INTRODUCTION
If you have seen the movie, The Passion of the Christ, then you know the film opens with a verse from the Bible. Let’s begin this study at the same place, Isaiah 53:3-6:
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. 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“
(Isaiah 53:3-6 KJV) .
One of the most startling facts about this passage is that it tells us why Jesus endured all of the punishment, brutality and torture portrayed in the film. He did it for us. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Let’s take a moment and think about this.
PART 1
BEATEN AND BRUISED
Isaiah 53:3-6
Wounds are external cuts and abrasions, like the lashes he bore for us. These wounds were in payment for our transgressions.
To transgress means to break away from authority. When we live by our own standards, deciding that what is good for us at the moment must be right even if it is lying or stealing, we are breaking away from God’s authority. For He is the only One who has the authority to determine what is right and wrong. In living by our own standards, in going our own way, we are rebelling against Him. A transgression carries a penalty, but Jesus paid that penalty. He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was also bruised for our iniquities. Iniquities means to wander away; to lose oneself. This verse tells us that we all have gone astray. Jesus paid the price for our wanderings; He was bruised for our iniquities.
The bottom line is that God loved us and wanted a way to cleanse and heal us from our sins. So Jesus became the sacrifice for us all. And with His stripes we are healed. Have you accepted His sacrifice?
REMEMBER IT
Review the passage of scripture and answer these questions:
1. Can you recall from the film those who rejected Jesus? Who were they? Friends? Enemies?
2. Isaiah 53:3 says that “we hid as it were our faces from him,” as you watched the movie, The Passion of the Christ, were you tempted to hide your face from Him?
3. Jesus bore our _________ and carried our ___________. 4. He was wounded for our ___________ and bruised for
our ___________. 5. All we like ___________ have __________ _________.
APPLY IT
As you remember the wounds and bruises portrayed so vividly in the movie The Passion of Christ, understand that Jesus, the real Jesus, bore that and much more for you. Have you confessed your transgressions and iniquities to Him? Have you asked Him to forgive you? Have you received His forgiveness? Keep it personal; don’t think of the sins of others but of your own. Remember, His death was very personal.
EXPRESS IT
Jesus, I acknowledge what You did for me. You were wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities. You paid the penalty for all my sins. Please forgive me of my past and help me to forgive myself and others. Thank You for what you did for me.
Copyright © 2004 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc All right reserved www.backtothebible.org www.BibleStudiesOnline.org