Unearned Stripes

The Gospel writers gave details of Christ’s arrest, arraignment, imprisonment, crucifixion, death and resurrection. A quite accurate and detail description of the scenes of His crucifixion, however the prophet Isaiah prophesied of the suffering and abuse that the Lamb of God would endure for humanity. It is not a G rated depiction and the details demonstrates to us that Christ did not merely go on the cross and died but the Messiah suffered. He received unearned stripes.

According to Isaiah it was agonizing, unbearable and cruel. He was tormented and tortured.

But He “opened not his mouth”. Not one complaint. Is 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

Oh pastor you must be over exaggerating again. Ok, don’t take my words for it. Look at Isaiah’s words.

Is 53:2-3 “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 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.”

Isaiah 53:4–6 (ESV)

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

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.

Chastisement - noun

severe criticism; a rebuke or strong reprimand. corporal punishment; a beating.

Is 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;

There was not one utterance of complaint from him. He did not ask the guards to loosen the chains a little because they are cutting off my circulation.

He did not beg for mercy when they whoop his bare back. He did not ask for an attorney to speak on his behalf when he was be accused. He did ask for a pardon or make a plea bargain. When the blood was dripping from his head into his eye he didn’t ask for his face to be whipped. Instead, he did not open his mouth, while he suffered. Instead, while he suffered, he remain silent.

But why? For what purpose did Christ go through this agony and brutal death for?

Why be rejected and despised?

Why be afflicted and crush?

He Suffered For Us.

“By His strips we are healed”

He did it for us. He did it for you. He did it for me.

Let’s Look at the contrast.

Isaiah 53:4–6 (ESV)

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

(We thought that God was punishing Him)

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

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.

For our Crimes, the word Transgression is the same word in the Hebrew for Crimes and Rebellion. But that did matter he paid the PRICE!!!!

Some people make it sound like Jesus only paid the price for the victims, the abused, the oppressed, the conned, the assaulted and those who have be taken advantage of. But I am here to tell you that Jesus paid the price and was wounded for not only the victim but also the victimizer

Not only for the abused but the abuser! Not only for the oppressed but the oppressor! Not only for the conned but also the convict. Not only for the violated but the violator! Not only for the prostitute but also for the pimp and the sex trafficker. Not only for bastard child but also for the dead-beat parent. Not only for teenage mother but for her molesting uncle. Not only for the drug user but also for the drug dealer. Not only for broken hearted spouse but also for the cheating no good rotten spouse. Not only for the strait couple but also for the gay couple. Not only for the cis male and cis female but also for the transgender. Not only for the aborted child but also for the mother of the dead child. Not only for conservatives but also for the liberals. Not only Sabbatarians but for Sunday Observers. Not only for Christians but also for the Buddhist. Not only for believers but also for the atheist. Even if you don’t believe in Him, he has paid the price for you!

Additional reading Romans 4 and 5

Is 53. The passage says...

the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all

By His Stripes we Are Healed

and because of that we are HEALED! We are FREE! We have PEACE!

True freedom comes from Jesus Christ.

True Peace comes through Jesus Christ.

True Healing comes from CHRIST!

This was to show us that God loves us. Jesus has taken on chains so that our chains can be broken. Jesus wore thorns on his head, so we can wear a crown on our head. Jesus’ back was beaten, so that our backs could stand straight. Jesus’ cloth was torn, so that we could wear a long white robe. Jesus was pinned to cross, so that we can be set free! Jesus body was broken, so that we can take of the bread of life. Jesus’ blood was shed, so that names can be written in the Lamb’s book of life. Jesus gave up His breath, so we can receive the breath of life!

Additional Reading: Luke 4:17-19

We Received Joy from His Pain.

‌He received unearned stripes. So that we received UNEARNED GRACE

And this Please God!

Is 53:10 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

Jesus said in the garden of Gethsemane, “Father take this cup from me”… This was real for Jesus. It was agonizing. He was facing the most brutal tormenting humiliating death.

But I am glad he did not stop there.... he continued to say “Yet, not my will but your will be done”.

Then he went forth and paid the price for our crimes.

Through His Unearned Stripes,

We received Unearned Grace.

Appeal - Today, today if you hear the voice of God calling you; will you answer with a Yes Lord.

Additional Reading: Hebrews 3:7-9

God is in the healing and transformation business.

He has paid the price for all of us, all you have to do is accept Him.

Allow Jesus to come into your heart and make you whole. He is calling all of us to REPENTANCE.

Remember He was crushed for our iniquities,, he was wounded for our crimes.

No matter what you have done, what you are doing.

Your sins have been covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Won’t you give Him your life today.

Do so by raising your hand and even coming forward.

And if you would like Bible Studies text me at 762-233-6795 or email leadpastor@havchurch.com

If you would like to have studies and prepare for baptism. Come forward.

I ____________________ accept the gift of God, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I want to walk with Him. I repent of my sins and accept His sacrifice.

I ____________________ want to learn more about Jesus Christ and be prepare to be baptised. I would like to learn more about the Highland Ave Seventh-day Adventist Church family. I want to help transform my community.