Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Stripes

Another e-mail making the rounds. We all get several of these each week. But I knew the sender and appreciated her words, so I visited the Big Tom Movie.

Before the end, it was obvious this story had been round and round for years and years. This was just a new presentation of a very old story.

So old, in fact, that Isaiah wrote of Him:

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. [Isaiah 53:5 KJV]

Peter recognized that fact, having seen with his own eyes the stripes – as he denied even knowing Him. Peter rectified his errors, return to his Lord and writing to others.

Who his own self 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]

Peter had much earlier recognized Jesus as the prophesied Messiah, the Christ.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [Matthew 16:15-16 KJV]

Peter followed Him, denied Him then gave the rest of his life to tell people about Him. Another recognized in him prophecy when she met Him, and He specifically told her who He was.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. [John 4:25-26 KJV]

The questions that must be answered are: Was a messiah prophesied? If so, was prophecy fulfilled? If so, was that messiah Jesus?

For Christians, the answer to each is a resounding, “Yes.” Prophesied and fulfilled. It was this 53rd chapter of Isaiah the Ethiopian was reading when the Holy Spirit placed Philip in his path. The questions were asked then, and answered then, as they are today.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. [Acts 8:34-35 KJV]

The eunuch recognized what the woman recognized and what Peter recognized. The prophesied Messiah, the Christ, will come from God and did come in the person of Jesus.

Where does that leave us? Are those answers all we need?

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [Hebrews 2:2-3 KJV]

Do we look upon Christ only as an escape? An escape from reality? A means to escape receiving deserved stripes? Our ticket to stay out of the heat for eternity? If so, that is regrettable, and a great deal more study is required.

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