”Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:4New International Version (NIV)
Isaiah 53:4 Devotional
Jesus took up our pain and bore our suffering
In Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah is definitely talking about Jesus. And Jesus was God’s servant to us.
Therefore, Isaiah states that Jesus “took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered that He had been punished, stricken, and afflicted by God”. That is when we think about Jesus’ crucifixion and death, we think that God punished, struck, and afflicted Him mostly because of sin.
Now Deuteronomy 21:23, which says that “those that are hung from a tree are accursed by God”, made the Jews conclude that Jesus’ death upon the cross was a sign of the extent of His sinfulness. That God punished Jesus greatly because He was a great sinner because He punishes sinners.
Correlation between suffering and sin
Most often than not, the Jews correlated suffering with sin. This was the same reasoning that Job’s friends had with regard to Job’s suffering. And the same reasoning that Jesus’ disciples had with regard to the man who had been blind from birth (John 9:1-3).
Consequently, when the Jews correlated suffering with sin, they left no room for any other thinking. And it is therefore no wonder that Isaiah wrote that the Jews considered Jesus’ suffering in the context of sin.
But Jesus was without sin. Pilate himself testified of this fact before the Jews (Luke 23:4 and John 19:4). And in John 9:1-3, Jesus answered His disciples and clarified to them that the blind man’s suffering had nothing to do with sin. Instead, it had everything to do with glorifying God.
Therefore, the Jews were dead wrong about Jesus’ suffering. While they were right in thinking that Jesus was cursed by God, they were wrong in thinking that it was because of His own sin.
Luckily, in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul states that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. That is Jesus suffered crucifixion and death on our behalf. And what Jesus did, by bearing our suffering, is in accordance with His work as the promised Messiah.
Jesus was our substitute
Therefore, we have to think that Jesus’ crucifixion and death were the means by which He stepped into our shoes and took our place. He bore the wrath of God on the account of the sins of men. Paul revealed to us that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), a nature that we inherited from Adam, the first man (Romans 5:12).
Consequently, Jesus was punished, stricken, and afflicted with what was meant for us – God’s wrath against the guilt of sin. It is now up to you to make a choice between accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for you, or continuing in sin and propping up yourself for God’s punishment, striking, and affliction because of sin.
Normally, many don’t like to be associated with failures. Instead, we prefer to be associated with heroes. And this could be what could be hindering you from associating with Jesus because of His suffering. Because Jesus’ suffering makes Him a failure, not a hero.
Nevertheless, Isaiah’s revelation tells us that there is a possibility that we may have lost the true meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross, just like the Jews of his time. It is therefore a perfect opportunity to correct our thinking on the same.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, how we misunderstand your wonderful, loving ways! You took our pain and suffered greatly for us as spelled out in Isaiah 53:4.
But we considered and reacted as though You were the One who deserved God’s wrath. We forgot that Jesus never sinned; that we are sinners.
Therefore, forgive me, Lord! We did not know what we were thinking. But my inner eyes have been opened. And I deeply appreciate what You did for me, more so that You took my place.
I, therefore, glorify Your Name in the Name of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer to Receive Jesus Christ into your life:
Thank You Jesus for taking my place and bearing my suffering. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. And I choose you.
Additionally, I surrender my life to you. And I receive your forgiveness and ask You to be my Savior and Lord.
Come into my heart and reign, filling me with your love and your life, and helping me to become more like You. And I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Ezekiel 17-19 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
