“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.” (Isaiah 53:10 NIV)
The Holy Spirit enabled Isaiah to see a day when the Messiah—the Lord’s Servant—would suffer for sin. Jesus did not die on the cross as a victim of Roman justice. He did not die as the result of scheming by the Scribes and Pharisees. It was God’s will that this should happen. God the Father sent Jesus the Son to earth to die as a ransom for many. The cross was part of the plan. Jesus was not put to grief on the cross because he was guilty—he never sinned. In fact, this verse from Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus died as an offering for the guilty.
Jesus suffered and died as the only one worthy and capable of securing our salvation. None of us could endure the outpouring of God’s wrath for sin. And only Jesus—perfect and blameless—was worthy to serve as the spotless sacrificial lamb.
Crucifixion is horrific. Some think it impossible that God would willingly allow his Son to go through such a terrible experience. Yet God was accomplishing something infinitely greater than the suffering of the cross. Friday at Golgotha was terrible, but God knew that there would be a glorious Sunday among the tombs.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are great and glorious—you hold eternity and the universe and the details of my life in your hands. You are always at work—perfectly managing all things in existence. When you planned the path of the cross, you had something greater in mind. I will remember that today if suffering comes my way. I will trust that you are always at work, for your glory and for my good.
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