It's Right There On The Table.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea reminded us that long before Jesus walked the earth, the prophet Isaiah spoke of His scars.

But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him; and by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

It is significant that Isaiah uses the past tense when describing the work of our Lord and Christ: He was wounded, He was crushed, He was punished. The Messiah was the only One uniquely qualified to endure this suffering on behalf of the world, and Isaiah prophetically described the work of Christ as a completed work even though Jesus's birth would not occur for several hundred more years.

Early in Jesus's earthly ministry, He said: "My food is to do the will of God, who sent Me, and to complete His work." (see John 4:34) Jesus understood that He was on the earth as a fulfillment of prophetic statements made by Isaiah and others, and He "endured the cross" (see Hebrews 12:2) so that we might experience healing.

It is also significant that Isaiah uses the present tense when describing the benefit we receive from the work of Christ: we are healed. The healing blood of Jesus reached back to touch Isaiah, and it also reaches forward to touch us. What an encouragement to know that our Lord has presented this opportunity for our healing and deliverance.

The One who was, and is, and is to come, offers Himself for persons who were, and are, and are to come. Will you say yes to His loving offer of healing?