Covenant of Peace

BY Rebecca Faires

Text: Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 54:1-17, Matthew 8:14-17, Romans 3:21-26

“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.”
– C.S. Lewis

Sometimes, life can be exhausting. We run around trying to accomplish all the things, maintain all the relationships, and solve all the problems. We rarely look up to consider anything but our own present circumstances.

It’s a struggle to connect the physical life with the spiritual. Why would I bother thinking of others, or looking to Christ?

God knows this about us. He knows we are a bunch of selfish, hungry stinkers with tunnel vision. He connected the physical and spiritual for us in the person of Christ. Christ became low to make His dwelling among us.

What does it mean to become low? C.S. Lewis once said, “If you want to get the hang of it, think how you would like to become a slug or a crab.” And that’s the flavor of it. Imagine becoming a slug and trying to convince the other slugs that redemption is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, you slugs! They’d probably just sigh and slime away.

That is what Christ did for us. He became low for our sakes. He gave up His glory and endured all manner of earthly suffering. Because of this, we gain everything.

Why do I let the details of the physical world obscure this most important spiritual fact? Because I’m like a slug trying to understand geometry. It’s hard. This is why I need reminders. I need to read these dear words:

“But He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.”
– Isaiah 53:5

Jesus knew we needed redemption. From the beginning of our existence He had our redemption planned out.

He endured sickness for our healing. He suffered loneliness for our redemption. He withstood wounds for our comfort. He braved pain for our peace. And if that wasn’t enough, He experienced separation from His Holy Father in order to bring us, wretched slugs, back into His presence.

Thanks be to the One who left everything so we could become one with Him.