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Chapter One

By His stripes (literally "bruise"), we are healed

Introduction

It is a most appalling fact that few preachers preach at any depth on the terrible emotional bruising and dreadful mental pressures that Jesus suffered all His life, and during the anguish, torment, and horrors of Gethsemane, His Passion, and His descent into Hades. Peter majored on Christ’s descent into Hades in his first sermon on the day of Pentecost, and Paul and Peter did the same in their writings. Acts.2v24-31. Rom.10v7-9. Eph.4v7-11. 1Pet.3v18-20. 4v6. Can you remember, if, or when, you heard a sermon on how Jesus descended into Hades, and suffered its horrific birth pangs? This important “truth” has been held by the Church from the Day of Pentecost, and was taught by our Lord during His earthly and post-resurrection ministry to the Apostles and His Disciples. Matt 12v40, Luke 24v25-27. Tertullian, one of the early Church fathers stated that the belief that Jesus descended into Hades and preached there, had been held in the Church since the days of the apostles, his testimony is of great value since Tertullian censured anything that was new.

The Lord Jesus, repeatedly tried to teach His Apostles about His approaching death by crucifixion, and His descent into Hades and His Resurrection, during His earthly Ministry. However the Apostles repeatedly rejected this vital truth from the lips of our Lord, even after God the Father spoke to Peter, James and John, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and instructed them to listen to what Jesus was trying to tell them. Matt 17v5, 12v40, 16v21-23, Mark 9v31,32, Luke 18v31-34. Because of their repeated and determined refusal not to believe the vital truths about His rejection by Israel’s religious leaders, and His death and atonement, they were filled with fear and overwhelmed with grief and sorrow; when on the night of the Passover at the Last Supper, Jesus warned them again that He was about to be taken from them. John.14v1. Also, because of their rejection of the truth about His death, descent into Hades and Resurrection, they were unable to bear other vital truth that Jesus had wanted to teach them. John 16v12. He would have to withhold this truth from them until after His Resurrection, when the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, would make it known to them. John 14v26. 16v13.

Even after being with Jesus for 40 days during His Post Resurrection ministry, the minds of the apostles were still largely “blinded” to the truth regarding His death, descent into Hades and Resurrection, for they asked Jesus, “wilt Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel”? Acts.1v6. Jesus had warned the apostles about being influenced by the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees. Mt.16v6. They were, however, still “clinging,” like most of the people, to the false hope that the Messiah would deliver them from the Romans, and they were longing and expecting Jesus to do it. However, after ten days in the Upper Room with the other disciples, prolonged prayer and earnest seeking of God, and the ministration, and illumination of the Holy Spirit, Jn.14v26. 16v13., their attitudes were transformed and they became of “one accord,” Acts.1v14. 2v1., Greek, “homothumadon,” “same mind” 3661. On the Day of Pentecost Peter stands up and preaches the truths that he had previously vigorously rejected. His sermon in Acts.2v14-39., covers 26 verses, which are dedicated to the truth of our Saviour being crucified and suffering the “pangs of Hades,” in order to make Atonement for our sins, and procure our Salvation. The outflow of Christ’s glorious atoning death and victory was, that after His Resurrection and Ascension, on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples received “the Promise of the Father,” the Holy Spirit, and God gave spiritual gifts and ministries to men. Acts.2v16-21 with Eph.4v8.

Another reason why the Apostles failed to receive and believe the vital truths that Jesus told them was because they were carnal, Greek “sarkikos” 4559, 1Cor.3v1-4. The Lord Jesus had referred to the Apostles as spiritual “babes”, just as Paul also had referred to members of the Corinthian Church. Matt.11v25. Paul writes in 1Cor.3v1-4., v1 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. v2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. v3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? v4. For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (KJV) The Apostles, like members of the Corinthian Church, were manifesting disgraceful “envying, strife and divisions” amongst themselves. Even on the night of the Last Supper they were squabbling over which of them would be the first and greatest in the Kingdom of God. Luke.22v24. So the Lord Jesus washed their feet, and showed them by example, that the one who would be considered truly great among them, was the one who was the loving and humble servant of all. John.13v5, Lk.22v26. Acts.2v24.

