One Person’s Sickness is Another’s Cure

This picture has nothing to do with the devotional today. I couldn't
find one that fit but -- isn't she cute??? :)

Scripture:

^{1 Peter 2:24} He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Observation:

Peter continues to lay out the life of Christ, not only as an example, but also his role as our Redeemer. The work of Christ makes it possible for us to live as God’s holy people. We are a people who suffer with wounds from the lives we have lived, but it is the wounds of Christ that make our healing possible. 

Using the language of Isaiah 53:6 and John 10, we see the work of Christ as that of a shepherd and guardian. The word guardian is also “overseer” which is where we get the language of bishop. This is one who keeps watch over others. 

Application:

Yes, it is still the season of COVID19. Who thought it would last this long? By now we were supposed to getting back to our old routines and schedules but that just isn’t happening, and there’s no sign of it ending soon. There’s a lot of conversation about vaccines and whether they will help us return to life as we used to know it. This made me think about today’s passage. 

You and I are wounded people — we are ill because of the sickness of sin. This sin was in need of a cure, or a vaccine. The way that the COVID19 vaccines are being created is by using the virus itself, to heal humanity. Eventually we will need to be inoculated with a small strand of the virus that will make our bodies heal themselves by stimulating immunity. We have to get the virus from someone who was sick so that we can all be made well. 

The ultimate vaccination comes from Jesus Christ. We are all destined to die because of sin, but we can receive eternal healing because of the wounds of Jesus Christ. The ramifications of this good news ought to be making headlines around the world, because it’s better news than a vaccine. 

The cost of the cure was death. What a sacrifice! This is what Peter wants us to understand and to put into perspective. Thanks be to God, we can be healed.

Prayer:

Lord, there aren’t enough words to express gratitude for this incredible gift. Amen.