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THE SEVEN
WOUNDS
OF
JESUS CHRIST
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
THE
SEVEN WOUNDS OF CHRIST FREE US FROM SIN, FEAR, SICKNESS & SATAN
"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)
How
to Receive Healing through the Blood of Jesus
The
ancient prophet Isaiah set forth a graphic picture of the coming Jewish
Messiah in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah - the book we call 'The Gospel of
the Old Testament.'
We
can receive total healing
through the wounds of Jesus Christ - According to the prophets, the
Messiah would suffer, bleed and die for His people. He would be cut off
in death, but rise again in power. He would be wounded, bruised,
chastised and striped in order to purchase our salvation and bring
deliverance from sin, sickness and eternal death.
And
St. Peter records the glorious results of Christ's terrible sufferings as
our substitute. "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." (1 Peter 2:24)
THE
SEVEN WOUNDS OF JESUS SPELL COMPLETE REDEMPTION
Jesus
Christ received seven specific wounds in His body during His week of
suffering and death. The number seven in biblical terms speaks of
perfection and completeness. Wounds
according to the dictionary are divisions of the soft part of the body by
a mechanical force applied externally. They are classified as: contused,
lacerated, penetrating, perforating and incised! Jesus Christ
received each of these plus an additional two, by mutilation and falling.
1)
THE CONTUSED WOUND - produced
by a sharp instrument. "They
shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." (Micah
5:1) St. Matthew wrote, "They smote Him with rods." (Matthew
26:67; John 18:22) (Newberry & Revised) "Then they did spit
in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him with the palms of
their hands." (Matthew 26:67)
Very
definitely, Jesus suffered pain and humiliation as Roman soldiers beat
Him about the face with their rods! Others,
including the servants smote Him with their hands. The rod would cut into
the flesh, leaving a contused wound.
2)
THE LACERATED WOUND - produced
by a tearing instrument.
The
Romans used the cruel cat-of-nine tails to scourge criminals. On the end
of the whip were nine pieces of leather to which were attached sharp
ivory or metal balls with protruding nails. As the whip was cracked, it
would tear out pieces of the flesh. Jewish
law demanded that not more than 40 lashes be administered, since often
the victim would faint or even die during the scourging.
The
Romans did not need to adhere to Jewish law. As a matter of fact,
crucifixion was a Roman mode of execution! The Romans always scourged a
condemned man before crucifying him.
Some
historians and Church Fathers believe that Jesus Christ may have received
many more than 39 stripes. The more punishment a prisoner took on
the whipping pole, the shorter was the guard duty for the Roman Soldiers
at the scene of execution.
Since
the Jewish leadership had accused Him of perverting the people, the
Romans certainly had no reason to "go easy" on Him!
And no doubt the tough Roman soldiers would have been happy to see Jesus
squirm and cry out - especially since he had refused to talk to the
Governor!
We
do know that St. Paul was whipped by the Jews on five separate occasions: "Of
the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." (2
Corinthians 13:24) Paul was not a candidate for crucifixion, by the
Romans. He was prosecuted under the jurisdiction of the Jewish hierarchy.
If
Jesus received 39 stripes in Pilate's Judgment Hall, that would have
inflicted a total of 351 gashes on His lacerated back. If He received
more than 39 stripes, the gashes would have been more numerous.
THE
WOUNDS OF CHRIST PURCHASED OUR HEALING: SPIRITUAL,
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
The
Old Testament prophet declared, "The ploughers ploughed upon My
back. They made long furrows." (Psalms 129:3) Seven hundred and
fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied concerning the Messiah, "I
gave My back to the smiters" (Isaiah 50:6)
"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) St.
Matthew records, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged
Him." (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1)
Prisoners
who were scourged usually lost a lot of blood and sometimes fainted.
Jesus suffered the agonizing and brutal scourging for us!
3)
THE PENETRATING WOUND: a deep wound
caused by a sharp, pointed instrument.
The
crown of thorns that was pressed upon the head of Jesus caused such
wounds. The Jerusalem thorn, known as the Arabian Nebulae, was 4 inches
long and as sharp as a needle. The cruel diadem containing over 100
spiculets, was driven into His head with blows from the rod.
