The Oldest Trick in the Book
READ: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Jon stood by the oak tree on a summer day and began to think. Just a few days earlier they had buried Scruffy. How he loved that ugly mutt and he knew Scruffy loved him, even though Jon had dropped him once when he was a puppy, sometimes forgot to feed him, and sometimes yelled at him. Scruffy was always there to lick his face when he was sad.
On a much higher level, Jesus was a little like Scruffy. Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” Jesus bore all of our sins; much like Scruffy bore all of the things Jon did to him, without complaint. In Isaiah 53:5 we are told, “We are healed.” Our sins are healed by Jesus bearing them, just like Jon’s wounds of sadness were healed by Scruffy licking his face and comforting him.
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.” Jesus forgives our sins without complaint and will always forgive them, no matter how terrible the sins are.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: What are some sins you have committed lately that Jesus bore for you? How can you avoid temptation to commit that sin again? What are some ways you can help a friend avoid temptation?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to forgive a sin you have committed. Ask God to bring a friend to repentance for a sin they have committed. Thank God for sending Jesus to forgive our sins.