Can you remember, if, or when, you heard a sermon on how Jesus descended into Hades, and suffered its horrific birth pangs? Acts.2v24. Once when I preached on Christ’s descent into Hades, a quite elderly lady refused to accept what I said about Jesus descending into Hades, even after I had read the Scriptures on the subject to her. She said that she had never heard her Pastor preach on it, so she could not accept that what the Scriptures and I said was true. Her Pastor later confirmed to her that Jesus did descend into Hades, and then she accepted it. This disastrous omission of one of the major truths connected with our salvation, is common and widespread in the Church. The full price for our salvation was paid for in Hades, and not just on the Cross. It was when the soul of Jesus was made “an offering for sin,” in Hades, and He was raised for our justification, that salvation was finally and completely won for us. Is.53v10. Rom.4v25.

Where does healing of the body and soul, and all the blessings of the new covenant come from? The Holy Scriptures make it quite clear; they all proceed, and are derived, from the perfect holy life, and the atoning death of our Lord Jesus. The following outstanding and inspiring hymn by Horatius Bonar, superbly proclaims, that all the forgiveness and blessings that we receive from God our heavenly Father, come to us because of the atoning death of our dear Lord Jesus, the sin-bearing Lamb of God. Jn.1v29,35,36. Acts.20v28. 1Pet.1v18,19. Rev.1v5. 5v6,12-14. 6v16,17. 7v9,15. 19v7-9. 21v9. 22v1-7. Christ’s death reveals to us the amazing grace and riches of God’s mercy, and His great love towards us. Eph.2v4-10. Through His great suffering and atoning death Jesus fulfilled all the redemptive types and prophecies in the Old Testament. Blessed be His Name!

v3. All the love of God is yonder,
Love beyond all thought and wonder,
Perfect love that casts out fear!
Strength, like dew, is here distilling,
Glorious life our souls is filling-
Life eternal only here!

v4. Here the living water welleth;
Here the Rock, now smitten, telleth
Of salvation freely given;
This the fount of love and pity,
This the pathway to the city,
This the very gate of heaven.

Vines Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words, states that 1Peter.2v24., “by His stripes we are healed,” is “not referring to Christ’s scourging.” He writes, “Stripe,” “molops,” 3468, "a bruise, a wound from a stripe," is used in 1Pet.2v24. (from the Septuagint. of Isa.53v5.), lit., in the original, "by whose bruise," not referring to Christ's scourging, but figurative of the stroke of divine judgment administered vicariously to Him on the cross.” End of Quote. Vine is stating the absolute truth when he writes that 1Pet.2v24. is speaking of the whole vicarious atonement of Jesus, for healing of our body, soul and spirit, spring from Christ’s atonement, and the precious shed blood of His cross. Jesus was aggressively and viciously tested, tempted and tried throughout all of His life by Satan, evil men and circumstances, but in spite of all this evil pressure against Him, He lived a perfect sinless life. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin, the sinless Lamb of God. It is not the scourging of Jesus, but the precious atoning blood of Jesus that brings us healing of body, soul, and spirit to us.

In Is.53v5. “And with His stripes,” the word used for “stripes,” in the Hebrew, is “chaburah,” Strong 2250. It is in the singular, and it literally means, “a bruise,” the result of a blow on the skin. As we have already seen, “stripes,” in 1Peter.2v24., is “molopi,” Strong 3468. It likewise is in the singular, “a bruise,” this reveals to us that the body, soul, and spirit of Jesus was one massive and terrible bruise. He voluntarily suffered being beaten black and blue in body, soul, and spirit, for us.

Barnes writes about “chaburah.” “It is not a flesh wound; it does not draw blood; but the blood and other humours are collected under the skin.” End of quote. The scourging Jesus received, mangled His flesh, and produced many dozens of deep bleeding wounds in His flesh, terrible wounds that even reached and exposed Christ’s bones. So we can see that Is.53v5. is speaking of something more than this scourging. The inner bruising that the kind and gentle soul of Jesus suffered during this dreadful beating, was even worse than the mangling of His flesh. He was despised and rejected by those He came to save, the inner bruising and pain of this was immense. See Lk.19v41-44.

N.B.1. The incalculable bruising that occurred when the eternal God the Word became flesh.
When the eternal God the Word became man, it was a sacrificial act beyond compare, it was so great that the heavenly hosts, bursting with love and admiration, had to come and tell the shepherds about it. The omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and unlimited unchangeable eternal God the Word, who knew none of the constraints of time and space, emptied Himself of all these attributes and abilities and became a little baby, with all the huge limitations that this implies. We read in Phil.2v5-11., v5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: v6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: v7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (KJV) Before His incarnation Jesus was, “in the form of God,” “en” 1722, “morphe” 3444, “Theou” 2316. By the use of “morphe,” Paul proclaims that Jesus possessed the essential and exclusive attributes of absolute Deity. Jesus laid all this glory and power aside and took upon Himself our humanity. See “The Glory and Victory of our Lord’s Humanity,” on page 39. in the Conclusion.

