for?
• Regarding your body: Which sickness or disease are you still suffering from which Jesus, the Messiah, was wounded for?

1. Thank God for the gift of healing through Jesus’ suffering.
2. Confess your belief that Jesus’ suffering was enough for your need.
3. Pray as the Spirit leads for your complete healing.
4. Tell a friend about this.

Salvation 15

The Aim of this devotional study is to reflect on Jesus’ substitutionary death for you and me, and respond appropriately.

This short video by Judah Smith will help to reflect on today’s text.

Scripture

Matthew 27:15-26

15  Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.  16  And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

17  So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

18  For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.  19  Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

20  Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

21  The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

22  Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”

23  And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

24  So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”

25  And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

26  Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Observation, Application and prayer

In which ways can you identify with guilty Barabbas being freed and innocent Jesus taking his place on the cross? Spend some time in reflection, prayer and worship to the God of grace.

Salvation 11

The aim of this module is to grow in understanding and appreciation for the fullness by which God saved us in the death of his Son Jesus Christ.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:1-21

1  For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3  if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

4  For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.  5  Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7  For we walk by faith, not by sight.

8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  9  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences…

14  For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Observation

There are several terms used to describe a certain part of the process by which God saves us.  Consider the following terms with a simplified definition of each.

• Eternal life describes both life without end in days, as well as the experience with which we live to the fullness without reservation – the very life of God.
• Glorification refers to the fullness of our salvation we will receive when Christ returns to deliver us of the presence of sin and Satan and transform our bodies to resemble his.
• Identification means to identify with the position of another: Christ identified with us in our humanity and carried the punishment of our sins – even death; we in turn identify with his righteousness and life.
• Inheritance refers to what we will partake of as children of God, that which is rightly ours as children of God – both now and when Christ returns to take us to him.
• Justification is a legal term meaning that no fault (or sin) is found in the accused.
• Condemnation is a legal term which implies that the accused is found guilty and has been sentenced for punishment.
• Reconciliation means to arbitrate and bring peace between two parties.
• Regeneration or recreation means to bring to life, to make new.
• Repentance means a 180 degree turn-around in will, attitude and behavior – to go the other way. Biblically it is used to mean one turns from sin towards God’s way of life.
• Righteousness refers to what is right in the sight of God, and is often spoken of as a garment by which we are clothed to appear pure before God.
• Substitution or propitiation with regard to our salvation refers to another who takes the punishment of sin on our behalf.

Now read through the text again and fit each of the following verses with one (or two) of these salvation terms that fit best.

• V1 ————–
• V2 ————–
• V3 ————–
• V5 ————–
• V10 either ————– or ————–
• V11 ————–
• V14 ————–
• V15 ————–
• V17 ————–
• V18 ————–
• V20 ————–
• V21 ————–

Application and Prayer

Which verses in today’s sccspeak the clearest to your conscience today?  Why does it press on your heart?  Spend some time to pray to God about that aspect of your salvation.  Then make time to worship God for this great gift of salvation in his Son Jesus Christ!