THE PREDICTION OF THE HUMILIATION AND CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“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.”  Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah.  Chapter fifty-two of The Bible Book of Isaiah begins with a call to the people of Jerusalem telling them that they will be freed from their oppressors. (Isaiah 52:1-12)  However, the remainder of the chapter deals with the prediction of the crucifixion of Christ (Isaiah 52:13-15) and fits better with chapter fifty-three.  Here, Isaiah states that the scourging which Christ was to endure would leave Him so physically marred that He could not be recognized. (Isaiah 52:14)  In chapter fifty-three he begins with the earthly childhood of Jesus, The Christ, then His rejection by His people, as well as His pain and suffering for our sins. (Isaiah 53:1-5)  He tells of the silence and the attitude of submission as Christ endured the suffering. (Isaiah 53:6-9)  He ends with the depiction of the will of God that Christ would suffer, and that it is His will that Christ be exalted. (Isaiah 53:10-12)

APPLICATION

All of us have sinned, (Romans 3:23) and the price for our sins is death. (Romans 6:23)  Jesus, The Christ, the only man free from sin, paid the debt which was owed for our sins with His crucifixion. (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 15:3, and Isaiah 53:11)  It is by the shedding of His blood that we are justified and saved. (Romans 5:9 and Hebrews 9:12)  He was not killed at Calvary; He willingly gave up His life for us. (Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:46, and John 19:30)  We should thank God daily for the birth, life, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Without what He did for us, we would be lost.  The Lord God laid on Christ “… the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6) and made His life an offering for our sins. (Isaiah 53:10)  Remember, this prediction of the humiliation and crucifixion of Christ was spoken by the prophet Isaiah approximately 600 to 700 years before the earthly birth of Christ.  Be thankful.