In Phil.2v7., the King James Version, “But made himself of no reputation,” does not convey the sense of the original Greek, “alla 235, heauton 1438, ekenosen 2758.” “Ekenosen,” is the aorist active indicative of “kenoo,” 2758, which means literally, to empty, "to make empty, to make vain or void." It only occurs in the following places in the New Testament, it is translated as; "made void" in Rom.4v14., "made of none effect" in 1Cor.1v17., "make void" in 1Cor.9v15., and "should be vain" in 2Cor.9v3. Young translates Phil.2v7., “But did empty Himself,” others read, “But emptied Himself.”(NAS) (RSV) (ASV) v7. the Amplified reads, “But stripped Himself.” Jesus was truly emptied and stripped, and had to refill His mind with truth and wisdom, we read in Lk.2v40,52., v40. “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. v52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (KJV) This refilling with wisdom took 30 years, and Jesus started His ministry “full of grace and truth.” Jn.1v14. The courage and cost of the incarnation cannot be overestimated, it was truly immeasurable. “Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.” This was the first great bruising of Jesus. The cost was incalculable, but He did it out of pure love for us. Blessed! Blessed indeed, be His holy Name!!

N.B.2. Jesus bravely endured terrible bruising of His body, soul and spirit, for all of His life.
An examination of Is.53v5., shows that this bruising is referring to the whole of Christ’s life, and not just in His scourging and the events around His atoning death. In Is.53v4., the Hebrew word for the King James Version, “sorrows,” is “mak'ob” 4341, which can speak both of physical and mental pain. The commentary by the eminent Hebrew scholars Keil & Delitzsch on “mak'ob,” is very enlightening, it states, “He was [makª'obowt 4341) 'iysh 376)], a man of sorrow of heart in all its forms, i.e., a man whose chief distinction was, that His life was one of constant painful endurance.” End of quote. This comment on “mak'ob” reveals the enormous painful pressures that were inflicted on Jesus during the whole of His life.

In Is.53v5., “bruised,” is “daka” 1792, which means, “to be broken in pieces, to be utterly shattered and crushed” by calamities and trials. See Job.6v9. Ps.72v4. It speaks of the most severe inward and outward sufferings. In purchasing our redemption, Jesus was under such a weight of sorrows that He was broken in pieces, utterly shattered and crushed to the earth. Men said that Jesus suffered because of some great sin of His own, but they were dreadfully and totally wrong; God did not smite Him for His own sins, but for ours. We will consider the terrible lifelong bruising that Jesus endured at greater length later on.

The main emphasis in Is.53v5. and 1Pet.2v24. is on forgiveness of sin.
In both Is.53v5., and 1Pet.2v24., the context in each verse is about forgiveness of sins, and healing of the soul, not healing of the body. This can be seen by the following translations of these Scriptures.

Isa.53:5. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (KJV) (ASV)

1Pet.2v24. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (KJV)

1Pet.2v24. “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-- by whose stripes you were healed.” (NKJ)

In Is.53v4. God’s promise of healing is an emphatic “SURELY,” and “VERILY,” not a doubtful “maybe.”
Jesus informs us in the account of the healing of the paralysed man in Mt.9v1-8., Mk.2v1-12., and Lk.5v17-26., that healing of the body should be an expected attendant and result of healing of the soul and forgiveness. This is confirmed by Is.53v4., where God deals with healing of the body in an unambiguous and very direct and powerful way. In Is.53v4., “surely, “ is “aken,” a strong and forceful word, meaning truly, surely, indeed. God reveals the totally emphatic nature of His promise of physical healing. We know that healing of the soul is more important than healing of the body, but here God puts a “surely” on healing of the body, it appears that He knew how the Jews and the Church would neglect, and fail to take hold of this “charismata” of Divine grace. The translation by Keil & Delitzsch, give the true sense of Is.53v4. "VERILY He hath borne our diseases and our pains: He hath laden them upon Himself; but we regarded Him as one stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."

