I Was That Soldier Who Murdered You!
Christ's sufferings and death were a direct result of our sins, and His wounds are the means by which we are healed and forgiven.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound truth that our sins were the direct cause of Christ's suffering and death. He poignantly reflects on the personal responsibility each believer bears, stating, 'I was that soldier who murdered You!' and highlights the paradox of how Christ's wounds bring us healing. Brooks urges Christians to approach a humble and broken Christ with a contrite heart, recognizing the gravity of sin and the necessity of Christ's sacrificial blood for redemption. He illustrates the depth of sin's wickedness, asserting that only the purest blood of Christ can atone for it, underscoring the immense cost of our salvation.
Text
"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace
was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed."
Isaiah 53:5
Our sins were the cause of Christ's sufferings!
It was our transgressions which gave Christ His deadly
wounds! It was our sins which smote Him, and bruised
Him! Every Christian may look upon Christ and say, "I
was that Judas who betrayed You! I was that soldier
who murdered You! It was my sins which brought all
those sorrows, and sufferings, and evils upon You!
I have sinned--and You have suffered!
I have sinned--and You have died!
I have wounded You--and You have healed me!"
Oh, that we might look upon . . .
a humble Christ--with a humble heart,
a broken Christ--with a broken heart,
a bleeding Christ--with a bleeding heart,
a wounded Christ--with a wounded heart!
"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree;
by His wounds you have been healed." 1 Pet. 2:24
Here you see that the physician's blood became the
sick man's salve! Here is the gospel mystery--that
the wounding of one, should be the cure of another!
Oh, what an odious thing is sin to God--that He will
pardon none without blood, yes, without the precious
blood of His dearest Son! Oh, what a hell of wickedness
must there be in sin--that nothing can expiate it but the
best, the purest, the noblest blood of Christ! Oh, what a
transcendent evil must sin be--that nothing can purge it
away but death--the accursed death of the cross! Oh,
what a leprosy is sin--that it must have blood, yes, the
blood of God, to take it away!
Sermon Outline
- Our Sins Caused Christ's Sufferings
- Christ's sufferings were a direct result of our sins
- Our transgressions gave Christ His deadly wounds
- Every Christian can look upon Christ and acknowledge their role in His suffering
Key Quotes
“He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” — Thomas Brooks
“Every Christian may look upon Christ and say, 'I was that Judas who betrayed You! I was that soldier who murdered You! It was my sins which brought all those sorrows, and sufferings, and evils upon You!'” — Thomas Brooks
“Oh, that we might look upon a humble Christ--with a humble heart, a broken Christ--with a broken heart, a bleeding Christ--with a bleeding heart, a wounded Christ--with a wounded heart!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- As a Christian, I must acknowledge my role in Christ's suffering and take responsibility for my sins.
- I must look upon Christ with a humble and broken heart, recognizing the depth of His sacrifice for me.
- I must remember that the blood of Christ is the only thing that can fully expiate the evil of my sin.