Wounded for Me
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are after my heart. I come to You today just as I am.
Read Isaiah 52:13—53:12
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
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.
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.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 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.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
The Sinless One covered in your sin. Consider that great exchange.It’s not difficult to see how 52:13–15 was fulfilled in all that happened to God’s ultimate servant, Jesus. He will “act wisely” and “sprinkle many nations.” As a result he will be “raised and lifted up and highly exalted” and the world’s leaders will be amazed at him. But how will all this come about? Who can believe such an incredible story? This righteous one suffered so greatly, not for his own sins (for he had no sin) but for ours. Deeper than all his physical and psychological sufferings was the fact “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (6). “By his wounds we are healed” (5; 1 Pet. 2:24).
Despite all the oppression, Jesus would not shrink back but allowed this abysmal mistreatment. Meekly he would take the punishment which we, not he, deserved (7–9). All this would be “the Lord’s will.” After becoming “an offering for sin” he will be raised from death and “the will of
God will prosper in his hand” (10). As a result of the servant’s sacrifice, “many” will be justified (11; Mark 10:45).
How great the Lord Jesus is! Though he was innocent he was willing to be counted among the law-breakers. He even prayed for them on the cross (Luke 23:34), and he still in heaven he intercedes for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25).
Apply
How will you respond to him? “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all” (Isaac Watts, 1674–1748).
Closing prayer
Savior, I am overwhelmed by Your sacrifice. Knowing what I would be and do, You still chose me. I love You, my God.
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