115 - The Rejected Redeemer

Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 very clearly shows us the place that Christ had in the redemption of humankind. Because Jehovah demands justice, the sins of humanity demanded restitution, and living a good life just does not cut it!  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:22.

The sins that cause us grief are the sins that He carried to the cross in His own body; Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; In the sorrows that life flings at us, we may find the peace of God which passes all understanding ... through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

yet we esteemed (reckoned) Him stricken; We, the Jews who were standing on Mount Calvary that day, believed that Christ was smitten of God, and afflicted by God, because of the things He had said and done.  

We believed that God was merely handing out the punishment that Christ deserved for the sins He had committed.  But, we were so wrong; He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5.  It was for our sins that He was being punished!

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; 53:6.  For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23.   There is none righteous, no not one. Romans 3:10. 

Where do some people get off believing that they are so good that they will stand on their own merits in the presence of Jehovah?  Do they not see the need for an arbitrator between themselves and Jehovah?  Jehovah has laid on Him, Christ, the iniquity of us all. 53:6.  We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:8.

For He was cut off out of the land of the living; He was murdered!  For the transgression of My people He was stricken. 53:8.  Every history book tells us that mankind is loaded down with transgressions.  Sins are found in tax reports; in business reports; in politicians promises; in preachers sermons; in the confessional; in the college of cardinals.  

Whether the Roman Catholics want to believe it, or not, even the pope is a sinner.  Where there are people - there are transgressions.  Where there are transgressions there is a need for a redeemer; someone who will pay the required price for freedom.  Jesus Christ is that someone!

Men appointed his grave with the wicked. Darby's Translation.  The Jews had two cemeteries; one for regular people and one for criminals.  Because Christ died as a criminal, between two other criminals, the leaders had designated a grave in the criminal's cemetery for Christ. 
  

with a rich one in His death; However, as it happened, When the evening had come, a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, came. Matthew 27:57.  This man went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in linen. And he laid it in a tomb that had been cut in the stone. Luke 23:52-53.  And so, contrary to expectations, Christ was buried with the rich rather than with thieves.  He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth; Christ was not a troublemaker, and He was honest. 53:9  

Yet it pleased Jehovah to crush Him; to grieve Him; that He should put forth His soul as a guilt-offering.  His pleasure was not in seeing His son in agony.   However, Jehovah, looking past Calvary, could see that redemption for humanity would be possible because Christ put forth His soul as a guilt-offering. 

1. He shall see His seed - that refers to the Church of Christ, those who do believe that Jesus is their Saviour, and live accordingly.

2. He shall prolong His days, and the will of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand.  He is now seated at the right hand of Jehovah and He had earlier said: My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. John 4:34.

3. He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul. He shall be fully satisfied.  The agony on the cross was horrendous but He can look back at it now and be fully satisfied.

4. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify ... many; and He shall bear their iniquities. Christ did not only redeem people while he was on the cross: that work is not finished yet, He is still in the process of justifying people.

5. Therefore I will divide to Him with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong;

To sum up this topic the author repeats, in condensed form, the things he has just written.  

• He has poured out His soul to death;
•  and He was counted among the transgressors; 
• and He bore the sin of many, 
• and made intercession for transgressors. Isa 53:10-12.