Isaiah 53:5, commentary and pictures

He was pierced and crushed for the wrongs of others, bearing in body and soul the punishment and curse that brings peace, and by his suffering brings forgiveness and healing to sinners in their place. Though sinless, he was charged with the guilt of the whole world and treated as a sinner, becoming sin that the guilty might be treated as innocent and made righteous. He bore this as willing Substitute and Surety, laying aside heaven's glory to clothe divinity with humanity and exhaust God's wrath against sin without changing the law. His wounding included real human agony from Gethsemane to Calvary — scourging, mocking, the crown of thorns, and the cross — yet his deepest anguish was bearing the world's sin under the hiding of his Father's face. The healing he gives is full salvation from sin, pardoning, cleansing and clothing believers with his righteousness to live in obedience, received by repentance, faith and looking to him.

Wording and Plain Sense

The verse means he was wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, bore the chastisement or punishment that brings peace, and by his stripes or suffering brings healing and salvation, suffering and dying in the place of sinners for human sin. It is unmistakably plain prophecy that Christ must suffer and die, showing that his griefs, sorrows, wounds, bruising, chastisement and stripes were borne for others, pierced and crushed because of human transgressions and iniquities, stricken and afflicted under God while bringing peace and healing to sinners. His suffering from Gethsemane to Calvary was for human transgressions and iniquities, with chastisement bringing peace and wounds bringing healing. He himself took human infirmities and bore human sicknesses in that suffering.

As Creator he came into the world and stood among created beings as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. His death was caused by sin and reveals the heinous character of sin as transgression of the law, suffered in sinners' place, and when the sinner realizes he died to impute righteousness, God's love in the plan of salvation is magnified. His suffering was the atoning sacrifice by which sinners can be justified by his righteousness and receive his life.

As innocent Substitute, Surety, Sin-bearer and advocate he bore in body and soul the penalty, curse, condemnation, griefs, sorrows and weight of the world's sins to save sinners from perishing and eternal ruin. Through his humiliation they receive pardon, peace, happiness and everlasting life, an outcome he saw beforehand in his hour of betrayal and trial when he caught a view of eternity and heard the redeemed singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. He willingly gave his body to be wounded and bruised for the world's transgression, bearing suffering due sinners so they could be saved from eternal ruin. As Substitute and Surety he bore sin's curse while upholding the law rather than abolishing or weakening it, making conversion and cooperation with God possible through his power.

The chastisement of peace and healing by stripes is spiritual healing from sin: pardon, forgiveness, justification, peace and everlasting assurance, covering with imputed righteousness, moral power and freedom to live righteously and return to allegiance. Nothing but his perfect sacrifice meets the need of sinful erring men, for as Sin-bearer he covers the repenting sinner and clothes him with perfection of righteousness, hiding sin from sight. His sacrifice satisfies the law's claims without diminishing or abolishing the law, making forgiveness possible for offenders against God. Through his atoning sacrifice God can pardon and justify the coming sinner by counting Christ's righteousness to the believer. It opened the way for repentant sinners to be brought into loyalty to God and to return to allegiance rather than perish.

The wounding and bruising included physical cruelty: temptation and human agony, contradiction of sinners, the lash and scourging with lacerated stripes, mocking, the crown of thorns, hands pierced with nails and feet pierced with lacerated flesh on the cross. His divine soul was convulsed by human agony, his life made one dark series of afflictions and sadness, with cruel scourgings lacerating him, temples crowned with thorns, and friends denying, forsaking and betraying him as Maker of the world whom the world knew not. The bruising was done by Satan nerving human agents to cruelty, yet in compassing his death Satan demolished his own throne. His wounded body on the cross bore lacerated flesh by stripes and wounds for human transgressions and iniquities.

His suffering was the atoning sacrifice by which sinners can be justified by his righteousness and receive his life, though they had no share in it, restoring God's image and lifting men from the dust. Though he had no share in sin, his condemnation and death in humanity's place make justification by his righteousness possible. Through his humiliation the pardoned receive everlasting life, with his chastisement giving peace and his stripes healing by restoring God's image, lifting men from the dust and reshaping character beautiful with his glory.