The
Bible Scriptures record, "And when they had platted a crown of
thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they
bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the
Jews." (Matthew 27:29)
"Then
came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And
Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" (John 19:5)
It
was the Governor's intention to scourge Jesus and then release him.
He had hoped the pitiful sight of a weary, weak and bloodies man would
satisfy their blood lust and evoke sympathy for the prisoner. Instead of
being satisfied, they craved more blood, crying out "Away with
Him, crucify Him, crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)
THORNS
SPEAK OF THE ORIGINAL CURSE
Thorns
speak of the original curse, "Cursed is the ground for thy
sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;" "Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee..." (Geneses
3:17-18)
JESUS
TOOK THE CURSE FOR US
Jesus
Christ bore the penalty for our sins, transgressions, sicknesses,
diseases and pains! St. Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
“That
the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ;
that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)
In
the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, Moses enumerates the blessings of
keeping covenant with God. He also lists the curses! The curses include sickness,
disease, insanity, torments, plagues, pestilence, famine and war. The
Apostle to the Gentiles states unequivocally that, "Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law." So we are free.
The
Roman soldiers tried to drive Jesus insane by beating that crown of sharp
Arabian Nebulae into His head. But He didn't lose His sanity but rather
through this horrible experience purchased our peace and tranquility.
"And
having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all
things unto Himself." (Colossians 1:20)
Because
of the penetrating wounds He bore for us, WE HAVE PEACE!
4)
THE PERFORATING WOUND: From
the Latin word; "to pierce through
A
Messianic psalm stated, "They pierced My hands and My
feet" (Psalms 22:16) At the time of David's prophecy, he
knew nothing of crucifixion, for the Hebrew method of capitol punishment
was stoning!
The
prophet Zechariah also foretold of the Messiah's death by crucifixion. "And
one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then shall
He answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My
friends." (Zechariah 13:6)
By
the time Jesus was born, the Romans had conquered Palestine and
crucifixion had become the mode of execution. The New Testament records: "And
when they were come... to Calvary, there they crucified Jesus." (Luke
23:33; John 19:16-18)
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus Christ suffered the
torments, agony, pain and death of the most horrible of all deaths - The
Death of Crucifixion! He suffered for us. He bled for us. He died for us!
And He arose again from the dead, for us!
5)
THE INCISED WOUND: a cut produced
by a sharp edged instrument.
"But
one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came
there out blood and water." (John 19:34)
As
the Sabbath was approaching the soldiers helped speed up the expiration
of the victims by smashing their thigh bones, thus allowing asphyxiation.
When the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he noticed that He was already
dead. The soldier then went on to the thief on Jesus' other side and with
his large axe, smashed the femur bone (thigh bone) causing a quicker
death.
In
order to verify Jesus' death, the soldier then plunged his spear into the
left side of Jesus!
This
fulfilled the scripture, "They shall look upon Him Whom they
have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10) So large was the wound that
after the resurrection, Thomas "the doubter" was invited to
thrust his hand into that wound.
"Then
saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and
reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless,
but believing." (John 20:27)
St.
John was standing near the cross and noticed blood and water coming out
of His side. The pericardium is a closed sac encasing the heart,
lubricated by a small amount of fluid to facilitate the motion of the
heart.
Mallory
& Wright's pathological technique answers the question, "How
could John have seen such a small amount of water flow out of the wound?
The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is about a teaspoon, but it may
be increased to 100 c.c. (24 teaspoonfuls) where death agony is
prolonged.
Another
miracle was that contrary to nature, blood flowed from a dead man,
proving that the blood of Jesus did not die but is efficacious even today
!
"There
is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel's veins, And
sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty stains."
The
blood and water which St. John saw coming out of the side of Christ may
also have been the physiological aspect of death.
Medical
science teaches that, "Blood in a cadaver readily separates into
clear serum and red blood cells, thus certifying that the person is
clinically dead." It could be that both of these things were
happening at once. Either way, it proves that the death of Jesus was a
reality and that there is life through His precious blood.
