Monday Manna - Peace from Punishment

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. The first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just post to your blog and link up at the bottom of this post in the Mr. Linky gadget.

This Monday's verse is one very dear to my heart, as I "got saved" in it--ten years ago tomorrow, in fact. (Be sure to stop by again tomorrow for some further reflections on my conversion and my decade as His child)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NIV

Feel free to share your own thoughts on this verse and link up at the bottom. I look forward to hearing what you have to share about this verse.

Below are my reflections:

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When I was young, I was not a model child (I know - some of you are probably shocked by this fact). I would disobey my parents, sometimes purposefully, and hope I could escape punishment. It's pretty amazing what I thought I could get away with (and even, in a few rare cases, what I DID get away with).

Yet, though I may have figured I'd gotten away with some dastardly deed, I had no peace.

Every time I saw my mom and dad, I wondered if they'd figured out what I'd done. If one of them called me over, I stifled a shiver for the punishment I'd likely get if they had figured it out. I was, in a word, afraid of being found out.

Sometimes, it was actually a relief to be "found out" (though I don't believe I ever felt bad enough at the time to actually confess before they got to me). The constant looking over my shoulder was more distressing than the discipline I received (and deserved!). And with the punishment, the peace returned.

Christ did the very same thing for me when He died on the cross--but with a twist. Instead of meting out the punishment that I deserved, he took it for me. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. When we sin, we have no peace. When we reap the consequences of that sin, we no longer need to feel guilt, because we have received our "just desserts."

But because of God's amazing grace and love, we don't have to reap the consequences--Christ has taken upon Himself the punishment that we deserve ourselves. And, because of that, we can have peace.

He was pierced for our transgressions

he was crushed for our iniquities

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him

and by his wounds we are healed.

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Be sure to check out the other Monday Manna contributors below - and link up yourself!