#3. The redemption of Christ.
Isaiah liii.


“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him—Jesus” (Acts viii. 35). May this be the Divine key-note of all our meditations, and particularly so in connection with this chapter of Isaiah. The word “arm” in verse 1 means “that which sows” or “the seed corn”—so that the passage could be translated, if the N.T. did not settle it for us, “the seed corn of the Lord”. In John xii. 38 we read: “That the saying of Esaias might be fulfilled . . . . . And to whom hath the arm of the Lord revealed?” The connection between this quotation and John xii. 24 is worthy of notice. The same truth as is expressed in John xii. 24 is found in verse 10 of Isa. liii.: “He shall see His seed."

A literal rendering of verse 5 would read:

“And He was being wounded because of our transgressions, He was being crushed because of our iniquities, the discipline connected with our peace—upon Him, and in His bruises there is a healing to us.”

His perfect sinlessness is declared in verse 9. Yet a righteous God is pleased to bruise Him (verse 10). Why is this? The answer is that His soul was made “an offering for sin”. Sin, not being in Him, was laid upon Him (verse 6). In other words, the One “Who knew no sin was made a sin-offering in the place of us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”.

Verses 11 and 12 give further light:

“Out of the travail of His soul He shall see and shall be satisfied. In His knowing (and feeling—the same word as ‘acquainted’ in verse 3) He shall cause a righteousness, the Righteous One, My Servant, for the many; and their iniquities as a burden He shall bear.”

In this verse we have: (1) The Lord as perfectly righteous, (2) His obedience as a Servant, so “making righteousness”, (3) “the many”—those for whom that substitutionary suffering was endured, and (4) the “bearing” of their sins.

In verse 12 we read:

“With a view to that which is fixed, I will evenly divide for Him among the many, and with strong ones He shall evenly divided the spoil; on account of which He poured out to death His soul, and with transgressors He was numbered, and the sin of many He bore as a sin-offering, and for transgressors He made a meeting” (or mercy seat).

In this verse we have set forth the joy of the Lord as well as His suffering (cf. Heb. xii. 1-3), for suffering and glory are always linked together. Because of His great atoning work, the kingdom is His, which is to be evenly divided among the many—in other words, every redeemed one must enter the kingdom by virtue of redemption. The division of the spoil is in the hands of Christ. He divides this among the strong—in other words, the overcomers, the faithful, the obedient. These not only have an entry into the kingdom, but an abundant entry (II Pet. i. 5-13); not only will they live with Christ, but they will also reign with Him in His kingdom.

The next sentences show a threefold aspect of the death of Christ: (1) He “poured out”—willingly; (2) He “was numbered”—representing what man thought, and still thinks, of Him; (3) He “bore”—the substitutionary work. The last words of the chapter: “He made a meeting”, should be full of comfort to every saved sinner. By His sacrifice those who were dead in sins are fitted to meet the living God. Unholy rebels are made fit to enter the courts of Heaven. Sinners who were far off have found in Him a meeting place, a “mercy seat”, where God still says: “There will I meet with you.” Reader—if you are a believer, rejoice, and seek to live as one for whom such wonderful blessings have been prepared. If, on the other hand, you feel, by grace, your need of a Saviour, and of a perfect righteousness—look into this chapter and “behold the Lamb of God”.

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(From The Berean Expositor Vol. 29, pp. 133.)

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