True gratitude requires continual reminding of what Jesus did for you.
Isaiah 53:4-12 (NIV)
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 21: The Atonement
We believe
that Jesus Christ is a high priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek—
made such by an oath—
and that he presented himself
in our name
before his Father,
to appease his wrath
with full satisfaction
by offering himself
on the tree of the cross
and pouring out his precious blood
for the cleansing of our sins,
as the prophets had predicted.
For it is written
that “the chastisement of our peace”
was placed on the Son of God
and that “we are healed by his wounds.”
He was “led to death as a lamb”;
he was “numbered among sinners”
and condemned as a criminal by Pontius Pilate,
though Pilate had declared
that he was innocent.
Summary
The book of Isaiah is filled with prophecies of the coming Messiah. One of the most well-known prophecies speaks of a child who will change the word; “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).
Perhaps we may gloss over then, what Isaiah prophesies regarding what will happen to that child. The Messiah will take up our pain and will bear our suffering. The prophet continues on to say that the Messiah will be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. There is a reason for this suffering: his punishment brings us peace, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah should be cause for celebration, but also pause. In order for the Messiah to save us from our sins, he also had to suffer.
Dig Deeper
When was the last time you were punished? Did you deserve to be punished? Did the punishment fit the crime?
The suffering that Isaiah prophesies about regarding the Messiah is unjust. Jesus did nothing wrong. As we looked at yesterday, he was perfect, he committed no sins. Yet he was punished, and endured significant suffering on our behalf.
It may be easy to skip over what Jesus went through to save sinners, but he suffered immensely so that you might be justified. He was betrayed by his friend, arrested, abandoned by his disciples, beaten, mocked, spit upon, unjustly condemned, nailed to a cross, mocked some more, pierced, and died because of our sin. Jesus endured all of that because of our sin; for "the transgression of my people he was punished."
We rightfully praise God for the amazing grace we receive in Jesus Christ. But do not forget or overlook what Jesus went through on your behalf. The grace you've received came at a costly price. Jesus suffered. Because he suffered, you can have the forgiveness of sins.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The God of all knowledge, who foretold through the prophet Isaiah of what was to come;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: May I never forget the suffering that Jesus endured by taking my sin on himself;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Colossians 1
