Christ, the life of all the living,
Christ, the death of death, our foe,
Who, Thyself for me once giving
To the darkest depths of woe:
Through Thy suff’rings, death, and merit
I eternal life inherit.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
(LSB 420 st. 1)
“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 53:5
“Don’t worry about it.” “It’s ok.” God never says these words. There is no cheap forgiveness with God. He doesn’t ignore our sin or simply brush it off and move on. He wants a restored relationship with us. Cheap forgiveness can look like a restored relationship, but there is always distance, a separation. Something must be done to bring two people back together.
While we rightfully should be punished for our sin, instead Jesus was pierced, crushed, chastised, and wounded. His suffering and death paid the price of our costly forgiveness. Jesus restores our relationship with God, bridging all separation. God’s reconciliation, which is costly, reunites warring parties as the relationship is made right. When others wrong us, we can forgive because Jesus paid the cost. When we sin against God, He forgives because Jesus paid the cost. God’s Word spoken through pastors is never cheap or easy. Jesus bled and died so that we may hear the words: “I forgive you.”
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to die in order that we may live. Heal us by His wounds and give us peace by His chastisement, that we may forgive others as You have forgiven us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Keith Kettner Sem. IV)