Christ Suffered for Us

MEMORY VERSE: “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.” —Isaiah 53:5

ISAIAH 53:4-9

AT THIS time of year dedicated Christians appropriately think of the suffering and death of Jesus, and remind themselves afresh that it was because he voluntarily gave himself in sacrificial death that a basis of reconciliation with God was provided for them. Many who watched Jesus as he suffered and died esteemed “him stricken … of God, and afflicted.”

And few, comparatively speaking, even to this day, understand the real meaning of Jesus’ death. They do not know with clarity that “he was wounded for our transgressions, … [and] bruised for our iniquities.” The whole world is alienated from God through wicked works. They are not at peace with him. “The chastisement of our peace was upon him [Jesus]; and with his stripes we are healed.”

It was necessary that Jesus die in order that the wicked have an opportunity to be reconciled to God, or that peace be established between them and God. But to attain that for which Christ died, the individual must accept the provision thus made, and act upon it. Paul wrote, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”—Rom. 5:1

The whole human race has gone astray. Through Adam sin entered into the world, and death resulted. Not only has the world of mankind been, by heredity, born in sin, but each individual has sinned. But in God’s love the gift of his Son provides reconciliation for all. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

“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.” (vs. 7) Here the voluntary nature of Jesus’ sacrifice is stressed. Although he was oppressed and afflicted, he humbly accepted the ordeal as being part of the cup which the Father had poured for him, so did not resist. How vividly this is illustrated by the muteness of the sheep in the hands of its shearers—“He openeth not his mouth.”

The Revised Standard Version reads, “By oppression and judgment he was taken away.” (vs. 8) It was, professedly, Jesus’ own people who cried, “Crucify him, crucify him.” He was cut off in death as a malefactor, and “made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” Although (RSV) “he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” Truly Jesus suffered and died, “the Just for the unjust”

Paul writes concerning Jesus that “for the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) This joy was set before Jesus through the prophecies of the Old Testament.

In Isaiah 53 we are told that Jesus “shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” (vs. 11) And Jehovah promises, “I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong”; that is, with his footstep followers who are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.—vs. 12

I PETER 2:24, 25

In these two verses the Apostle Peter confirms the gist of the 53rd chapter of Isaiah from which our lesson is taken. During Jesus’ ministry Peter did not understand the need for Jesus to die, and endeavored to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem where his enemies were lying in wait to arrest and put him to death.

But through his experiences—and particularly through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit which came at Pentecost—Peter’s eyes were opened. Not only did he come to understand the necessity for Jesus to suffer and to die, but he was able to quote the Old Testament Scriptures in which this basic fact of the divine plan of salvation had been set forth.

We enjoy the same blessing today; and we rejoice thus to see the wondrous harmony of the Bible. This gives us a firm foundation for our faith, and helps us more fully to appreciate the high position Jesus occupies in the divine plan.

QUESTIONS

Why was it necessary for Jesus to suffer and to die in order to be the Savior of the world?

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