Messiah the Suffering Servant (5)—Wounded for Me - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

Messiah the Suffering Servant (5)—Wounded for Me
Notice how this verse puts an emphasis on the word “our” by mentioning it three times: “our transgressions,” “our iniquities,” and “our peace.” The Jewish nation will confess this and make it personal, but we should never lose sight of the fact that the “our” recorded in this prophecy belongs to us as well. We who were “sinners of the Gentiles” and who have believed in Him have indeed made it personal (Gal. 2:15). It was through Israel’s unbelief and rejection of Christ that salvation has come to us Gentiles (Rom. 11:11–15).

The sufferings of the cross are being depicted here in graphic terms: “wounded” means “pierced through”; the word “bruised” can be translated as “crushed”; and “stripes” have the idea of “punishment.” The stripes probably do not refer specifically to the Roman scourging Christ received, but the divine punishment He endured for our sakes. The healing here is not describing physical healing but rather spiritual recovery and reconciliation to God—the apostle makes this clear in 1 Peter 2:24. His deep suffering on the cross under the hand of God was due to our transgressions and iniquities. These words describe our high-handed sins when we break God’s law through our willfulness, our perversity, and our rebellion. What a contrast to Christ’s obedience in all things, including the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8)! Israel will come to value this in a future day—it is our privilege to enter into it now.

-- Brian Reynolds

Wounded for me, wounded for me,

There on the cross He was wounded for me;

Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,

All because Jesus was wounded for me.

-- William Ovens