Studying this prophecy about his work is a help and blessing to his people. It describes the wonderful sacrifice made in behalf of each person, and when an honest heart reads, marks, learns and inwardly digests it and prays, conviction and power come and the Spirit shows its meaning, spreading truth like blood to bring the submitted being into obedience. Then the reader sees himself under condemnation, feels truth's power in the soul, receives light on the Word as never before, and where the heart is submitted Christ perfects the whole being with thoughts, affections and powers brought into obedience.

Suffering in History

His suffering stretched from Gethsemane to Calvary for human transgressions and iniquities, with chastisement bringing peace and wounds bringing healing. In Gethsemane the burden of sin brought anguish and a sense of separation from the Father, and He endured God's wrath as a man under sin's consequences rather than using divine power to escape.

The verse foretells shameful humiliation on the cross, when priests and rulers scoffed and mocked as He hung there, challenging Him to save Himself and come down to prove He was King of Israel and Son of God. His being despised, rejected, stricken and afflicted was borne for others, carrying human griefs and sorrows and suffering punishment for human wrongdoing to bring peace and healing. His humiliation and physical suffering at trial illustrate the wounding, bruising, punishment and scourging for human sin, including the crown of thorns driven into His brow. The same wounding and bruising appeared when under Pilate His flesh was battered and covered with wounds under chastisement though no charge could be proved.

The Majesty of heaven, Saviour of the world and Son of God, was wounded for transgressions and bruised for iniquities by submitting to insult, mockery and shameful abuse. That meant a vast multitude enclosing Him with mocking and jeering mingled with coarse oaths of blasphemy, unfeeling comments on His lowly birth and humble life, ridicule of His claim to be Son of God by chief priests and elders, and vulgar jest and insulting sneer passed from lip to lip. It was fulfilled when He was delivered to be crucified and led toward Calvary bearing the cross upon bruised and bleeding shoulders until from loss of blood and excessive weariness and pain He fell fainting to the ground.

His wounds, scourging, mockery, crown of thorns and giving of life as the just for the unjust show how He was wounded, bruised and afflicted for human sin to bring pardon and healing. The lamb tied to the pillar in the temple represents the One who bore the people's sins, torn and bruised on their account, before whom those who come confess sins and receive pardon. Those who came before Him confessed, received pardon and praised God while awaiting a joyful event in glad expectation.

He left heaven's glory, purity, peace, joy and immortal life to stand between the Father's wrath and guilty man to bear iniquity and scorn, and to come into contact with earth's degradation and stand between the sinner and sin's penalty with the guilt and weight of the whole world's sins upon Him. Appearing as a man He humbled Himself and became acquainted by experience with human temptation so He could succor the tempted, yet few received Him as Son of God and nearly all hated and rejected Him. After His mission as teacher ended He was delivered into men's hands to endure almost every cruelty and suffering, every insult and torture, that Satan and his angels inspired wicked men to inflict. He died the cruelest death hung between heaven and earth as a guilty sinner, lifted up between heaven and earth, with dreadful hours of agony that even angels could not look upon but veiled their faces from, not merely bodily agony but mental agony with which bodily suffering could not compare, including anguish of soul under the hiding of His Father's face. He died and rose the third day and ascended to His Father to intercede for wayward guilty man.

His thirty-three years were sorrow and grief in which the world disowned, scorned, condemned Him in the judgment hall and put Him to death through men acting as agents of the prince of darkness, the worst humanity could do, while unrequited love broke the heart of the Son of God. Even His twelve failed Him, with Judas betraying Him to His enemies and Peter denying Him in the hour of humiliation, leaving Jesus disappointed in His disciples. The same rejection, spiritual blindness and disappointment are repeated today by professed followers, so disappointment in brethren who claim present truth should not cause loss of courage with Christ's experience and example before the mind.

His agony came from bearing the penalty and burden of transgression as substitute for a sinful world, not from Satan or human insults. The anguish of mind was so intense that the physical pain of the cross was hardly felt. He was slain by the sin of the world, with death coming from anguish of bearing the world's sin rather than from spear thrust or crucifixion pain.

