The ancient people of Israel and Judah looked forward to Messiah coming to save them. While they looked forward to being rescued from their Babylonian and Assyrian foes, they longed for Messiah to free them from their burden of sin, to be reconciled to and have peace with God, both in this life and the next.

Here is one of Isaiah’s prophesies that gave the ancients hope:

⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:4-5, English Standard Version)

And that hope is for us in our day as well.

Stop to ponder this thought – we can have peace with the God of the universe!

Messiah willingly took on our sins and paid the ultimate price – His life for ours.
And out of this exchange, we are reconciled with God, and have spiritual healing and peace with God.

Yes, our physical bodies grow old and we will eventually die, but our inner selves, our spiritual beings, are healed from the fatal disease of sin through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Jesus conquered death and the grave, and lives eternally.

And He offers the same to us.

Now that is an offer we can trust, look forward to, and hope in.

Forever grateful for His sacrifice,
~kevin