1 Peter 2:24 KJV
[24]“who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
The Jewish people did not crucify criminals but stoned them to death. The Romans were known for crucifixion. However, if the one crucified was a wicked individual, the Jews would hang their dead body on a tree until evening. That was a mark of shame and disgrace. When you think about our Lord dying on a tree, it gives us a greater perspective of the shame that He had to bear.
Think about it! His death gave us life! His suffering gave us salvation! His wounds gave us healing! The healing mentioned in our verse is not physical healing but spiritual healing. It has to do with the healing of the soul. The physical death of Jesus brings spiritual life to those who place their trust in Him. The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I am so glad He did not stay dead but arose from the grave!
Consider the stripes Jesus wore for you and me. These stripes remind us of the blood He shed. They also remind us of the pain He experienced and His love for sinners. Jesus wore every stripe for you and me. Each one bears a record of the great sacrifice and commitment He had to go to the cross.
These stripes were given to Him by sinners, seen by both God and man. They had a powerful effect on Heaven and Earth as they watched the soldiers place them upon His back. No doubt, Heaven was moved by the scourging of Jesus. One has to wonder if there was silence in eternity as they laid the stripes on the back of our Lord. Did the angelic host stand ready to respond if called upon? Did all of Hell celebrate as they beat upon His back? Did Satan smile as Jesus wore these stripes? Or did the blood flowing from His back send shock waves through the charred walls of Hell as a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins? Did Heaven stand in awe as Jesus shed His sinless and holy blood for the souls of men? We will have to wait until we get to Heaven to know the answers to these questions. One thing for sure is that we should never pass over this verse without thinking about the stripes that He wore for every one of us. We should thank God every day for the Christ of Calvary!