His anguish included the Father's displeasure toward sin and loss of the Father's sustaining presence, with the weight of sin and penalty of death pressing upon Him and bringing the cry of abandonment from the cross. In Gethsemane His anguish reflected the burden of sin and sense of separation from the Father as He bore the world's sins and the wrath that would otherwise fall on sinners. In garden and on cross His soul was bruised as He carried the world's guilt, bore the hiding of His Father's face, and endured God's wrath and punishment for breaking God's law. At the crucifixion He took whole responsibility for sin upon Himself and endured God's wrath against sin as humanity's substitute and surety, bearing guilt and punishment so peace could be made and people healed, a complete sacrifice. His wounding, bruising and agony in the terrible conflict ended in complete triumph, making it possible to be conquerors through the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour, not to give freedom to keep breaking the changeless law but calling to stop transgression, come under His loyal banner and obey, since His pure sinless perfect character was made an offering and His righteousness imputed, saving not in sins but from sins.

The weight of sin and the Father's wrath against it made His suffering bitter and broke His heart, bearing guilt and consequences as substitute. He felt the anguish a sinner will feel when mercy no longer pleads for the guilty. The punishment due sin fell upon Him, bringing the Father's wrath and anguish of separation as He bore sin's guilt and its judicial punishment to redeem humanity.

Substitute Bearing Sin

His humiliation and pain were not for himself but belonged to his work as sacrificial offering and Sin-bearer to save others from eternal ruin, fulfilling the divine purpose as substitute and surety under divine justice, meekly enduring mockery, abuse, scourging and death. Though sinless he bore the sins of the whole world, was treated as a sinner so that sinful people could be treated as innocent, punished as a transgressor while his sinless life was lived on humanity's behalf to make atonement. The sins of every person were charged to the innocent Christ who suffered and died in the sinner's place, gathering to his soul the sins of the whole world though hating sin with perfect hatred. Guiltless he bore the punishment of the guilty and innocent offered himself as substitute for the transgressor, with guilt of every evil thought, word and deed of every son and daughter of Adam pressing its weight on his divine soul and calling for retribution upon him, so his spirit was torn and bruised, he who knew no sin becoming sin that people might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Because after Adam plunged the race into hopeless misery he became bone of bone and flesh of flesh with fallen men, clothing divinity with humanity and coming still nearer to sinners instead of cutting loose from them or treating them as they deserved, to draw them close to God and demonstrate before the heavenly universe, the unfallen worlds and the fallen world how much God loves the human race. He stands before his redeemed as their sin-burdened, sin-stained surety bearing their sins, made sin though he knew no sin, which he could do only because personally spotless, pure and perfect from birth in Bethlehem to death on Calvary, so only he could be at once Sin-bearer and Sin-pardoner, offering himself without spot to God. As Substitute and Surety he gave himself as complete sacrifice, first surveying all that redeeming sinners would require, then summing up and gathering the whole guilt to be canceled upon his own heart, clothing divinity with humanity and giving his whole being to bear God's wrath against sin and exhaust its punishment, willingly preparing to be smitten in transgressors' place so peace and healing come through his suffering. His endurance of insult and pain both paid the penalty and gave deep sympathy for human need, meeting the sinner's need for a surety and righteousness that the law, which reveals sin but cannot pardon, cannot provide, and delivering from ruin those who take hold by faith to receive power to overcome through his merits.

He bore punishment as Substitute and Surety to make sinners alive to God and give light and life together, taking responsibility for guilt to be canceled and paying penalty and ransom, suffering in the flesh so that suffering for truth is not itself evidence of guilt. He alone is the sin-bearer for the whole human family, bearing the world's sins and carrying human sorrows, wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, chastised to give peace and striped to give healing. No person can bear another's sins or even his own, for they are laid on the Son alone who takes them away by faith and provides redemption people cannot accomplish for themselves, so each is to clear his own soul before God and leave others with Christ rather than take their temporal and spiritual burden, trusting him as personal Saviour to need not bear it themselves. He cannot take away the sins of those who refuse to put away perverse spirit, unchristlike words and dishonest conduct.

