Past Tense

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NIV

I'm not a word wizard or a linguist so I may be out of my league focusing on one word in this verse: was. Was is the past tense of 'to be'. But this verse was written before Jesus was even born.  Take that in for a minute. When we think of the future we speak of things that will happen, not things that did happen. But God had a specific purpose for this verse to be written in past tense: in His plan Jesus' sacrifice had already happened.

God spoke and it is, it was and it is to come. Once his will is made known, there is no stopping it. God's word changes everything so thar it's as though it's already occurred. All we have to do is accept that it is, accept his word in our lives. The sacrifice has already been made. Before you were born, he saved you. Before Jesus was born, he made a way for sinners. Before the world began, he spoke you and me and our salvation into existence.

It. Is. Finished. Amen.