THE WOUND ON HIS SIDESpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: In order to win this battle, to conquer this enmity, the Lord Jesus Christ hung on the Cross. My dearly beloved, it is for this purpose the body of Christ was wounded. The Bible says in Genesis 2:22-24 how the Almighty God formed the first man and woman. He made man and in order to grant him a suitable helpmate He also formed the woman. By making the first man Adam go into a sound sleep, He took one of the rib bone and formed the woman. The Lord said, "They shall no longer be as two persons, but the two (husband and wife) shall become one. The woman came out of the man and therefore the two shall be one."
The Almighty God said, "Since she is formed from the rib bone of the man the two persons shall be just one" and He created them in that manner. On the contrary, we see that enmity emerged between the two. Today enmity explodes between a husband and the wife and as a consequence of this many families are being destroyed. In order to win this battle, to conquer this enmity, the Lord Jesus Christ hung on the Cross. My dearly beloved, it is for this purpose the body of Christ was wounded. Where was it wounded? The soldier pierced our Lord Jesus Christ exactly in the side of His ribs.
The Bible says in John 19:34, " But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." Why was the side of our Lord Jesus Christ pierced? It was pierced for breaking the bonds of enmity between the husband and the wife and to build every family. The Bible says in Jeremiah 31:1, that He alone is the God of all families. He alone is the builder of a family. He said, "I have formed the family and there should be no enmity in that family. Therefore let Me offer My body to be pierced as a sacrifice on the Cross." Accordingly, He hung on the Cross and bore the wound on His side.
Whenever a wound appears between a husband and a wife our Lord is very sad. He is in great agony whenever He sees enmity existing between a husband and wife and says, "My daughter, 'Don't you know that I have borne this wound on the cross for you that enmity should not arise in your family?'" When you look at the wound of the Lord in His side, divine peace would flow into your family. The wound in the side of our Lord was just meant to bring divine peace to the family. Today does enmity prevail in your house? Do not be afraid but look unto the Lord Jesus Christ who was pierced in the rib side. Say unto Him, "Lord, You had been pierced just for my sake. Forgive me for hurting my wife whom You made from my rib bone. You were wounded for my sake. Please remove all the enmity that exists between us and make us happy". The Lord who bore this wound on His side will dwell in your house today. He will destroy the enmity and bless you with immeasurable happiness.
Prayer
Almighty God,
I praise and thank You for teaching us to pray continually for one another (husband and wife). In Your compassion watch over and protect us from all seen and unseen enemies. Grant us health and complete wisdom so that we may fulfill all our obligations according to Your will and commandments. Protect us from all temptations which we do not have the strength to resist. Strengthen us in the right faith and in perfect love, that we may live together in virtue, and direct our lives according to Your precepts.
O merciful Lord, help us to remember that marriage is indeed holy, and strengthen the sanctity, of our union. Shower Your grace upon us so that we may live our lives in true faithfulness and love. Help us to look at Your wound on the side so that we may understand and trust each other fully, keeping quarrels and arguments far from us. Bestow Your blessings upon us, and in Your mercy, count us worthy of Your kingdom, for You are our sanctification, and we offer glory to You: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen. |