As Redeemer he stands before the Father with pierced, uplifted hands asking that transgressors' sins be laid on him, declaring himself responsible and that he will bear them, having graven them on the palms of his hands, giving his own life so the transgressor of the law would not suffer the law's penalty. He bears the sinner's transgressions and offers his wounded hands as ground for mercy, so even when a person has sinned gravely he pleads before the Father, takes the sin and offers righteousness so Satan will not triumph, with pardon on the one condition of accepting Christ as personal Saviour and the robe of his righteousness for eternal life. He became man's sin-bearer that he might become man's sin-pardoning Saviour, treated as sinners deserve by coming and taking human sins that sinners might take his righteousness. That entire sacrifice in man's behalf with faith in his ability to save amply, fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus belonging to the third angel's message, law and gospel going hand in hand, showing salvation in the blood of Jesus alone cleansing from all sin, without which even a man of cultivated intellect, vast knowledge and honor among men is lost, saved by his blood being the only hope for time and the song through eternity.

His death fulfilled the Good Shepherd's giving life for the sheep, the Lord laying all sins on him, and the Shepherd's search for the lost sheep cost suffering with wounds and pierced hands marking the price to bring the wanderer back. His crucifixion was the true offering to which ceremonial sacrifices pointed, fulfilling predictions of the Messiah's treatment and death as the promised Redeemer's work. The worshiper's sin was symbolically transferred to the offering and the victim's suffering represented Christ giving himself and his blood for sinners to remove guilt, the slain victim's blood signifying atonement and showing death as sin's sentence would be borne by a substitute in full vindication of God's law. In heaven's council the Son undertook to redeem man from the curse and disgrace of Adam's failure and to conquer Satan, proposing through love, pity and wonderful condescension to become substitute and surety by bearing guilt and taking the Father's wrath that otherwise would have fallen for disobedience. The suffering heaped on him was part of that plan of salvation and the very purpose for which he came.

He voluntarily bore the punishment due transgressors of Jehovah's law, moved by love alone with no obligation, enduring without murmur every pang and indignity, descending step by step in humiliation and laying down life for enemies under bitter opposition and reproach from his own nation, to grant fallen man probation of test and trial and impute spotless righteousness to every repenting believing sinner. Humbling himself to lowest depths to lift them to purity, holiness and completeness, he pours fullness and riches into poverty-stricken souls to give peace, rest, joy and share of throne glories, calling for eager self-denial in lifting the cross to follow him. Satan and his angels plotted through his own nation moving them to cry eagerly for his blood and invent cruelty and scorn, hoping he would resent treatment and give up humility and meekness, but cunning and hatred did not break up the plan as its accomplishment drew near. As substitute he passed over the ground where Adam failed to redeem Adam's failure and fall, consenting to take sin upon himself and suffer for transgression and iniquity.

Through perfect obedience he gives opportunity to return to allegiance, moral power and strength to gain victory over sin and walk in humble obedience to law, imputing righteousness without which perfect obedience is impossible, and bringing peace, healing and elevation to all taking hold of his merits, revealing love for souls and that holy God hates sin and will not tolerate it. As Sin-bearer he passed over the ground where Adam fell and redeemed the disgraceful fall by bearing the test of temptation on appetite in weakened humanity on behalf of the race, standing before God bearing condemnation undeserved so receivers as personal Saviour stand justified with imputed righteousness though unworthy. He bore sins and infirmities in fallen weakened condition, stood against Satan's temptations where Adam failed, and his victory over temptation won on their behalf belongs to the great sacrifice bringing salvation within reach, suffering death so sinners could be justified and delivered. Taking humanity's place in sin and shame, his success in forming a righteous character answered Adam's failure, and as second Adam taking human nature he met temptations and trials yet lived without sin and worked out a perfect character for humanity.

