Isaiah 53 (King James Version)
1. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Who was this scripture talking about? It is quite obvious that Isaiah was fore-telling of Jesus' arrival on Earth and all of the indignities he would suffer. Including the ultimate indignity of going to the cross. Back in Jesus day hanging on the cross was a curse! So, why would a man perfectly innocent man WILLINGLY suffer such? And for whom?
The answer is Christ died for the sins of mankind! The Old Testament High Priests would sacrifice a lamb for the sins of the people, but that sacrifice had become corrupt ( read Malachai 1:13-14 ). Instead of giving God the perfect lambs which He demanded for His sacrifice, the Old Testament Israelites were bringing the lame, blind, and imperfect lambs. AN INSULT TO THE MOST HIGH GOD!
So God had to send a PERFECT substitute! None other than Jesus Christ! He was perfectly SINLESS yet He took on the sins of the whole world. Every sin imaginable and unimaginable he took on, so man could return to his rightful place with his Creator. Oh what a loving and merciful God!
While you can, friend, make a decision to come while God's arms are still open.
Blessed Be
