Matthew Starner

Jesus’ journey to Easter began long before his birth in a manger.

Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But 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. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Reading this passage is like looking into a mirror. There are 2 kinds of mirrors: those made of glass or a reflective surface, and the people in our lives. When we look into a glass mirror we see an incomplete reflection – merely the outside. When we look into the faces of those close to us, we see a more complete picture. When I look into the eyes of someone I have hurt, I see that pain reflected in their eyes. We want to look away from the mirror, but looking away turns us from the source of our healing.

The denial of our sin protects, preserves, and perpetuates our sin. The ugliness in us, while we live in illusions, can only get worse.

Jesus’ death on the cross is a powerful mirror. It in I see my own death – the death I should have died to pay for my sins. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray… and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” I’ve gone astray and because of that, Christ died. Jesus took my sins and carried them to the cross.

Lord, help me see through the sin and ugliness that block my view and remember that you have taken them all away.