Then
the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice
to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o'clock in the morning when
they crucified him. A sign announced the charge against him. It read, "The
King of the Jews." Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his
right and one on his left. Mark 15:24-27
 |
| Cross from Medjugorje Life, Death and Resurrection |
It was
predicted in Isaiah that Jesus would be crucified, although that was not the
custom during Isaiah’s time. Crucifixion was a Roman ordeal…a death sentence.
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD
revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a
tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or
majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised
and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our
backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his
own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All
of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow
our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and
treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the
slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his
mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without
descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived
anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.
But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his
life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy
a long life, and the LORD's good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees
all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of
his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be
counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors
of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted
among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. Isaiah 53:1-12
Jesus didn’t
deserve to die on that cross…He was punished for us…for each of us. It was God’s
plan that Jesus would be the sacrificial lamb—there between two rebels…two
revolutionaries. He was obedient to His Heavenly Father. How can we show our
obedience to God? Begin with knowing in your heart if you believe that Jesus
died for your sins.
Prayer
~ Lord, help me be obedient to You and to Your commandments.
Daily
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17
© 2018 Text and
photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
Follow And Like
"Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍
No comments:
Post a Comment