Hello church family,

As I write, I feel a tension in how I should respond to today. Nearly 2,000 years ago, an innocent man—Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Messiah—died the death of a criminal at the hands of Pontius Pilate. Yet it is that same horrible death that paid the penalty for the sin I rightfully deserve. Today I mourn the unrighteousness that occurred upon Jesus, yet praise Him for enduring it for our sake.

This tension is found within the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. This chapter, written 600 years before the coming of the Messiah, portrays the pain of one who took upon Himself the punishment of many. Below are a few verses from Isaiah 53:

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Jesus was not only rejected but despised by the people He came to save. The world did not recognize Him and, as a result, in hatred turned against Him. Jesus was plotted against, false witness was brought against Him, He was mocked, whipped, spit on, and nailed to a cross as a criminal. The man who deserved praise received scorn.

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

The pain Jesus bore was not merely the pain of a man suffering. It meant more—it was for a purpose. Jesus bore the suffering for the sin that you and I rightfully deserved. On the cross, the punishment of sin was placed upon the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, in place of you and me. He was pierced and crushed for us and because of us. It is the wages of our sin that Jesus takes upon Himself on the cross.

When I read this passage, a song comes to mind from the band Sidewalk Prophets. In their song “You Love Me Anyway,” the bridge goes:

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway

It was me, it was you, it was the world’s unrighteousness that put Him on that cross—but it was Him who decided to stay upon that cross. By love, Jesus humbled Himself to the cross for us. It is by Him and His love for us that we are saved.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Because Jesus was faithful, He is exalted to His rightful status as the second person of the Trinity, seated at the right hand of the Father, and His blood acts as the atoning payment for the salvation of all who believe.

As we look upon the cross, we mourn the cost of our sin. But we also stand in awe of His love—that He would take our place. And in that love, we find the hope of eternal life.

In love and for His glory,
Kyle Vens
Pastor of Foundation Christian Church