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Gordon E. Christo Isaiah 53 reminds us again and again that the Messiah bore our suffering. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (verse 5, NKJV). This was partly fulfilled in the miracles of healing performed by Jesus (Matt. 8:17). He suffered with the sick and healed them. But the primary fulfillment happened when Jesus bore for us all the suffering that we were doomed to as a result of sin (1 Peter 2:24). Commenting on Isaiah 53:5, Ellen White wrote the passage that many have memorized: "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves."1 There are three outstanding ideas in the text on the event: (1) It was vicious--He was wounded, bruised, and chastised; (2) It was vicarious--it was not for His own but for our transgressions and iniquities; and (3) It was victorious--with His stripes we are healed. Vicious Weakened by the flogging, and with His head dripping with blood, Jesus had to carry the heavy cross. The rough wood cut into His lacerated skin and muscles. Finally it was removed, but Jesus still had to walk a half mile to Golgotha. Rough iron spikes tore through the skin, nerves, and sinews of His hands and skewered His flesh to wood. Then another spike was smashed through the bones of both feet, and into the post. From now on, every movement caused intense pain. When the cross was thrust into the pit dug for it, the flesh
of the hands and legs strained at the spikes as the body was jerked, and then
again as the body sagged, putting more weight on the nails. Pain shot up from
the legs and arms. Physical pain is not the only damaging kind, however. Words often cut deeper. They are often harder to bear than physical hurt, and take longer to heal. The rabble jeered Jesus. They repeated His words--"coming in the clouds of heaven," "sitting at the right hand of God"--with derision. They bowed and worshipped Him in jest. Then they spat on Him. They mocked the circumstances of His birth and humble life. On every side Jesus could hear insults, outrage, and derision. It continued even as He hung on the cross. "If thou be the son of God, come down." "He saved others; He cannot save himself!" For hours He bore the jeers and curses of the crowd. Vicarious
The punishment part--physical pain--didn't frighten Jesus. But bearing the guilt of our sins was the real scare. Christ bore the sins of the human race in a very real sense, not just on paper or in theory. It was as if sin were literal filth, and the muck of the entire human race was smeared on Jesus' spotlessness. The effect was as if He were responsible for it, and it weighed heavily upon Him. This dirt of the human race and the separation from the Father were the real cross that Jesus bore, the cup that frightened Him. His death on the cross was the proof that He had accepted our burden. Victorious The good news of justification is that Christ's righteousness is free to us. All our own goodness, no matter how well intended, is worth nothing more than filthy rags before God. Jesus told the story of the Pharisee and the publican to illustrate justification. Jesus said it was the publican who went home justified before God, not the one who counted on his own goodness. All the publican had to do was admit he was a sinner and beg for God's mercy. The good news of salvation does not end with justification, however. The cross also sanctifies us (Heb. 10:10). Sanctified people will live in conformity with God's will.3 There can be no merit in anything we can do, for sanctification is also the work of grace. We are not only pardoned by grace, but we are also transformed by grace. Love motivated the sacrifice on the cross (John 3:1), and love constrains us, compels in response (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). The sanctified life is founded upon the power of love. Love to God is made evident by love to fellow humans (1 John 4:10, 11). Paul says that it is a debt we owe (Rom. 13:8), because the law is based on love to God and to our fellow humans. Love is what transforms us and what makes it evident that we have been transformed. Transformed persons do not slander, but are peaceable and considerate and humble. They avoid quarrels and arguments (Titus 3:2-4, 9). By His Stripes You Are Healed If you love this world and its comforts and joys and are neglecting God, keep your eyes focused on the Savior suffering on the cross. By His stripes you are healed. If you love sin and a particular one has repeated hold over you, Christ's death makes it possible for you to be free. By His stripes you may be truly healed. If you are discouraged and filled with despair, and life looks hopeless, a look at the cross reminds you of a glorious future that will last forever. By His stripes you, each one, are healed. If you are afflicted with self-righ-teousness and overconfidence, and are proud of your accomplishments, the cross tells you there is no merit in anything you can do. It is by His stripes that you are healed. Christ's selflessness can heal your selfishness, your disinterest in the plight and suffering of others. The power of the cross can provide you with courage, the strength to do what you know you want to. A deep look at the cross can cure you of lukewarmness. If you are bothered by a nagging conscience, by doubts of your salvation, remember that Christ paid it all on the cross. By His stripes you are healed--not might be healed.
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The Old Testament taught removal of sin by the sacrifice of
an innocent animal. But the blood of cattle was good only as a symbol. Neither
could the blood of a sinful human redeem a fellow human (Heb. 10:4-8). Jesus'
righteousness, however, was enough to cover the sin of the entire human race
of all ages because He was God (Rom. 3:21). He could not offer His righ-teousness
as a substitute for us without bearing our guilt and punishment. |
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