But He

Photo by Ricky Turner on Unsplash

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  

 Isa. 53:5 NIV

According to one website, the word "BUT" negates everything that comes before it, and signals that the most important part of a statement is about to be said.  It connects contrasting ideas, and highlights God's gracious and compassionate intervention in humankind.

In Isaiah 53, the word "But" leads out verse 5 in multiple translations, suggesting that the most important part of the passage comes next, and is both an indication of God's imminent grace and also His undoing of what came before.  

Following the "But," we have "He" - and that, we all know, is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was:

- pierced / wounded / pierced through

Why?

- for our transgressions / our rebellion / our sins / our rebellious deeds / our rebellious acts / our iniquities

Interestingly enough, every translation uses the pronoun "our."  Because the answer to why Jesus did this, is on account of us.  It's in obedience to the Father, and out of love for us.

The passage continues.  Jesus was:

- crushed / bruised / beaten

for:

- our iniquities / the evil we did / our sins  

and what He endured was the:

- punishment / chastisement / chastening 

that: 

- brought us peace / [made us] whole / [was] for our well-being / made us completely well / healed [us] / made us well / [was for] our welfare 

By His:

- wounds / whipping / stripes / scourging / punishment / blows / bruises 

*we,* as in you and me, and every person who has existed and will exist on this side of eternity, are:

- healed / [made] completely well / made whole 

And that is why it was a good, good Friday yesterday, and why I celebrate a good, good Father every day.