Isaiah 53: 4-5
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
First of all Isaiah 53 is an amazing passage! To think such accurate words could be written about Jesus the Messiah who would be born hundreds of years in the future! Amazing. Only God could see and inspire Isaiah to write such words!
but when I read that text over and over and allow my heart to hear and feel what it says, I have a mixture of feelings from sorrow, sadness, pain, surprise, and guilt. Most of all I feel greatly thankful for God's grace shown to us in Jesus Christ.
It also reminds me of just how much God was and is in control of all things. The Pharisees thought they were taking control of things when Jesus was arrested. The Romans thought they were taking control as they put Jesus on the cross. The demons of Hell thought they were in control when they crushed Jesus. But it was really Jesus who, through his death on the cross, took control of my sin and your sin. Yes at the end of the day and after the dust settled Jesus was standing in control!
No, I will never be able to rejoice at the cross because my Lord suffered such great pain. I will never rejoice in the victory of the cross for my sins caused him to be there. Yet, in a wonderful way we can have peace for on the Cross it was finished for now and forevermore.
To consider: Why don't you thank God today for the pain and suffering Jesus went through because of his love for you. May we never grow comfortable with the cross and or forget what it means.
Remember peace doesn't come through possessions, achievements or luxury of our day. Peace comes through the cross. May we never forget the price Jesus paid for our peace.
