For days I was in intense throbbing pain from multiple huge bruises which covered my entire body. Oh, what misery those bruises caused me!
The truth is, while standing on our pontoon boat, I took a torpedoing dive onto a five-foot aluminum swimming ladder, landing on its rungs with my whole body with intense force, as the result of our pontoon coming to a sudden halt after going full speed ahead.
Needless, to say, I myself continued to go full speed ahead. I didn’t even have time to brace myself or anything.
There it was… our long swim ladder placed between the two front seats of the pontoon…not able to give an inch as I hit it full-on!
Bruised from falling on the ladder.
Talk about pain! Both legs were bruised in a striped pattern matching the rungs of the ladder. I may have received laughing and mocking from the people who saw my two legs striped, but it was no laughing matter to me!
I was in such intense pain! For I hurt internally!
While recovering from my little accident, I was reminded of a scripture that says, Christ was “bruised” for “our iniquities.” I looked it up and found it in Isaiah 53:5.
Then I looked up “bruised” and this definition was revealed: “crushed inward which causes outward suffering” and I thought… Wow, I no longer need to “imagine” that suffering… and the intense pain! I was feeling it!
Mind you… It did not appear to be so bad, to the others on the boat… this intense pain I was experiencing… for nothing was appearing outwardly right away. My pain was only felt by me! No one could empathize with me because the suffering was internal…
I was hurting so badly, inwardly, yet the bruising later was the after-effect of being crushed inwardly.
I, the one who received the bruising, was the only one who really could experience the pain associated with the bruising, but it definitely did eventually show in the outward manifestation of the bruises.
In the same way, Jesus, our Lord, was the only one who experienced this intense pain inwardly which was displayed in bruises outwardly…during the redemptive process… but it was FOR US.
Thus, I want to encourage you all, to realize this truth:
Iniquity is making excuse for known sin and refusing to turn. Iniquity was what Adam displayed when he blamed Eve for his choice. Iniquity was Jonah running from his calling in the opposite direction, refusing to turn, until he was swallowed by the big fish, and came to his senses.
Iniquity is what you and I exhibit when we come under conviction of the Holy Spirit that something is sin, but we justify our behavior or actions, and refuse to turn. This then adds iniquity to our transgression and sin.
Sin is the committing of the action, whereas iniquity is the attitude of resistance to the Lord. It is willful continuance in a known sin. Many so-called believers are walking in iniquity; but we don’t need to, for Christ was bruised to take it from us.
Christ Jesus was crushed inwardly… and bruised then outwardly… so when we turn toward Him, we can now be free of iniquity and our sins can be forgiven. It was “our resistance to him” that bruised Him, so they can now be removed from us. He paid the price! Our iniquities brought him so much pain…and perhaps they still do.
There is nothing like “hurting from your own bruising” – as I did from my accident – to realize just how much Jesus suffered for us all. Pain and agony resulted from his bruising, just like I experienced suffering from mine. But my suffering is no comparison… I know. It just got the point across, is all.
Although I suffered, it is so wonderful to know, from my little personal object lesson, that though we can’t see it, bruising takes place from being crushed within, and somehow, today, I wonder if Christ continues to be bruised by watching us make our excuses for sin.
I personally am going to resolve to become more mindful and aware that I need to agree with the Spirit when he faithfully convicts me of sin, and realize there is no fear to repentance, but rather a new beginning.
There is a sobering passage in Matthew 7:23 which says this:
“And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: Depart from me, you that work iniquity.”
These are those who believe they are saved… and they say, “Have we not prophesied in your name? and cast out demons? and performed wonders?” But, Jesus says, I never knew you.
Why? Because they refused to repent of those things shown to them by the Spirit, even while doing the works of the kingdom.
Therefore, Jesus is bruised!… To free us from iniquity and “our attitudes of resistance” toward Him! So, we could have a close relationship with him…and to really “know” Him.
He was bruised for our iniquity. What pain he bore! For you and I…so we can be free to love Him and receive His continued love toward us.
Do you know that in the Old Testament a man had to be spoken to by a dumb ass because of his iniquity? God had this animal speak in a human voice! Wow, just wow!
This is how much God hates our iniquity! … And wants to turn us around!
Let’s look at what II Peter 2:15-16 tells us about Balaam in the New Testament. It is this passage that warns us:
“…which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”
The account is found in Numbers 22: 21-35. Balaam and his ass had a little conversation together, and then his eyes were opened to the fact that the angel of the Lord was standing there and going to slay him, had she not turned him away. Balaam responded then (verse 34)
“I have sinned; for I knew not thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.”
Perhaps this is where the modern name-calling a person a “dumb ass” originated. I don’t know… But that sure puts a new meaning on that term. The bible literally says dumb ass, yes, yet uses the descriptor dumb as “having no ability to speak”, as it refers to the ass. My own curiosity caused me to research our modern definition, and dumb ass means “stubbornly stupid”. I couldn’t help but think…this is, indeed, what iniquity makes us: stubbornly stupid. This passage of scripture says the ass forbad Balaam’s madness, and II Peter says he was rebuked for his iniquity. Oh, the wisdom of the Bible, to attach this particular creature with iniquity’s warning.
I guess I wouldn’t “take back” my terrible fall onto that ladder…for I am more mindful now of my own iniquity, and the pain it caused, and may still cause the Lord.
I’m sharing this because… Many believers don’t think about this aspect of our redemption. Nor about how our excuses for sin had to be taken care of by Christ too, as part of the atonement. He’s done everything, to free us from EVERYTHING!
So please, realize that HE WAS BRUISED so that you need not make excuses and justify your sin.
You are FREE to repent and to turn, for Jesus has already suffered inwardly enough.
Job 22:23 says:
“If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tents.”
You will be received and forgiven when you own up to your sins, remove iniquity from your dwelling places, and live for Christ.
He was bruised… so you and I could put away iniquity.
Let’s do it! Christ has already suffered FOR US!
He was Bruised, so we could put our iniquity away!
My prayer is that you will take a moment to consider those areas in your own life where “iniquity” (resistance to God in an area) exists. Realize it is bruising the Lord, causing him pain inwardly. If Hebrews 6:5 warns us that we can crucify him afresh… I’m sure we can “bruise him” afresh too. Let’s not do that!!!
Repent, and turn, and give the Lord the opportunity to rejoice that his bruises were not suffered in vain but have restored you to himself.
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As I close this chapter, I want to share the passage of Isaiah 53 with you. It is this chapter of the bible that makes mention of the Lord Jesus being bruised for our iniquities. It also mentions so many other marvelous things about The Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When you click this link, and press play, I’d like to suggest you just close your eyes and let me read this passage to you. I promise you, it will minister to your heart, to quiet yourself for a few minutes to focus on Jesus in this way. I’m sure this was the Spirit’s purpose in leading me to record it…so listen to the end! You can always read the passage after you listen to it.
Receive the amazing revelation the hearing of this passage gives!
Here is the link: