"Wounded for Our Transgressions"

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities...by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa.53:5 and 11).

The great depth of our Redeemer’s love for mankind is nowhere more eloquently expressed than in this fifty‑third chapter of Isaiah. Too often do we take the surface meaning of the well‑known words and content ourselves with the thought that Jesus has taken the sinner’s place and accepted in his own person the penalty of sin which should rightfully come upon guilty man. Too often do we sing:

"Christ gave his life for me,
His precious blood He shed,
That I might ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.

and accept the matter as settled without need of any further realisation of what the death of Jesus really means to us.

There is so much more in the doctrine of the Ransom than the acceptance of Paul’s words regarding the anti‑lutron—the purchase of all the human race by Jesus at the cost of his own human life. Isaiah 53 tells how intimately the story of the Ransom is bound up with the "suffering servant" of whom the prophet speaks so eloquently. From the twenty‑second chapter, where the Lord’s "servant" is first mentioned, the theme is developed until it reaches its climax in the fifty‑third chapter. Man can only be redeemed and reconciled to God by means of one who would be prepared to "suffer" in order that the compelling power of that suffering might lead people to the only course of life which can bring them happiness and the purging of their sins. The old law of Israel was "an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth." (Lev.24:20 CEV) That law is still the principle upon which nations and systems are founded today, and which leads to strife, violence, war and death. Isaiah was used by the Holy Spirit to introduce a new theme to humanity, a theme which must be put into practice amongst men before the troubles of this world can be solved. There must be one, whether man amongst men or nation amongst nations, willing to become a servant instead of an oppressor, seeking to do good to men by serving them instead of oppressing men by ruling over them; one willing to suffer in his service that others may be glad, rather than be an exactor of suffering from others in retribution for their faults; one that will eventually win men by love, instead of compelling by force. That is the ideal which God has planned the principle upon which the work of the Kingdom Age will be carried on, the principle which accomplishes the work of the Good Shepherd amongst his own sheep during this Age, and the principle which Isaiah declared would be exemplified by "He that shall come."

So Christ came as a "suffering servant." He said so himself. "I am among you as he (one) that serveth." (Luke 22:27) "The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45). He "gave himself a Ransom" (1 Tim.2:6), and he was also a "sin‑offering"—an offering on account of sin. The blood of bulls and goats can never take away sin, yea, and neither does the blood of Christ remove sin, unless the sinner, passing through the successive stages of repentance, faith and justification, takes to himself the benefit of that offering made "once and for all" and in whole‑hearted surrender to the saving power of Jesus becomes reconciled to God.

The power of the sin‑offering, then, lies in its compelling force, drawing people first to an appreciation of what Christ has done for them, secondly to be remorseful for their sinful condition and repentance for their sin, thirdly to faith that the work and sacrifice of Christ can be efficacious on their behalf and upon their acceptance of him as their Saviour, and finally sincere acceptance of him and consecration to his service. Not until any one has accepted the Law of Love as the guiding principle in their life, is wholly devoted to the service of their fellows even at the cost of suffering were that necessary, is prepared to be servant of all if by any means he may save some, can they even commence in the way that culminates in eternal life.

Men in Isaiah’s day did not realise that to be the only way. Neither did they at the First Advent. Neither do they now. Because of their lack of understanding, it was necessary that there be a great Exemplar to show them the way by walking in it himself. So the prophet cries: "He was wounded for (on account of) our transgressions, He was bruised for (on account of) our iniquities: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many (on whose account); for He shall bear their iniquities." (vv.5,11)

Rotherham says:

"He was pierced for transgressions that were ours,
Was crushed for iniquities that were ours,—
The chastisement for our well‑being, was upon him,
And, by his stripes, there is healing for us" (v.5)

and the Septuagint renders v.5 and 8:

"He was wounded on account of our sins, and was bruised because of our iniquities…because of the iniquities of my people he was led to death."

Is it not true that Christ’s footstep followers, the Church of this Age, are associated with him in this great thing? Consecrated Christians now, buried with him by baptism into his death, suffering with him, are also "suffering servants," seeking nothing better than to serve mankind in the good things of God which shall be for their salvation. This course in life brings suffering now, a suffering gladly borne, because it is pointing the whole world to the only way by which it will eventually attain its destiny. We suffer, not "for" the sins of the people in the ordinarily accepted sense of that word, but most certainly "on account of" the sins of the people—for were there no sin in the world there would be no suffering for righteousness’ sake, and no necessity for it. Thus we may rejoice, knowing that our suffering is working out, not only a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory for us, but salvation for all the world, "in due time."

"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." (Isa.53:11)
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Bible Study Monthly March / April 1985