N.B. The Jews, like Job’s “friends,” mistakenly looked upon Jesus as “one stricken” (“naguwa” 5060), and “smitten” (“nakah” 5221), by God. They looked upon Christ’s sufferings as the punishment for His own sins. However, the truth was the very opposite of this. Jesus took upon Himself the fellowship of our sufferings, the sufferings, which we deserved to bare, and not only took them away, Mt.8v17., but carried them in Himself, in order that He might deliver us from them. When Jesus took upon Himself the suffering, which we would, or should bear, and endured it, with, and for us, in our place, this is called substitution. Jesus took upon Himself the sicknesses and sorrows of the world; and taking them upon Himself, He bore them away.

In Is.53v4., the word for “carried” in the King James Version, is the Hebrew, “cabal” 5445, which means to carry or bear a heavy burden, Jesus lifted and bore away the heavy burden of our mental and physical pain and sickness. Jesus not only took our physical diseases, and bore and carried them away, He also took and bore and carried away our mental pain and griefs.

The King James Version accurately translates Isaiah 53v4. in of Mt.8v17., it reads, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

The New American Standard Update reads, “This was to fulfil what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."

The Hebrew “choliy,” in Is.53v4., translated as “griefs” in the A.V., is accurately translated in Mt.8v17., as “astheneias” 769, that is “infirmities,” for “choliy” 2483, “means sickness, disease, and affliction, it does not refer to sins, but to physical suffering. Matthew uses the quote from Is.53v4., to prove that the healing ministry of Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. The Hebrew “nasa” 5375, "borne," or “took,” carries the double thought, that Jesus not only took our sicknesses on Himself, He also in doing so, took and carried them away. In Mt.8v17., Matthew translates, “mak'ob,” physical or mental pain, and sorrow, with the Greek “nosos” 3554, which means properly sickness, disease, and it is used in this way in Mt.4v23,24. 9v35., but it can also be used of the mental and physical pains, sorrows, and trials of life. Isaiah states that Jesus was afflicted for our physical and mental pains, and has taken them upon Himself, and carried them away, and through His atoning death, removed them from us.

Our Great High Priest subjected Himself to the most severe physical and mental pressure and pain for our sakes, not just to be a sympathetic Saviour, but a delivering Saviour as well. The emphatic nature of this promise of healing is confirmed by the word, “surely,” “aken” 403, which means, surely, truly, verily, indeed; it carries a strongly emphatic and assertive force. God Himself emphasises His promise of healing. He knew that this was absolutely necessary, for He knew that both the Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church, would neglect and frustrate His loving desires in respect of healing.

Some more striking revelations about salvation in Jesus, found in the rest of Isa.53v5. and 1Pet.2v24.
Isa.53:5. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (KJV) (ASV)

In Isaiah 53:5., “But he was wounded for our transgressions.” “Wounded,” is 2490 “chalal.” It literally means, to pierce, to bore through, to perforate, hence, to wound, even fatally. 1Sam.31v3. 1Chron.10v3. The word gives a prophetically accurate picture of the physical sufferings of Jesus, the promised Messiah, whose hands, feet, and side were pierced. Ps.22v16. This word speaks of a painful and lethal piercing and wounding of the body, and not just mental pain. It can also speak of the desecration and violation of a person.

In Is.53v5. “But he was wounded for our transgressions,” is a striking parallel to the passage in Rom.4v25. “Who was delivered for (“dia,” 1223) our offences.” See 2Cor.5v21. Heb.9v28. 1Pet.2v24. The Hebrew preposition “for,” “min,” 4480, is here equivalent to the Greek “dia,” 1223, which means “through,” or “on account of,” and denotes the real reason why Jesus suffered and died, it was our transgressions that killed Him, not the Jews, or the Romans.

In Isaiah 53:5., “the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.” “Chastisement,” is 4148, “muwcar,” which means, discipline, a chastening, correction. In the Greek Septuagint it is translated as, “paideia,” 3809, it literally means, as in Heb.12v5-11., the training of, and correction, by a parent of a child for their good. Jesus was not guilty of any sins to be punished for, but He took on Himself our chastisement by God the Father, so that we could be reconciled, and be at peace with God our Father. See Rom.5v1,2. Eph.2v14-17. The death of Jesus brought about the redemption of those, who in God’s amazing and wonderful foreknowledge, were to become His beloved children. Heb.2v14.

