Examining Isaiah 53:1-6

of the Lord”, yet the people refused Him because of his everyday appearance.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Verse 3).

We know that those who were needy and humble were drawn to the Lord. But His refusal of sin and worldly values caused the people to despise and reject Him. The world wants to meet friends that fit in at a party, not a man of sorrows acquainted with grief.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Verse 4).

Reflection tells us that the griefs and sorrows He encountered were not His own but ours. He could have stayed in heaven instead of coming to this vale of sorrows.

Yet, when His hour came to be nailed to a Roman cross, the people thought he was getting his just desserts.

“But 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” (Verse 5). The real truth is the punishment He received was for my sins. It was by this payment of the sinner’s debt that God made a way to provide forgiveness of sin and salvation from wrath for me.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Verse 6).

Who could give the Easter message better than Isaiah did here? Ours is the guilt. His was the punishment. All so salvation can be ours. We need only turn from our sins and receive the resurrected Saviour by simple faith.