SCRIPTURE:
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 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. 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.
Isaiah 53:3-6
OBSERVATION:
We did this. When speaking of Christ’s aggressors––those who despised Him, struck Him, and afflicted Him––Isaiah uses the inclusive pronoun “we.” “We”––you and I––did this to Him. When I first read this, I was honestly taken aback. I wasn’t the one who betrayed Jesus for a bag of 30 silver coins––that was Judas. I didn’t deny Him three times and caused a rooster to crow––that was Peter. I didn’t whip Him, beat Him, or nail Him to a cross––the Roman soldiers did that. And yet, even though I was not physically present at His Passion, and even though I did not physically carry out His crucifixion, I did all of that to Him. And you did that to Him too. We all did it to Him.
We’ve betrayed Jesus by trading Him for human desires just like Judas. We’ve let shame and fear prevent us from being bold about our faith like Peter. Our sins and our struggles nailed Christ to the cross just like the Roman soldiers. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Because of that sin, you and I deserve death. But it was for this very sin that “he was pierced for our transgressions, [and] he was crushed for our iniquities” and “by his wounds we are healed.” He who knew no sin took on all the sins of the world so that we might be redeemed and made righteous in Him.
APPLICATION:
You are so loved by God! Yes, your sins nailed Christ to the cross, but He willingly gave His life for you because He loves you and He desires to be in relationship with you, not just here on earth, but for eternity. Today, receive His love. Repent of your sins and let His grace wash you white as snow. Thank God for His amazing love, and every morning when you wake up, continue to choose Him again and again.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for Your amazing love. Thank You that You came, You died, and You rose again for my sins so that I might have life everlasting. I nailed You to the cross, my sins caused You to suffer, and right now, I receive Your gift and repent of my sins. I receive Your grace, and I declare that You are my Lord and Savior. I love You, and I desire to be relationship with You now and forevermore. You paid my price, and I am Yours.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
