Thursday, March 27, 2014

Restored And Reborn By His Wounds

"Surely He has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we counted him stricken,
struck down by God and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities,
upon Him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises (wounds) we are healed."
Isaiah 53:4,5 (NRSV)

Wounded.  Jesus was wounded and crushed for our sins and diseases.  He suffered beyond what we could ever imagine or comprehend.  Physically he was beaten, whipped, and killed.  Emotionally he was betrayed by one of His own, denied by another, and abandoned by the fearful.  He suffered and died for the world....the weary....the wounded.

The woman kept to herself, filled with shame and guilt over her past.  Alcoholism consumed her life for so many years, more important in the moment than anyone or anything.  Her body hungering for the liquid more than breath itself.  She lived wounded by disease and addiction.  Weary and broken, soaked in the stench of alcohol, shame and loss.  The loss of her dignity and her dreams, the loss of her child, and any fragment of hope for a future free of the chains that bound her.  And the shame that covered her like a thick fog permeated everything, a heavy burden to carry.

And then one cloudless day, after many blurry years of hopelessness, courage rose to the surface like long forgotten sunken treasure.  Courage to stop the insanity.  After many attempts, the desire for sobriety took hold deep inside and the days turned into months and the body's cravings became quieter and the desire to be sober and free grew louder until they vibrated into a new song.......a harmony of healing and of new birth. 

Restoration of a wounded soul merged with reconciliation of another and relationships were renewed and reborn.  Forgiveness began to take root, and dignity returned.  Yet shame kept her from the foot of the cross.  The cross where Jesus understood wounds and suffering.  The woman wondered how she could be forgiven by God when she could not forget the cost nor forgive herself.  But Jesus died for the wounds she suffered and those she inflicted.  He would not leave her where he found her, because He died to set her free.  By His own wounds. 

He began to bring into her the truth of the Living Word, nourishing the heart and transforming the mind with His love and the love of others.  Self-forgiveness eventually came with understanding and love.  Life took on a freshness, and joy came on morning wings.

The broken woman had walked wounded for so long.   Until Jesus.  Jesus, by His wounds healed hers.  When years later the pastor spoke the words "ashes to ashes" over her grave, family and friends gathered in numbers to remember with sorrow and joy, a life restored.  By His wounds.
                                                      ~~

I am linking up today with Bonnie over at Faith Barista Jam where today's prompt is the word "wounded".  I write this with love and remembrance for a courageous woman who's birthday is being celebrated in Heaven once again this year thanks to Jesus.

8 comments:

Lisa notes... said...

So many different kinds of wounds we can have as we walk through this life, but Jesus knows how to heal them all. A beautiful story you tell of the woman being healed from her wounds. We could all substitute ourselves in the story with a few change of details here and there. So thankful for our healing!

HisFireFly said...

many sources of wounding
only One source of true healing

may His name be ever praised!

Trudy said...

"He would not leave her where he found her, because He died to set her free. By His own wounds." He would not leave her! He sees us. He knows. Thank you, Renee, for this message of hope and promise in such a precious love.

Debbie said...

Love this...so beautiful how God works.

Kim said...

Renee, I have been meditating on this very same verse! Incredible. This story is something only God can write, and I see myself in this woman's story, too. As I was reading Isaiah 53:5 this morning, I realized that by His wounds I've been healed of more than I realized - I'm healed of my tendency to operate out of fear. I'm healed of the insecurities that plague me. I'm healed of the sins I fall into over and over again by not taking risks for God, because I desire financial stability. I'm healed of ALL of these things that keep me in the pit, and I don't have to let them have power over me again. Isn't it amazing... by His wounds (which I don't like to think about OR skim over way too casually) we are healed of ALL of this stuff! God is so good. I think I will never grasp the enormity of who He is and what He's done. Thank you for sharing.

~ Dorothy said...

Such beautiful words to remind me that my wounds have been borne by Jesus.
Thank you.
~ Blessings, Dorothy

Michelle V. said...

Beautiful story of redemption...so thankful for His healing! Thank you for sharing!

Mandy said...

Restoration, so beautiful! Thanks for sharing this story of grace, healing, and redemption.