Those who follow by faith in self-denial and self-control receive his righteousness as imputed gift, in him losing shame and standing purified, clothed with divine righteousness and eternal glory. His heel was bruised through suffering, yet Satan could not corrupt him with even one evil thought or action, and his uncorrupted character made redemption possible while his victory struck at Satan's power, paying the debt people could not pay to free themselves from bondage. As substitute and surety he faced the powers of darkness alone and won the victory on humanity's behalf, and in compassing his death Satan demolished his own throne.

Peace Healing Salvation

To redeem humanity he bore the burden of sin and endured the separation from God that sin brings, bringing peace with God and healing from sin's harm, through which people can be redeemed, changed to his divine image, become sons of God and share the joy of holiness. His suffering makes that peace and healing possible for those who receive and believe in him, his stripes being the suffering he endured to save from eternal death and give opportunity for eternal life. That healing becomes effective when sinners look in faith with repentance, confession, forsaking of sin and obedience, receiving him by faith as personal Saviour, for eternal welfare is decided by obedience or disobedience to God's commandments. His sacrifice did not annul or relax God's law but made pardon possible for repentant sinners and opened the way to be brought into loyalty to God. Those who repent and accept him by faith receive everlasting peace and assurance rather than bearing the curse their sins deserve, and seeing his suffering reveals both God's abhorrence of sin and his love, leading to repentance for breaking the law and trust for forgiveness and peace.

His wounds and bruises paid the debt incurred by transgression, bringing healing from sin, peace, elevation and bringing humanity to God, lifting sinners from degradation. The healing he gives is not permission to remain in sin, for genuine faith receives pardon and relies on his strength to resist temptation, and is not compatible with knowingly continuing in sin. Helpless, penitent, humble souls who come to him in repentance and faith are rescued from sin and changed to live righteously, saved from sin not in sin, taken from a diseased spiritual condition and restored to a pure holy atmosphere with a new heart and changed life, so that dead to sin they live unto righteousness. His suffering paid the debt created by breaking God's law to awaken sorrow for sin and lead to repentance and obedience, imputing his righteousness to make efforts to keep the law acceptable, reconciling people to God through his human nature and God to them through his divine nature. Those who repent and believe may receive his righteousness and stand uncondemned, called to leave sin and obey God rather than be saved in sins.

His stripes heal both body and soul, curing diseases and restoring people to God, for he took infirmities and bore sicknesses, bore the punishment that brings peace, and healing comes through his suffering. He is the great Physician whose work physicians follow, bruised so healing could flow to cure human diseases of body and soul, restoring the soul from its dead earthly sensual state to spiritual soundness reflecting his image when looked to in faith. As great Physician he restores soul and body under transgression's curse at infinite sacrifice, with healing properties flowing from his bruising to cure all diseases, making him healer of soul as well as body who restores man to God. Physicians are to act in his stead, every physician planted upon the Rock drawing restoring power from him to carry out his plans, and those who receive him are healed by his stripes, made his co-workers, and presented to the Father as his own bought through his humiliation. He alone can successfully combat disease, including disease brought on by imprudent sinful course, being both Saviour and healer.

He offers more than partial relief as great Physician and Redeemer, saving completely all who come to him, bearing grief and sorrow for transgressions and iniquities to bring peace and healing. As mighty Medical Missionary he takes away sin and disease from body, mind and soul of all who accept him as Teacher and Physician-in-chief. Applied to the sick, healing of soul and body is found in him as Sin-bearer and great Physician through prayer, and he has power to heal every disease so people should trust God's life-giving power rather than satanic agencies. His sacrifice followed by resurrection and mediation makes peace and joy possible and delivers from hopelessness and misery, giving ground for gratitude and for accepting trials without resentment. Through his death and resurrection he opened hope's door rescuing humanity from darkness and ruin, with human sympathy lifting people up, and his suffering and humiliation brought salvation calling the saved to share hardship rather than seek comfort or an easier way.

