Contradiction in Terms

The following verse of scripture rates up there with Jeremiah 29:11-13 as one of my very favorites:

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)
But 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.

Here's the New Living Translation:

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

I'm sure all of you have noticed that so many times the Bible seems to be a contradiction in terms. I wasn't sure if that was exactly the "term" that I wanted to use...but when I looked up the definition...here's what I found:

A phrase or expression in which the component words contradict one another, often unintentionally, or are claimed to do so when seen from a particular point of view.

If you aren't a Christian....or you haven't been in a lot of Sunday school classes, or heard a lot of sermons....or studied the Bible very much on your own....then....the Bible just might be very confusing to understand....and let me tell you right now, there are parts that I, even today, can't quite grasp!!!

For some....Isaiah 53:5 might not make a lot of sense....because it seems to be a contradiction in terms because some of the words seem to contradict one another....but they are definitely trying to get a point across!!! To those of us who have accepted Jesus as Savior of our lives....then, we are able to understand that:

He was "wounded" for our sins....He took our sins upon Himself and took them to the cross for us...so that we wouldn't have to pay for them ourselves.

He was beaten....so that we could be whole. That makes chills run over me to even type those words. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition.....so that I could be made whole and be given the "future and hope" that Jeremiah 29:11 speaks about!!!

He was whipped....so that we could be healed. Again, Jesus as a man experienced the most horrendous death that anyone could go thru...being hung on a cross with nails driven into his feet and into his hands, ripping His flesh. Prior to being nailed to the cross, He was whipped, His flesh torn from his bones, and He was hung naked on the cross, another terrible sign of disrespect. And...He did this willingly....so that I could be healed....so that I could be set free....so that I wouldn't have to suffer the death that I so deserved!!!!

Take the time to study scripture....if you don't fully understand the KJV....find a translation that makes more sense to you....a lot of people like the NIV....I get more understanding from the New Living Translation. Find a good parallel Bible that has several translations on one page. (Guideposts has a very good one!!!)

Do whatever it takes to make it mean more to you in your study....and especially in your walk with the Lord!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!