For those who lived before the resurrection of Jesus, God provided a system to help them deal with sin.

It was a very rigorous system that required lots of animal sacrifices. It's not that God hates animals. He just had to make a way for sin to be atoned for, which was only possible through the shedding of innocent blood.

Jesus Christ was the final sacrifice. His perfect blood was more than enough to pay for the sins of the entire world.

But there was something unique about His sacrifice compared to the animal sacrifices that came before Him.

He was tortured first. Beaten. Spit on. Whipped. He was so mutilated that He didn't even look human.

Animal sacrifices didn't require that. Actually, it was forbidden.

So why was Jesus different? Isaiah tells us in the 53rd chapter:

"By His stripes, we are healed."

When you eat the bread of communion, this is what you are reminding yourself of.

The beating was not required for your salvation. But it was required for your healing, now, in this life.

So, be healed by remembering that Jesus made full provision for your healing.