Isaiah 53:4-10
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our 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 its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our 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 its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
Reflection
This passage from Isaiah is about whom we call
the Suffering Servant – Jesus the Christ. Isaiah is referring to the Savior. Look at all of the underlined words and phrases. What are your thoughts as
you read these words? Do you see the words about judgement and punishment? Do you remember
how God is a perfect God and his forgiveness and love still requires judgement and punishment for sin? Do you also see whose sins and iniquities the judgement and punishment is for? In reality, it is
OUR sins and iniquities that the Suffering Servant
will take upon Himself.
With this passage, we now start to see how God can
be forgiving and gracious and loving to us and still exact judgement and punishment for our sins.
The Suffering Servant is taking upon Himself the judgement and punishment. The Suffering Servant
is Jesus the Christ who is God the Son. So God is taking our punishment on Himself.
