Remember the movie, The Passion? It was a very powerful movie about the life of Yeshua (Jesus). During the torture scene at the cross, I wept and covered my eyes. But the sounds of the hammer hitting the stakes thundered in my soul beyond what I can explain. I could hear the cries of so many in the theater in addition to my own weeping. My heart was deeply and disturbingly moved. Oh, that Yeshua suffered and died for humankind. The word of G-D says that Yeshua was so marred or disfigured that He didn’t even seem human.
Just as many were appalled at him, because he was so disfigured that he didn’t even seem human and simply no longer looked like a man. Is. 52:14 CJB
Yet, as we look at some images of the crucified Messiah, the images are extremely sanitized. Just sprinkles of blood on perfectly smooth light beaten-free skin. But, our Bibles paint a very different story. He was beaten, scourged, spat on, and a crown of thorns was placed on His head. He was ridiculed and judged as a blasphemous criminal; yet He was without sin or deceit. He was insulted, but He didn’t threaten or try to defend Himself. He bore our sins in His body. Bore, think about that word. Bore means…make a hole, drill, pierce. He (Yeshua) bore our sins (yours and mine) as if they (the sins) drilled, pierced making holes in His flesh! WOW! What kind of love is this?
He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness — by his wounds you were healed. 2 Peter 2:24
He suffered on our behalf because of His great love for us!
Who does this? Who would give up their son for wicked and evil generations? Who has done this or would do this besides Yeshua the Messiah? NO ONE! Still, we live our lives apathetic to the depth of His suffering for humankind. Oh, that we might turn from our wicked ways, repent and rejoice in all He has done for us, and live on fire for the L-RD! That we might long to be with Him and share His love with others.
This morning when I was reading Zechariah 12:10 CJB –
… and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced.” They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.
The part of this prophetic passage which spoke to me was and they will look to me, whom they pierced. In a biblical commentary, it suggests that when Yeshua returns we will see His pierced and marred body, glorified, but with the evidence of the sins He bore. In John, most of us know the story that Thomas doubted the resurrection of Yeshua until he saw Him and placed his hand in Yeshua’s hand and side. John 20:24-31 CJB
My point… I think, we as believers in Yeshua might consider as best we can the depth of Yeshua’s suffering in His body because of our wickedness. He hung on the cross in our place…my place. (I should be up on that cross because of my own evil deeds.) When we see Him, His body will have the marks of His redemptive work for us. I can only imagine that seeing the L-RD will be overwhelmingly joyous to say the least, but, also, we might experience some sadness with gratitude and love for how he accomplished salvation for us. I don’t know, but His suffering is beyond what I can fathom and His great love is even more astonishing!
Therefore, the next time you look at a sanitized image of Jesus (Yeshua) hanging on a cross with a few drops of blood looking like He’s asleep…know that is a lie! Yeshua suffered, died and it wasn’t pretty! (Isaiah 52:14). Without some understanding of the gruesome torture of our Savior’s ordeal, I believe we are destined to live compromised and truly unappreciative of the profundity of His once and for all redemptive work.
Prayer: ABBA, help us to realize daily that the work of our Savior, Yeshua during His torture leading up to His death was horrifying, gruesome and gut-wrenching for all who witnessed it, as well as for us who believe and are committed to Him. Yet, conversely, this was Yeshua’s act of ultimate love for the world. And we are grateful. You, ABBA, gave your only begotten son, that the world might be saved. (John 3:16-18) Help us ABBA, to never take our salvation for granted, but to grow daily in you by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Strengthen us and quicken our discernment to know and walk in truth and love. Hear our cry, for you are our G-D and there is none like you! Thank you for your gift of grace, mercy, love and salvation through Yeshua and forgive us our many sins as we forgive others. May your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I love you ABBA,
Dee