BY HIS STRIPES – Wednesday, 11 October
“Who his ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 KJV
“Stripes” is talking about the scourging or whipping Jesus received before He was nailed to a cross (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1). Scourging was what legally took place before the crucifixion. However, with Jesus, the scourging was illegal because He had not yet been sentenced to crucifixion. The punishment of scourging was horrible. The victim was bound to a low pillar or stake and then beaten either with rods or, in other cases, with scourges (which were leather thongs tipped with leaden balls or sharp spikes of bone). In action, the thongs would cut into the skin, ripping it, while the balls or bones created deep bruises. The result was significant haemorrhages and considerable weakening of the vital resistance of the victim. The severity of the beating in Jesus’ case is shown by His inability to carry His own cross (Matthew 27:31-32; Mark 15:20-21; Luke 23:26). He suffered physically to make healing available to you.
“By His stripes, you were healed” – not by your stripes. Far too often we can feel that we don’t deserve healing because we haven’t been doing enough; we haven’t been living holy enough, we haven’t fasted enough, or something like that. We feel that we need to do something to receive (or rather earn) our healing. But it’s not by our stripes that we are healed – it’s by Jesus’ stripes. He did what He did so that you and I could freely enjoy all the provisions of salvation (including healing) as an undeserved gift because He knew we would never deserve it – no matter how good we might be.
Healing isn’t something I can earn from God. Healing isn’t a reward for good, holy behaviour. If you look at that scripture it says “by His stripes you were healed.” That means that healing is already accomplished. God already released His healing power to every single person more than 2000 years ago through Jesus’ sacrifice. Healing is a free gift (grace) which has already been given. Even if you feel that you don’t deserve it, it belongs to you. God does not withhold healing from anyone – ever. You are His beloved child and He has already graciously provided healing and wholeness for you.
The gift has been given to you. You just need to believe and receive it.
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