Christ in the Old Testament

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6

The third stanza of this verse is translated many different ways:

• He endured punishment that made us well. (NET)
• He was beaten so we could be whole. (NLT)
• The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him. (NASB)
• Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. (ESV)

The Hebrew word for “punishment” or “chastisement” is mûsār which describes correction or discipline administered by a higher authority such as parents, kings or God the Father. The goal of the punishment is to shape a person’s character toward divine wisdom. It’s not punishment for the sake of punishment. The punishment should lead to a different person inside.

However, in the case of Jesus being punished on the cross, mûsār takes on the meaning of the Messiah taking the discipline that we deserve so that we could be changed on the inside. And this punishment was “on” him or “upon” him which correctly translated from the Hebrew preposition ʽal. Just like Israel’s sins and punishment were placed “on” the scapegoat, Jesus had our sins and punishment placed “on” him:

“[Aaron] is to lay both hands on (ʽal) the head of the live goat and confess over (ʽal) it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on (ʽal) the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on (ʽal) itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness” (Lev 16:21-22).

Because our sins were placed on Jesus and because he took upon himself the punishment we deserved, we can have peace. The Hebrew word for “peace” or “well-being” is the familiar word šālôm that carries the ideas of completeness, friendship and harmony. It describes the right relationship between God and man or between two people.

The punishment that Jesus took on himself brought us a restored relationship with our Holy God. We are at peace with God just like two nations who were previously at war are now at peace. We were rebels at war with God. We broke His law and that made us an enemy of God. The only way a lawbreaker can be at peace with the Lawgiver is to serve the punishment that the law demands. Jesus took our place and served our sentence for us. Now we can have peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36).

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Rom 5:9-11).

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Eph 2:14-16).

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col 1:19-22).

Because of the cross, we have peace with God. Because of Jesus, we will stand before God when we die and He will see us as holy just like Him! This is indeed the good news of peace! What else can we do but to praise Him? Our God is so good!

Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank you for Jesus. You made a way where there was no other way. Jesus is worthy of all my praise!