Tags
1 Peter 2:24, Death of Jesus, Faithfulness, Healing, Justice, Love, Mercy, Our true humanity, Righteousness, The cross
Good Friday
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
The sentence deserves to be read slowly: He bore our sins…in his body…on the cross…so that we might live…live for righteousness…free from sins. And all of these lead to the simple yet profound statement: by his wounds you have been healed.
Righteousness is a tricky word. It makes us uncomfortable. It stands too close to self-righteousness. It is too easily attached to an air of superiority or a concern for minor rules. Biblically, however, righteousness is about fulfilling one’s social obligations. It is about caring for the neighbor. It is about protecting the weak and providing for the poor. It means showing proper respect for God and for others.
The word justice has a similar meaning in scripture. It is not about proper punishments; it is about faithfulness to others. Righteousness and justice are words that connect with mercy and kindness. And all these words are related to love. Love is that mutual interdependence and care that is expected of a family and household. Jesus extends such love to all people, even enemies.
Righteousness, justice, mercy kindness, love – they are all embraced by the word faithfulness. These are the substance of faith – faith not as believing ideas but fidelity to a person, a teaching, a way of life.
Our sins were visited upon Jesus. He bore them without breaking faith with us. He endured all our greeds and rage and faith in violence and remained faithful to us. In his body are the wounds we, in our unfaithfulness, inflict on one another. He bore them that, freed from our sins, we might be healed …that we might live the faithfulness for which we were made…that we might live for righteousness…that we might truly live.
Fearful Love, Daring Mercy,
walk with us
that we may walk with you.
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Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
© David K Bonde, 2021, All rights reserved