JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Isaiah 53:4 and 5.

This is a prophecy about Jesus, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed.”

This prophecy came to light at the cross, where Jesus died for our sins. At the time this prophecy was written, crucifixion had not been invented. Yet, the prophet wrote about the way Jesus would be pierced for our transgressions.

The cross was the place of the great exchange, where the Savior suffered for our sins so that we could be forgiven by God and restored to a peaceful relationship with God. Our ultimate healing flows from the blood of Jesus shed at the cross.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remember the price that was paid for our redemption in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason To Believe is the details of Isaiah 53.

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah wrote specific details that would be fulfilled in Jesus’ life.

Verse 3 points out that He would be despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.
Verse 5 says He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities.

Verse 9 says that He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in His death.

Verse 11 says “after the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.”

Verse 11 also says “By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many.”

In Isaiah 53, we see references to Jesus rejection, His crucifixion, resurrection, and His qualification to release us from the guilt of our sins.

The details of Isaiah 53 concerning Jesus are reasons to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com