About seven hundred years before Jesus died on the cross, Isaiah wrote about the event in extraordinary detail…
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. 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. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 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.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. 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. 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.
– Isaiah 53:1-12 NLT
Just to recap…
- He was despised
- Rejected
- Pierced
- Crushed
- Beaten
- Whipped
- Oppressed
- Treated harshly
- Condemned
- Struck down
- Buried like a criminal
And why?
- Yet it was our weaknesses he carried
- It was our sorrows that weighed him down
- Pierced for our rebellion
- Crushed for our sins?
- Beaten so we could be whole?
- Whipped so we could be healed
- All of us, like sheep, have strayed away
- The Lord laid on him the sins of us all??
You can debate the meaning of the cross and the nature of the One who gave His life on it. What you can’t do is get around this one, undeniable, life-changing fact. Jesus really, really loves you! He proved it.
Now, it’s up to you. Do you own your weaknesses and sorrows, confess your rebellion and sins, and trust him to forgive you, make you whole, and forgive all of your sins? Or do you continue on your way as though you’re okay, as though his death means nothing, and as though eternity doesn’t hang in the balance.
Need help? Have questions? Reach out. I’d love to help you make the biggest and best decision you could ever possibly make – to put your trust in Jesus as Savior and King! But you don’t have to have my help. Tell God you believe him. You own your sin. You believe Jesus died for you. You trust him to save you. You commit to live the rest of your life for him. And then prepare for everything to change. Forever.
