who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Truth to Learn
Christ took our sins to the cross to pay the price for them.
Behind the Words
The Greek word for “bore” is anapherō, which means “to take up” or “to offer up.”
The word translated “tree” is xulon, which refers to a piece of wood, which could be a staff, a club, a tree, or a cross.
“Stripes” is from the Greek word mōlōps. This word both in the Old Testament Hebrew and in the New Testament Greek, refers to a bruise, a mark, a scar, or an open wound like those ugly swollen and bleeding stripes that result from a severe beating.
Meaning Explained
When we consider that this letter was written by an unschooled fisherman, it becomes even more remarkable that he should quote and/or make allusion to the writings of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. The 53rd chapter of Isaiah is an obvious reference to the coming Messiah who would suffer intensely. The Jews, who were looking for a coming conqueror, did not understand His suffering. Isaiah 53 starts out like this:
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of Jehovah been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of a dry ground; He has no form or majesty that we should look on Him, nor an appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He is despised and rejected by men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; like one from whom were hiding our faces, He was despised, and we did not value Him. Surely He has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains; yet we considered Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed. (Isaiah 53:1-5)
The lesson Peter is teaching is that we should suffer patiently, even when we are punished for something of which we are innocent. Christ left us this example which we should follow. He was innocent. When He was attacked with words, He did not respond in kind, and when He suffered He did not threaten. Instead, he surrendered Himself to the Righteous Judge.
Since He was innocent, it logically follows that the Righteous Judge should declare Him innocent and acquit Him of all charges. Instead, He was declared innocent, then punished! Why? Because, Peter says, “He bore our sins.” This sinless Lamb of God took up with him on the cross all the sins of mankind from the beginning of time until the end of time.
Think about it! Not only was he innocent, and silent, but He voluntarily took upon Himself your sins and mine so that the punishment handed out to Him, though not deserved by Him, would be received by Him on our behalf.
By His death, Peter says, we have the ability to live, having been declared righteous. Peter then finishes off this verse with a quote from Isaiah 53:5, “by whose stripes you were healed.”
Application
The next time you suffer at the hands of others for something you did not do, turn your thoughts to God, the Righteous Judge, and thank Him for allowing you to “know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Then praise Him that through the sufferings of Christ you are righteous in His eyes.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved