Pearls of Great Value

It was 39 stripes, one short of 40. One short of death. 39 stripes by a whip called the cat of nine tails, each tail ending with barbs to cut the flesh. 39 stripes to try and appease the Jewish crowd shouting, "Crucify, crucify Him!” Yet it didn’t appease the blood thirsty mob and they shouted all the more. 39 stripes, His back bloody and shredded when they were done. 39 stripes. One short of death because they wanted to keep Him alive.

Alive enough to feel the jeers and taunting of the soldiers. To feel the ridiculing words mocking Him, “He saved others, but cannot help himself!” Alive to feel, as they shamefully treated and spit upon on His holy face. As they blinded Him, as they started beating him and tauntingly kept asking, “Prophecy! Who hit you?” Alive to feel the contempt.

Alive enough to see them twisting together a crown of thorns. Alive enough to feel the pain as they pressed the thorns upon his head, piercing his skin, the blood flowing down.

Alive enough to feel the weight of the heavy cross as he carried it up to Calvary. Alive enough to feel the roughness of the wood, abrasive to His wounded back. Alive enough to feel the nails as they pounded Him unto the cross, His blood freely falling down upon a dusty ground.

And all the while, they mocked Him. Their words taunting. Those passing by yelling insults. Shaking their heads and accusing the One who was to die for them. The unholy dishonoring the Holy. He heard it all. Yet still He cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

He felt it all that day. He felt the pain of every sickness and disease. He felt the shame and condemnation. He felt the hurt of loss, the sorrow of losing a loved one. He felt the darkness of depression upon Him, the burden of anxiety. The weight of wrongdoings, of every sin. He took it all. From the beginning of the world until the end, every single thing that caused death and destruction, that caused brokenness and sorrow, He took it all. Whipped to the point that He couldn’t be recognized. The punishment for sin was cast upon Him. He who knew no sin becoming sin. (2Cor 5:21) His body broken so that we could be made whole. Surely, He has borne our griefs( sickness, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains(of punishment) Isaiah 53:4 AMPC.

His suffering and death more than gave us entry into eternal life, He redeemed all that which was lost. He redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming cursed so that we would be blessed. God had sent His son to heal us, save us, make us whole, redeeming our life from the pit of hell. And Jesus did. He went to the cross. He suffered and He died. To the outsider, the innocent bystander, all looked lost that Friday. But God wasn’t done yet. Sunday was coming. And Jesus will rise! Resurrection. New life and new beginnings. Eternity now could live inside of man. Because He died, we are free from our past, free from sin, guilt and condemnation. Because He defeated death and lived, we can face tomorrow in hope, in faith, and in peace. Body, soul, and spirit. Complete victory.

I love these words in the song, "It is finished,” sung by Cityalight:

How I love the voice of Jesus

On the cross of Calvary

He declares his work is finished

He has spoken this hope to me

Though the sun had ceased its shining

Though the war appeared as lost

Christ triumphed over evil

It was finished upon the cross.

Now the curse it has been broken

Jesus paid the price for me

Full, the pardon he has offered

Great the welcome that I receive

Boldly I approach my Father

Clothed in Jesus righteousness

There is no more guilt to carry

It was finished upon that cross.

Free from every plan of darkness

Free to live and free to love

Death is dead and Christ is risen

It was finished upon that cross

You know, Jesus could have said, Enough! He could have stopped it all with just a word. But for the joy that was set before Him, Christ endured. Because Sunday was in sight, Christ endured. Because He saw His bride, in radiant white, Christ endured. He came to give life, and to give it abundantly and generously, and so He endured, completing the work that the Father has set out for Him. I am so glad that He didn’t give up!

He was cursed, in exchange, we were blessed. He was stricken and whipped, so that by His stripes we could be healed. He was rich but for our sakes became poor so that by His poverty, we could become rich. The great exchange! It was the epitome of redeeming love: to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price; to recover ownership of by paying a specific sum. His life for mine. Oh, what He has done! On the cross Jesus exchanged places with us. He has paid for you and me. It is finished, it is finished! These words of Jesus on the cross just before He gave up his spirit: it is finished! This word is a business term, here Jesus was declaring a finalized transaction. He paid it all. Why? Because He loves you. He loves you and wants you to be with Him, now and for all eternity. And so, He paid it all. It is finished!

Next time, your enemy comes to accuse you, to afflict you, to torment you, try to remind yourself of the victory of the cross. Try and say, "It is finished, He has accomplished my victory! I don’t have to carry this burden on my own, for Jesus bore it all for me on the cross!” Try and say, “I am redeemed! I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb! I am free from fear and doubt, free from the curse of sickness and disease. Free. I’m no longer cursed or under the curse. I am under the Lord’s favor and I am blessed in Jesus. I am redeemed!”

See on the Hill of Calvary,

My Savior bled for me

My Jesus set me free

And look at the wounds that gave me life

Grace flowing from His side

There is no greater sacrifice!

Chorus:

What He’s done, What He’s done!

All the glory and the honor to the Son

My sins are forgiven, my future is heaven

I praise God for what He’s done!

Sing for the freedom He has won

Even death is dead and done

His life has overcome

Speak, and say the name above all Names

Over every broken place

He is risen from the grave

Now on the throne of majesty

The Fathers will complete

He reigns in victory

Sing hallelujah to the king

He is worthy to receive

All the worship we can bring

                     Song: What He’s done. By Passion