Scriptural text: Isa.52:13-53:12; Luke 24:1-35
He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions (Isa. 53:4-6).
No where in all the Old Testament is it so plainly and fully prophesied that Christ ought to suffer, and then enter into his glory, as in this chapter. But to this day few discern, or will acknowledge, that Divine power which goes with the word. The authentic and most important report of salvation and sinners, through the Son of God is disregarded. The low condition he submitted to, and his appearance in the world, were not agreeable to the ideas the Jews had formed of the Messiah. It was expected that he should come with pomp, instead of that, he grew up as a plant, silently, and insensibly. He had nothing of the glory which one might have thought to meet with him. His whole life was not humble as to outward condition, but also sorrowful. Being made sin for fallen humanity, he underwent the sentence sin had exposed us to. Alas! By how many is he still despised in his people, and rejected as to his doctrine, and rejected as to his doctrine and authority. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)
A Lamb for the Slaughter (Isaiah 53:7-9).
Jesus’ life was marked by humility. He knew ahead of time He would experience rejection, humiliation, torture, and an unjust death. He was tempted his whole life to find another way. Family members, close friends, followers, throughout his life, well meaning people kept discouraging and distracting Him from His mission. When the appointed time came for Jesus to die, He did so willingly and silently. He never said a word to defend Himself. No one took his life; He laid it down; because, He looked down the corridors of time and saw our faces.
He Was an Offering for Sin (Isa. 53:10-11).
There is the sin offering offered in the temple, inside the walls of Jerusalem. The sin and guilt offering is found in Leviticus on the Day of Atonement. There are two goats. Straws are drawn for the sin and guilt offering. One goat is offered as the sin offering inside the temple, the other goat is the scapegoat. The scapegoat is driven outside the city walls, carrying the guilt of the sin atoned for. The scapegoat is driven off a cliff, so that the guilt of those sins would not return to the people. Jesus was the sin offering, shedding His blood in the city being scourged beyond recognition. But then, as He carried His cross, He carried the guilt of the sin beyond the city, that indeed the payment for sin would be satisfied. Because here, in Isaiah 53, it says that the Lord was indeed satisfied. Jesus became sin for humanity-our substitute. He was the sacrifice for our sin.