THE SEVEN WOUNDS OF CHRIST

                      ~ BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED ~

                                        By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"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." (Isaiah 53:5)

 Healing Through the Blood of Jesus

The ancient prophet Isaiah set forth a graphic picture of the coming Jewish Messiah in the 53rd. chapter of the book we call 'The Gospel of the Old Testament.' "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." (Isaiah 53:5)

We can receive total healing through the wounds of Jesus Christ - According to the prophets, the Messiah would suffer, bleed and die for His people. He would be cut off in death, but rise again in power.  He would be wounded, bruised, chastised and striped in order to purchase our salvation and bring deliverance from sin, sickness and eternal death.

And St. Peter records the glorious results of Christ's terrible sufferings as our substitute. "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." (1 Peter 2:24)

THE SEVEN WOUNDS OF JESUS 

SPELL COMPLETE REDEMPTION

Jesus Christ received seven specific wounds in His body during His week of suffering and death. The number seven in biblical terms speaks of perfection and completeness. Wounds according to the dictionary are divisions of the soft part of the body by a mechanical force applied externally. They are classified as: contused, lacerated, penetrating, perforating and incised! Jesus Christ received each of these plus an additional two, by mutilation and falling.

1) THE CONTUSED WOUND  - produced by a sharp instrument. "They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." (Micah 5:1) St. Matthew wrote, "They smote Him with rods." (Matthew 26:67; John 18:22) (Newberry & Revised) "Then they did spit in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him with the palms of their hands." (Matthew 26:67)

Very definitely, Jesus suffered pain and humiliation as Roman soldiers beat Him about the face with their rods! Others, including the servants smote Him with their hands. The rod would cut into the flesh, leaving a contused wound.

2) THE LACERATED WOUND  - produced by a tearing instrument.

The Romans used the cruel cat-of-nine tails to scourge criminals. On the end of the whip were nine pieces of leather to which were attached sharp ivory or metal balls with protruding nails. As the whip was cracked, it would tear out pieces of the flesh. Jewish law demanded that not more than 40 lashes be administered, since often the victim would faint or even die during the scourging.

The Romans did not need to adhere to Jewish law. As a matter of fact, crucifixion was a Roman mode of execution! The Romans always scourged a condemned man before crucifying him. 

Some historians and Church Fathers believe that Jesus Christ may have received many more than 39 stripes.  The more punishment a prisoner took on the whipping pole, the shorter was the guard duty for the Roman Soldiers at the scene of execution.

Since the Jewish leadership had accused Him of perverting the people, the Romans certainly had no reason to "go easy" on Him! And no doubt the tough Roman soldiers would have been happy to see Jesus squirm and cry out - especially since he had refused to talk to the Governor!

We do know that St. Paul was whipped by the Jews on five separate occasions: "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." (2 Corinthians 13:24).  Paul was not a candidate for crucifixion, by the Romans. He was prosecuted under the jurisdiction of the Jewish hierarchy.

If Jesus received 39 stripes in Pilate's Judgement Hall, that would have inflicted a total of 351 gashes on His lacerated back. If He received more than 39 stripes, the gashes would have been more numerous.

CHRIST'S WOUNDS PURCHASED OUR HEALING:

SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL

The Old Testament prophet declared, "The ploughers ploughed upon My back. They made long furrows." (Psalms 129:3) Seven hundred and fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied concerning the Messiah, "I gave My back to the smiters" (Isaiah  50:6)

"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." (Isaiah 53:5) St. Matthew records, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him." (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1)

Prisoners who were scourged usually lost a lot of blood and sometimes fainted. Jesus suffered the agonizing and brutal scourging for us!

3) THE PENETRATING WOUND: a deep wound caused by a sharp, pointed instrument.

The crown of thorns that was pressed upon the head of Jesus caused such wounds. The Jerusalem thorn, known as the Arabian Nebulae, was 4 inches long and as sharp as a needle.  The cruel diadem containing over 100 spiculets, was driven into His head with blows from the rod.

The Bible scriptures record, "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews." (Matthew 27:29)

"Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" (John 19:5)

It was the Governor's intention to scourge Jesus and then release him.  He had hoped the pitiful sight of a weary, weak and bloodies man would satisfy their blood lust and evoke sympathy for the prisoner. Instead of being satisfied, they craved more blood, crying out "Away with Him, crucify Him, crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)

 THORNS SPEAK OF THE ORIGINAL CURSE! Thorns speak of the original curse, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;"  "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee..." (Geneses 3:17-18)

JESUS TOOK THE CURSE FOR US!

Jesus Christ  bore the penalty for our sins, transgressions, sicknesses, diseases and pains! St. Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)

In the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, Moses enumerates the blessings of keeping covenant with God. He also lists the curses! The curses include sickness, disease, insanity, torments, plagues, pestilence, famine and war. The Apostle to the Gentiles states unequivocally that, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." So we are free!

The Roman soldiers tried to drive Jesus insane by beating that crown of sharp Arabian Nebulae into His head. But He didn't lose His sanity but rather through this horrible experience purchased our peace and tranquility.

"And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself." (Colossians 1:20)

Because of the penetrating wounds He bore for us, WE HAVE PEACE!

4) THE PERFORATING WOUND:  From the Latin word; "to pierce through".

A Messianic psalm stated, "They pierced My hands and My feet" (Psalms 22:16) At the time of David's prophecy, he knew nothing of crucifixion, for the Hebrew method of capitol punishment was stoning!

