By His Wounds

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”  but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:24-25

I grew up hearing that this passage meant Jesus promises us physical healing. Which is unfortunate, because I don’t believe it does, and because what it does say is so much richer.

See what Peter’s saying, the sins that separated us from being connected to the life of God and that lead us into an ungodly and not-good life. Jesus took these sins in his body on the cross.

He was wounded. Not so that we could have hope of being cancer-free or allergy-free right now but so that we could return to the life of God. By his wounds, the spiritual rift between creature and creator can be healed.

So just think about what Peter has reminded us of previously. Life outside of God is ultimately meaningless and empty. We were like sheep going astray. Looking for grass but finding only thorns and thistles.

But through Christ, we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Do you feel that peace? Do you feel his love and guidance? But let’s remember this hope. Jesus doesn’t promise that by his wounds we are physically healed now.

One day, though, our spiritual healing will result in our physical. The life of God is eternal life and his shares it with us through Christ. Therefore, by his wounds we will one day be totally healed.

Today:

• When did you put your hope in Jesus ‘wounds’?
• Have you experienced this spiritual healing? How?
• What are you looking forward to in the future hope we have?

Pray:

• Praise the Father that He is life.
• Give thanks for Jesus that he bore our sins his body.
• Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others have joy in what you have in Jesus.