ONE afternoon a class of young girls was gathering in a little cottage for Bible study. One girl had been learning during the week the words of Isa. 53, and as she was walking along toward the cottage she repeated the verses to herself. They merely sounded to her like a lovely song or a pleasant voice—she had not yet understood the meaning of being healed by His stripes.
After prayer, with which the class always began, Mary stood to repeat her chapter. She said the first four verses, but when she reached the fifth verse, 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, tears filled her eyes. Before reaching the end of the verse her head sank down and her tears fell on the open Bible before her as she cried: "It was for me—it was for me!"
The intense solemnity of the moment held the teacher silent. Then as Mary's tears still fell, the older woman said: "Let us thank Him, my dear, that it was for you."
They knelt down, and after the teacher had thanked the Lord for opening the eyes of the girl to see Jesus as her substitute, the tears were dried and Mary whispered, "Lord Jesus, thank You for dying for me and for taking my punishment." Then the quiet calm of being accepted by God filled her heart, and she had peace with God.
Have you ever experienced the joy of knowing that He was wounded for your transgressions, that He was bruised for your iniquities, that the punishment of your peace was upon Him? If not, you are outside in the darkness of unbelief and death. Until you accept the love of a living, loving Savior and see Him as your sin-bearer, there is no peace, no life, no joy for you.
Oh, believe this love that is yearning over you. It is stronger than death, and is as infinite as God Himself.