The Bible is unique. Though written over many generations by many different authors, there is one unified story. It’s the story of God’s work to save his people from their sin. How ready are you to explain this gospel to any who’d ask you ‘for a reason for the hope that is in you’ (1 Pet 3:15)?
Wondrously, because the Bible is a unified story there are numerous verses that act as glorious summaries of that good news and are enormously helpful in proclaiming that good news to others. One of those is Isaiah 53:5.
‘But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities’ – This was written 800 years before Christ’s birth, yet it could have been written by the apostles themselves. A man would act as a substitute. The painful reality that so many want to ignore is that we have all transgressed God’s holy law. We have sinned and are full of iniquity. We all deserve God’s holy justice.
But Jesus was pierced for us. He suffered on our behalf. It’s the tragic news of the gospel, that someone needed to die. It’s also joyous news, because Christ was willingly crushed for us.
‘Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.’ The good news of the gospel is not only that the punishment for sin has been borne by Christ, but also that through him we have incredible blessings. We now have peace with God; something that was impossible while we still carried our guilt. That rupture in the relationship has finally been healed because Christ suffered those wounds.
The good news of the gospel is simple: Christ died our death that we could have life with God. Who could you share that message with today?