We read in Is.53v5. that Jesus came to heal our sin burdened, diseased souls. “We are healed,” literally means, “it is healed to us,” or “healing has happened to us.” “Healed,” is “rapha” 7495, it literally means, “to mend by stitching,” and figuratively to cure, to heal, to make healthful, it is used of both divine and medical healing, as well as the healing of national hurts, and personal distress. So we see that it means, to heal, to make healthful, both spiritually and physically. Ps.41v4. Is.53v4. Jer.8v22. The removal of our appalling and horrendous burden of sin is represented as an act of healing. David writes in Ps.41v4., “I said, O Lord, be merciful unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.” In Ps.103v3., David rejoices that the merciful grace of God heals both our souls and our bodies, “Who forgiveth all thine, iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”

We also read that God caused Jesus to experience sickness. In Is.53v10. “He has put Him to grief,” is literally, “He has made Him sick,” for “grief,” is the same Hebrew word, “choliy,” that is used in Is.53v4., “He has borne our griefs." “Choliy,” 2483, means, “sicknesses,” and is so translated in the Greek of Mt.8v16,17

Sin is a disease, which results in the death of our souls, and Jesus provided the cure for this disease by the sufferings He bravely endured. In Heb.12v2,3., “endured,” is “hupemeinen,” the aorist active indicative of “hupomeno” 5278. The sin of Adam brought sickness, disease and death to the human race. Our dear Lord Jesus purchased for us both forgiveness for our sins, and healing for our souls and bodies, by His atoning death. We were sick to death because of our sins, but Jesus, the sinless one, by His suffering and death, brought us both spiritual and physical healing.

“The joy that was set before Him,” Heb.12v2., was not the joy of receiving exalted position and honour in Heaven, but rather the joy of redeeming us, and bringing salvation and healing to us; it was the joy of opening Heaven to all who would believe in Him.

We read in 1Peter.2v24. that Jesus “bare our sins.” “Bare,” is the aorist active indicative of “anaphero,” 399, “to carry or bring up,” a common verb which is used for bringing a sacrifice to the altar. See Is.53v12. with Deut.21v23. Jesus was the perfect sin offering. Heb.9v28. 1Cor.11v24. See Heb.1v3., “when he had by Himself purged our sins.” Jesus did not make expiation for our sins by offering a sacrifice; He Himself was the sacrifice. Is.53v4,12. Jesus did not take upon Himself the sins of people so as to Himself become a sinner; He bore the judgement of God that our sins deserved. See 2Cor.5v21. Barnes states, “He was treated as if He had been a sinner, in order that we might be treated as if we had not sinned.”

“In His own body on the tree.” Though perfectly innocent, Jesus suffered the horrific sufferings of execution by crucifixion, just like a wicked criminal, in our place. “On the tree (“xulon,” literally means, "on the wood,” that is, the cross, which is translated as “tree” in Acts.5v30. 10v39. 13v29. and Gal.3v13.). In Gal.3v13., Paul quotes Deut.21v22,23., to show how Jesus suffered the penalty laid down by the Law.

“That we, being dead to sins, “hamartiais” 266. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus enables us to become dead to sin, and live to God. The phrase "being dead to sins," is, literally, "to be absent from sins." “That we might live unto righteousness, “dikaiosune” 1343.” Through the death and High Priestly ministry of Jesus we can actively and positively live a new and beautiful life with God and people. See Rom.6v1-23. N.B. v20.. and 1Pet.2v2,10. The atoning death of Jesus demands that we, “should live unto righteousness,” and enjoy the reality of a beautiful life lived in righteousness and holiness. See Rom.6v11. Gal.2v20.

The word Peter uses for "stripes," "molops," in 1Pet.2v24., is not used in the Scriptures to describe a scourging.
The word “plege,” 4127, a blow, stripe, wound, (akin to “plesso,” which was used to describe Paul’s scourgings, in Acts.16v23. 2Cor.6v5. 11v23-25., is not used by Peter here in 1Pet.2v24.. "Plege" it is translated as "stripes" in Lk.12v48., and if 1Pet.2v24. had been speaking of our Lord’s scourging, “plege” would have been one of the words to use. “Mastix,” 3148, is another word that is used for scourging, it literally meant, “a whip,” the terrible Roman whip for flogging criminals. See Acts.22v24. Heb.11v36. “Mastix,” is used figuratively of the scourges and plagues of sickness. Mk.3v10. 5v29,34. Lk.7v21. People can feel that they are under the whip, when they are scourged by sickness, and God feels their pain, and wants to deliver them.

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The Disastrous Effects Of The Doctrine Of Original Sin | By His Stripes We Are Healed | The Book Of Revelation | The Second Coming Of Christ | The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit | The Comforter Is Come