Isaiah 53:1-6 - Suffering Savior

Easter has come & gone, but continue to be grateful for your Savior's suffering.

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Read Isaiah 53:1-6

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Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 37

Q. What do you understand

by the word “suffered”?

A. That during his whole life on earth,

but especially at the end,

Christ sustained

in body and soul

the anger of God against

the sin of the whole human race.

This he did in order that,

by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice,

he might set us free, body and soul,

from eternal condemnation,

Summary

The book of Isaiah has many prophecies concerning the Messiah (Christ). Many of them focus on the birth of Jesus and his life. Isaiah 53 focuses on his suffering and death.

There is no way to make this less extreme: Jesus suffered mightily on our behalf.

Isaiah’s prophecy speaks of what Jesus would endure for us:

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 (v4-5)

Through his death, Jesus bore our suffering. Through his crucifixion he took our punishment. Jesus was nailed to the cross so that all who call him Lord would not have to be. Our sin put Jesus on that cross.

Why? The last part of verse five tells us,

By his wounds we are healed.

Dig Deeper

Our only hope for salvation is through Jesus. This has been the focus of our worship, reflection and celebration, especially these last few days, and also our primary focus as we've read through the Bible this year.

Today we are going to focus on Jesus’ suffering. Here is what the gospel of Matthew says Jesus went through on our behalf:

Jesus was betrayed by one is his disciples, Judas and deserted by the others. Matthew 26:47-9

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

He was beaten and mocked. Matthew 26:67

Then [members of the Sanhedrin] spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

He was flogged, mocked again, and mistreated. Matthew 27:26-30

But [Pilate] had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. [The soldiers] stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

After all of that, they crucified him.

Jesus went through all of that to save God’s elect.

While we should feel sorrow over what Jesus went through to save us from our sins, we can also feel gratitude. Jesus was betrayed, deserted, beaten, spit on, mocked, flogged, and crucified to save God’s children. Jesus knew exactly what he had to do and he did it to save the lost. Thank you, Jesus.

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