The prophet Zechariah also foretold of the Messiah's death by crucifixion. "And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then shall He answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends." (Zechariah 13:6)

By the time Jesus was born, the Romans had conquered Palestine and crucifixion had become the mode of execution. The New Testament records: "And when they were come... to Calvary, there they crucified Jesus."  (Luke 23:33; John 19:16-18)

The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus Christ suffered the torments, agony, pain and death of the most horrible of all deaths - The Death of Crucifixion! He suffered for us. He bled for us. He died for us! And He arose again from the dead, for us!

5) THE INCISED WOUND: a cut produced by a sharp edged instrument:

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)

As the Sabbath was approaching the soldiers helped speed up the expiration of the victims by smashing their thigh bones, thus allowing asphyxiation. When the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he noticed that He was already dead. 

The soldier then went on to the thief on Jesus' other side and with his large axe, smashed the femur bone (thigh bone) causing a quicker death. In order to verify Jesus' death, the soldier then plunged his spear into the left side of Jesus!

This fulfilled the Scripture, "They shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10) So large was the wound that after the resurrection, Thomas "the doubter" was invited to thrust his hand into that wound.

"Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing."  (John 20:27)

St. John was standing near the cross and noticed blood and water coming out of His side.  The pericardium is a closed sac encasing the heart, lubricated by a small amount of fluid to facilitate the motion of the heart.

Mallory & Wright's pathological technique answers the question, "How could John have seen such a small amount of water flow out of the wound? The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is about a teaspoon, but it may be increased to 100 c.c. (24 teaspoonfuls) where death agony is prolonged."

Another miracle was that contrary to nature, blood flowed from a dead man, proving that the blood of Jesus did not die but is efficacious even today !

"There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emanuel's veins,

And sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty stains."

The blood and water which St. John saw coming out of the side of Christ may also have been the physiological aspect of death.

Medical science teaches that, "Blood in a cadaver readily separates into clear serum and red blood cells, thus certifying that the person is clinically dead." It could be that both of these things were happening at once. Either way, it proves that the death of Jesus was a reality and that there is life through His precious blood!

The Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins." (Leviticus 17:11,14); "It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." (Hebrews 9:22) "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)

THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, SHED FOR US ALL ON GOLGOTHA, HAS PURCHASED OUR SALVATION

I)  WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of His grace."(Ephesians 1:7)

(II) WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:18-19). "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."  (Acts 20:28)

(III)  WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)

(IV)  WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD

"And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood."  (Revelation 1:5)

(V)  WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans  5:9)

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare the righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"(Romans 3:24-25)

(VI)  WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"And having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to receive all things unto himself;" (Colossians 1:20)

(VII)  WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;" (Hebrews 10:19-20)

(VIII)  WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"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." (Isaiah 53:5)

"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." (1 Peter 2:24)

(IX)  WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11)

(X)  WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own blood, suffered without the gate."  (Hebrews 13:12)

(XI)  WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience (mind) from dead works, to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)

(XII)  WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD

"These are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them..."

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  (Revelation 7:14-17)

6) WOUNDS BY MUTILATION  - the plucking out of His beard.

"I gave My cheeks to them that plucked out the hair." (Isaiah 50:6)

Not only did they slap and spit upon His face but they yanked out His beard causing the wounds of mutilation. Can you imagine the awful pain, as cruel Roman soldiers pulled out His beard! The blood flowed down upon Christ's chest as cruel tormentors mutilated His face by tearing out handfuls of His beard.

He did it for us, because by "His Sore" (original Hebrew) we are healed! He was "one sore" from head to toe, by the time He had undergone the full mistreatment which the Roman soldiers heaped upon Him! He suffered more than any man and He did it all for us - to purchase our salvation.

7) WOUNDS BY FALLING:

They laid the rugged cross upon His lacerated, bleeding back and forced Jesus to carry His own cross, as was the custom for condemned criminals. Due to loss of blood because of the scourging, He was unable to do so. As He stumbled and fell, His body received more bruises and sores, and He suffered more pain, for us.

Historians claim, that after His striping in Pilate's Judgment Hall, Jesus was subjected to a heavy wooden cross laid upon His raw, bleeding back. Apparently, the cross bar was tied to His wrists. When He stumbled and fell, He had no way to protect Himself, so His body was further bruised and battered! And Roman soldiers then forced a stranger, Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross up Calvary's hill.

"And He bearing His cross went forth to the place of a skull..." (John 19:17) "And as they led Him away they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus." (Luke 23:26) 

"And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear His cross."  (Mark 15:21) St Paul also refers to Rufus, undoubtedly Simon the Cyrenians' son: "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine." (Romans 16: 13)

Apparently, that event caused such an impact upon the Cyrenian that he became a convert to Christ. And his two sons also became missionaries for Christ and preached His Gospel after His resurrection.

CHRIST WAS WOUNDED FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH SEVEN WOUNDS IN ORDER TO BRING US HEALING!

And St. Matthew stated, "When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick:"

"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Easias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)

"It is no wonder, St. Thomas, upon his encounter with the risen Christ declared, "My Lord and my God." (John 20: 28)

MAY THE RISEN CHRIST BLESS AND HEAL YOU AS YOU APPROPRIATE HIS PROMISES FOR YOURSELF.

I pray you will receive total healing through the wounds and blood that Jesus Christ shed for you. Amen.