[:en]SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 53
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3)
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5)
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:6-7)
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12)
This chapter described how Jesus Christ had become God’s perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. By doing God’s will, he was rejected and humiliated. But by His suffering, we are saved. He was born in a lowly manger. He grew up despised and rejected by men. But he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. Through the punishment, we have peace and by his wounds, we are healed (vs. 4-5). He purchased for us the glory of eternal salvation on the cross (vs. 10-12). God’s justice was satisfied and the Father was pleased because believing sinners can now be justified. (v. 11)
PICTURES OF OUR SAVIOR:
- He was oppressed and afflicted and led like a lamb to the slaughter (v. 7)
- He was taken into judgment and cut off from the Lord of the living (v. 8)
- He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death (v. 9)
- He was being crushed in order to make his life a guilt offering (v. 10)
- He bore our iniquities and justified us (v. 11)
- He poured out his life unto death to bear the sin of many and make intercession for the transgressors (v. 12)
This chapter showed us that the innocent Son of God died for guilty sinners and paid the price for sin. This substitutiary atonement on the cross had accomplished salvation for all mankind in this lost world.
Are you willing to accept Him as your Savior?[:]