BLACK and BLUE
Beauty in a Bruise
There was a bruise on my arm. A black and blue spot. I had no idea why it appeared. However, it made me think about bruises.
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.
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
Isaiah prophesied that a suffering servant would be bruised. Almost 500 years later, Jesus was bruised.
A bruise is caused by an act that ruptures blood vessels underneath the skin. Jesus was bruised for our iniquities. Iniquity refers to our sinful nature. Jesus experienced internal injury for our internal sinfulness. Welts appeared as blood collected under His skin because of blows to His body. Bruises caused Jesus inward crushing and outward suffering.
Jesus was bruised for our iniquities – our sinful nature. We deserved the bruises – Jesus did not. Jesus suffered so we do not have to suffer. The blows inflicted upon Jesus did not puncture His skin, but the actions of those inflicting the blows penetrated His heart with sorrow. Jesus hurt – physically, emotionally, spiritually.
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly,
and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Luke 22:44 NIV
Before Jesus was arrested and beaten, He prayed. Jesus prayed earnestly! I have heard it said that Jesus was suffering such grief and agony that internally His blood vessels may have burst while He was praying. Internal bleeding causes bruising. Could some of Jesus’ bruises occurred while He was intently praying?
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
Isaiah 42:3 NIV
Isaiah foretold another prophetic word about bruises. Again, there was reference to Jesus. This time Jesus was not bruised. Instead, He was the one who would not harm a bruised reed. We are the bruised reeds. Because Jesus was bruised, He understands the pain of our bruises.
“Reeds” refer to the canes that grow in marshes. A reed denotes what is fragile or weak. Symbolically, a bruised reed is someone who has been hurt by sin. Reeds in marshland sway with gusts of wind. Wind storms cause reeds to wave while spiritual storms can cause our faith to waver.
A bruised reed alludes to what is broken or crushed, but not entirely broken off. Our sinful nature causes most of our bruises. Doubts and fears weaken our faith. Calamities and afflictions result in our being banged up with bruises. We become fragile and feeble.
Jesus knows our sins and sorrows, but He will not break us. He never lays His hand harshly upon us. His gentle touch extends healing and peace. Psalm 51:17 says that God does not despise a broken and contrite heart. According to Psalm 34:18, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Jesus is like a soothing balm that heals the brokenhearted. We are anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual, There is a Balm in Gilead, comes to my mind. The refrain begins, “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.” The first verse declares, “Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.”
There are times when we as believers may feel like wavering reeds being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. We may be shaken by Satan’s temptations. Doubts and fears may cause our faith to sway. We may feel like a bruised reed almost broken in pieces. Our hearts may feel hopeless. We may feel worthless because of our wounded spirits.
BUT, Jesus will not break us. He was bruised for our bruises. There is beauty in knowing this.
An Apple of Gold 