He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1Pe 2:24).1
“Next!” the priest shouts as a man hurries toward him, carrying an animal which will serve as his sacrifice. The animal is taken, cut, cleaned and prepared for the offering. The animal is then placed on the altar, and a familiar scent rises up toward the heavens. Once the sacrifice is complete, he wipes the sweat from his brow and begins the process again for the next person awaiting their turn to make an offering. Though these sacrifices would be “continually offered every year” (Heb 10:1), the people were no closer to satisfying God’s righteous requirements than they were the day before.
Thousands of years later, humanity is still plagued by sin. Our nature is to sin, and this causes a separation between us and God. As a result of our sin, we are sentenced to death – a physical death that brings an end to our life here on earth and a spiritual death requiring that our sins be forgiven. Thankfully, healing is available based on what we read in our great gospel text of 1 Peter 2:24.
The Doer – “He himself”
This gospel text begins with a double emphasis on the subject of the verse. “He himself” is the Lord Jesus Christ, the central character of the Bible. He is the Author of Life, the Creator, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Great Physician and our Great High Priest. Peter makes sure with these two simple words to emphasize that man has been excluded in the work of his own redemption.
The Deed – “bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness”
Similar to the priests who made sacrifices in accordance with the Mosaic Law, our Great High Priest made a sacrifice for sin. Unlike these priests, however, the Lord Jesus did not make an animal sacrifice at Calvary. Instead, the Lamb of God was both the Offerer and the Offering. He laid down His life on the cross, enduring unprecedented shame and suffering at the behest of the Father. In stark contrast to the parade of animals unknowingly and regularly entering the Temple, the Lord Jesus was a willing, once-for-all sacrifice for sins.
The Decree – “By his wounds you have been healed”
Peter’s quotation of Isaiah 53:5 brings out the glorious truth that salvation is made possible by Christ’s work at the cross of Calvary. It is through His wounds alone that we can be healed from the deserved punishment for our sin. Bancroft’s hymn brings forth this concept beautifully: “Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free; for God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.” The Just gave His life for the unjust “that he might bring us to God” (1Pe 3:18). Turn to the One who can heal you from the penalty of your sin and be saved today.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV.
