Verse of the day

'He was pierced for our transgressions...by his wounds we are healed' Isaiah 53:5

Around 2000 years ago, on the first Good Friday, the One through whom the world was created hung and bled and suffered and died on a wooden cross. Read that sentence again. And again. It's something that becomes so familiar to us that we take it for granted; but it is an astonishing fact that the Son of God should come and die to be pierced for our transgressions.

For around 2000 years ago the One through whom the world was created hung and bled and suffered and died on a wooden cross because of you. He was pierced not for his wrongdoing but for ours, not for his rejection of God but for ours. Perhaps you've been struggling to live as Christ asks recently. Perhaps there's a particular sin you keep on doing and you know it's wrong but you can't really be bothered to stop it. Look at the Son of God on the cross, see the price of your sin, see the place where you should hang - and stop it. How can we stand at the foot of the cross, looking at the Son of God dying in agony because of us, and not take our sin seriously?

And it is an astonishing fact that 2000 years ago the One through whom the world was created hung and bled and suffered and died on a wooden cross for you. The rightful anger of God at our rebellion against him is the sentence we deserve; that was the sentence he served as his hands and feet were pierced on the cross. We come to the cross as sinners facing death; we find at the cross eternal life as God's children. Perhaps you've been struggling to be joyful as a Christian when life is tough. Perhaps you've forgotten to thank the Son of God properly recently. Look at the Son of God on the cross and rejoice and thank him from the bottom of your heart that though your sin put him there, your sin has been dealt with there. By his wounds you have been healed.

He was pierced for our transgressions. What humbling, awe-inspiring, wonderful news!