Isaiah 52:13-53:12

The cross is hard to look at. When The Passion of the Christ was released in 2004, it caused a huge stir for depicting the horrors of crucifixion. Some complained that it was too graphic to watch, while a few insisted that this wasn’t even close to how nightmarish and awful crucifixions really were in the Roman empire. I, for one, think both sides were telling the truth. 

Whatever Isaiah had in mind when he made this prophecy about the Suffering Servant who would cleanse us from our sin, I’m sure he didn’t envision the cross. In fact, no Jew would have guessed that their Messiah would be crucified.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”

— Galatians 3:13 (Deuteronomy 21:22–23) —

The scandal of a cursed death made the cross a stumbling block for Israel, but what else could so perfectly fulfill these prophetic words?

his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance (52:14)

He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (53:3)

he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors (53:12)

The physical torture, psychological torment, and social shame of crucifixion are all here, hundreds of years before Rome and before Jesus. 

And Jesus willingly died this cursed death. “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). More than that — “For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). 

He did this for us: 

he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

— Isaiah 53:5 —

Jesus, Lamb of God,
Thank you for your sacrifice for me.
Your wounds mean my healing.
Your curse means my redemption.
Your death means my life.
O! The depths of the riches of your great love for me!
Your love is more than I can comprehend.
Fill me with this love, that it might overflow to others and to you.
Jesus, hear my prayer,
Amen. 

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