Day 222

The Suffering Servant

Read: Isaiah 53-55

Isaiah 53 is the highlight of the book of Isaiah, for with remarkable foresight and even detail it describes for us the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, which is the basis for our salvation.

Indeed Jesus came as “a root out of dry ground,” for the Judaism of his day, dominated by Phariseeism, was spiritually sterile. “He was despised,” both in being rejected by the majority of his generation and especially in being crucified on the cross, a form of the death penalty considered worst of all by Jew and Gentile alike.

But above all, he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and by his stripes we are healed. In our place, Christ suffered the punishment for our sins, so that we might be “made whole” and “healed” spiritually.

The story does not stop with Christ’s death. “He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied” (53:11). Christ is in heaven rejoicing as he sees the result of his atonement: people from all nations trusting him and experiencing eternal life.

The atonement making salvation possible, the invitation goes forth to accept what Christ offers. “Come, everyone who thirsts” (55:1 ESV). That message will be successful, for “my word . . . shall accomplish that which I purpose” (v. 11). Spread the word about Christ.

PRAYER
Father, we praise you that Jesus was willing to suffer so that we might have eternal life. In his name. Amen.