Your Whipping Boy

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)


In England around the 15th and 16th centuries, the people believed that the Kings were appointed directly by God. Because of this, the Prince (the Kings Son) was only able to be punished by the King himself. Since the King was rarely around, they established a Whipping Boy. The Whipping Boy was a high-born companion to the Prince. He was educated right along side the Prince. He shared many of the same privileges that the Prince himself had. In many cases the Whipping Boy and the Prince became best of friends.

The purpose that the Whipping Boy had was, that he was to be punished in the place of the Prince. Every time the Prince acted in a way unbecoming of a Prince, the Whipping Boy was brought before the Prince and wounded, chastised and crushed for the iniquities of the Prince.

Ponder for a minute what that would feel like to be the Prince. To have as the consequence of your sin, your best friend beat in your place. You deserve the beating, you deserve the punishment. Your friend was innocent, he did nothing wrong, yet he was beaten in place of you.

Jesus Christ is your Whipping Boy. Every sin you have ever committed was punished on the cross. Jesus was innocent, there was never a time when he sinned. He perfectly kept even the least of the smallest commandment. Yet He was wounded and crushed in your place. The punishment you deserve for breaking one of Gods commands was placed on your Whipping Boy.

Oh if we had eyes to see the effect our sin has on our Savior and our God. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:6-7)