Redemptive Ramblings

As I was working on a Bible study recently, I cross-referenced Isaiah 53. Known as the Suffering Servant passage, this chapter gives an accurate, somewhat graphic account of Christ’s suffering. The earliest known copy dates from 125 BC, making it a verifiable Messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus.

The crucifixion of Christ has to be the most notable example of redemption in history. Today, I mostly want to bring forward a few specific verses of Isaiah 53 and encourage you to sit with the reality of what Jesus did for us and what it means for how we live. 

He was despised and rejected—

    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

    He was despised, and we did not care. (v.3)

He was despised, and we did not care. It would be easy to say that only applies to those who were there at the crucifixion, but how many times have I despised Jesus in how I thought, spoke, or acted? How many times have I chosen to do what I know is wrong, banking on the mercy that Jesus bought for me at great personal cost? I have despised His sacrifice, and in that moment, I didn’t care.

But He was pierced for our rebellion,

    crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

    He was whipped so we could be healed. (v.5)

I know I’ve read that verse over twenty times in my life. But for the past two weeks, each time I read it, I get choked up. He was crushed for my sins? He was beaten so I could be whole? What love! So much beauty exists in the sacrificial giving of self, even when the giver is another human who loves us. But this was no mere man–this was God incarnate, choosing to suffer so I wouldn’t have to. 

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him

    and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

    he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,

    he will be satisfied.

And because of his experience,

    my righteous servant will make it possible

for many to be counted righteous,

    for he will bear all their sins. (v.10-11)

Redemption drips off these verses! It was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him. Crushing doesn’t sound like a good plan, does it? But crushing Him was God’s good plan because it was the way to our salvation. And even Christ, the crushed one, will see what is accomplished and be satisfied. What is accomplished? Our salvation. Jesus is satisfied with being crushed because, in being crushed, He redeemed us. He made us able to be counted righteous when He took on our sins. 

I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. (v.12)

The honors given to a victorious soldier in the ancient world were a pretty big deal. The highest honors were given to those who had risked themselves in battle and saved someone else. Jesus’ sacrifice is worthy of the highest honor we can give, because He exposed Himself to death to save us.

The love Jesus has for us is overwhelming. He came for me when I was a rebel, when I was broken and sick. He carried my sins in His body and enabled me to be counted righteous. He gives so much more than I deserve. SEU Worship sings a song that starts with these lyrics:

Who thought I’d find You at the lowest place?

Who thought You’d feel me in the crowd?

Who knew You’d make good of my mistakes?

You’re nothin’ like I thought You were, You’re better.

What a God, What a God!

What a God we serve! He deserves the highest honor. Let’s honor Him with our lives, with our words, with our obedience. He deserves it all.

_{Lyrics from What a God © Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing}

_{All verses taken from the New Living Translation unless otherwise specified.}