The
Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no
remission of sins." (Leviticus 17:11,14); "It is the blood
that maketh atonement for the soul." (Hebrews 9:22) "And
the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sins." (1
John 1:7)
THE
BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, SHED FOR US ALL ON GOLGOTHA, HAS PURCHASED OUR
SALVATION
I)
WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"In
Whom we have redemption through His blood, even THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS,
according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
 (II)
WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers;"
"But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot:" (1 Peter 1:18-19). "Take heed therefore
unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased
with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
(III)
WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"But
if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all
sins." (1 John 1:7)
(IV)
WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD
"And
from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of
the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved
us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." (Revelation
1:5)
(V)
WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Much
more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him." (Romans 5:9)
"Being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His
blood, to declare the righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;"(Romans 3:24-25)
(VI)
WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to receive all
things unto himself;" (Colossians 1:20)
(VII)
WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through
the veil, that is to say, His flesh;" (Hebrews 10:19-20)
(VIII)
WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"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)
"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." (1 Peter 2:24)
(IX)
WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of
their testimony." (Revelation 12:11)
(X)
WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Wherefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own blood,
suffered without the gate." (Hebrews 13:12)
(XI)
WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"How
much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit
offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience (mind) from
dead works, to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)
(XII)
WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"These
are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before
the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that
sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them..."
"For
the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall
lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:14-17)
6)
WOUNDS BY MUTILATION -
the plucking out of His beard.
"I
gave My cheeks to them that plucked out the hair." (Isaiah
50:6)
Not
only did they slap and spit upon His face but they yanked out His beard
causing the wounds of mutilation. Can you imagine the awful pain, as
cruel Roman soldiers pulled out His beard! The blood flowed down upon
Christ's chest as cruel tormentors mutilated His face by tearing out
handfuls of His beard.
He
did it for us, because by "His Sore" (original
Hebrew) we are healed! He was "one sore" from head to
toe, by the time He had undergone the full mistreatment which the Roman
soldiers heaped upon Him! He suffered more than any man and He did it all
for us - to purchase our salvation.
7)
WOUNDS BY FALLING:
They
laid the rugged cross upon His lacerated, bleeding back and forced Jesus
to carry His own cross, as was the custom for condemned criminals. Due to
loss of blood because of the scourging, He was unable to do so.
As
He stumbled and fell, His body received more bruises and sores, and He
suffered more pain, for us.
Historians
claim, that after His striping in Pilate's Judgment Hall, Jesus was
subjected to a heavy wooden cross laid upon His raw, bleeding back.
Apparently,
the cross bar was tied to His wrists and the stock to His left ankle.
When He stumbled and fell, He had no way to protect Himself, so His body
was further bruised and battered! And Roman soldiers then forced a
stranger, Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross up Calvary's hill.
"And
He bearing His cross went forth to the place of a skull..." (John
19:17) "And as they led Him away they laid hold upon one Simon,
a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross,
that he might bear it after Jesus." (Luke 23:26)
“And
they compel one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by, coming out of the
country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.” (Mark
15:21) Alexander became a great leader as is recorded in the Holy
Scripture: “And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews
putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have
his defence unto the people.” (Acts 19: 33)
Apparently
that event caused such an impact upon the Cyrenian that he became a
convert to Christ. And that his two sons also became mighty men of God
and preached the gospel of Christ after His resurrection.
St.
Paul mentions Rufus in his letter: “Salute Rufus chosen of the Lord,
and his mother and mine.” (Rom.15: 13) Rufus' mother was so kind and
beloved that Paul referred to her as his mother also.
CHRIST
WAS WOUNDED FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH SEVEN WOUNDS IN ORDER TO BRING US
HEALING
And
St. Matthew stated, "When the even was come, they brought unto
Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits
with His word, and healed all that were sick:
"That
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Easias the prophet, saying,
Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)
"It
is no wonder, St. Thomas, upon his encounter with the risen Christ
declared, "My Lord and my God." (John 20: 28)
MAY
THE RISEN CHRIST BLESS AND HEAL YOU AS YOU APPROPRIATE HIS PROMISES FOR
YOURSELF.
I
pray you will receive total healing through the wounds and blood that
Jesus Christ shed for you. AMEN.
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