Isaiah 53:4-6 (NKJV)

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

This passage of scripture (chapter 53 of Isaiah) does not appear in the daily synagogue readings. The reason given is revealing: the rabbis say it is because of the christological interpretations given to it by Christians. The fact that it is left out speaks of its importance. I- know the rabbis will say that this chapter refers lo national Israel instead of this Messiah, but this is a desperate and lame attempt to cover the details which perfectly describe what Jesus Christ did for us.

Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice once for all, taking our sins away to the grave of God's forgetfulness. Furthermore, it was not us that crucified him. He was "smitten" by God.

Isaiah 53:10-11 (NKJV)

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.

Stunned, we read that not only did God do the bruising but He was pleased to do it! It is not the sick pleasure of a madman, rather it is the tearful pleasure of Love.

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