Through his merits sinners receive pardon and peace, are washed from sin, cleansed from moral defilement, clothed with his righteousness and prepared for heaven, his death being an atoning sacrifice that redeems and restores. He takes sin and gives peace in return, and guilt of the past and sense of sinfulness that poisons life's springs are to be laid at the cross where he speaks pardon and removes remorse, having bought sinners with his blood so they must no longer destroy self-respect. He strengthens the weakened will, accepts the broken contrite heart with free pardon, adopts into God's family with grace to help weakness, and leads on step by step as the hand is put in his to be guided. His suffering makes healing possible by cleansing accepters as atoning sacrifice and restoring to favor, and because innocent and wholly holy his sacrifice alone could meet justice and law, so law-obeyers are forgiven and clothed in his righteousness. He takes sins and gives his righteousness as sanctification, becoming healer and personal Saviour and ground of trust when accepted, with those purchased by his blood receiving guardianship of grace and being clothed in his righteousness.

He bore punishment so repentant believers may receive his righteousness and stand uncondemned, his perfect obedience credited while they cooperate with divine power to subdue sin and stand complete, with salvation resting on imputed merits not human effort. When permitted he takes away sins and imputes righteousness, accepting, cleansing, purifying and sanctifying, restoring God's moral image, hating sin but loving the sinner, ever ready to take sins of all who come for pardon. His sacrifice meets the sinner's need for surety and righteousness that the law, which reveals sin and defects but cannot pardon, cannot provide. The sin-bearing Saviour dies under the world's weight while the law only reveals guilt, so the sinner must look beyond repentance to Christ, through whose death the Spirit shows God's love, a costlier plan chosen in great love instead of cutting off the sinner by giving the only-begotten Son to bear world sins to provide hope, withholding no needed aid so the sinner may take salvation and become heir joint with Christ. His suffering purchased opportunity to return to God, securing probation at infinite cost with nothing less than his life atoning and bearing death's penalty, his death being life to believers and death to the disobedient, calling from continual transgression to obedience to prove loyalty and placing every believer on vantage ground.

His wounds and agony blot out sin's record, purchase life, make another trial possible bringing sinners into the Father's favor, and shelter by faith those who make his life their own. All who would be saved when time closes must come before the lamb, confess sins, and take place among the redeemed, as seen in the lamb tied, mangled and bleeding in the temple, torn and bruised for human sins. He suffered and died as sacrifice making way for guilty to escape penalty, receive pardon and live, displaying condescension and love giving reason for gratitude, praise and testimony. Bearing the curse as willing sacrifice, his suffering and death make it possible not to die eternally, and his willingness to die made salvation possible so had he come down from the cross humanity could not have been saved. He was wounded and bruised on the cross bearing sin's cost so people could be saved from death, making cleansing through blood and hope of resurrection and eternal life possible, opening a way for the lost to be restored to the garden and tree of life with obedience. He bears sins and takes death's sentence, giving life so sinners may receive pardon through blood, suffering in guilty people's place to purchase redemption at immeasurable love, making worldly riches seem small and awakening praise and humility at Calvary.

Prophecy Fulfillment Rejection

Isaiah 53 identifies Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah, and its fulfillment in him has convinced seekers such as Wolff that Jesus is the Son of God. It foretells his innocent suffering and death by crucifixion at the hands of Jews who killed him when innocent as they slew the prophets of old, perfectly fulfilled in Jesus as real Messiah and Son of God.

The verse belongs to prophecy showing the Messiah would suffer rather than appear in the worldly glory expected by priests and rabbis, contrary to expectation of a mighty earthly ruler, and failure to read prophecy rightly led to rejecting him as the foretold man of sorrow and grief. It foretells a suffering Messiah who would suffer and die at his first coming, not appear as temporal prince to overthrow Rome and exalt the Jews. Teachers misled the people by applying descriptions of his glorious second coming to his first advent, so he was rejected for lacking display though he met every specification of Scripture in life, works and character, and will yet shine before the ancients gloriously and reign from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. The prophecy presents Christ as humble and suffering on account of transgressions and iniquities, wounded and bruised and bearing the chastisement that brings peace and healing by stripes, not a temporal ruler conquering nations; Jewish leaders rejected him because he came in humiliation with no visible conquering armies and without form or comeliness to them, lacking outward display and not matching their imagined illustrious conquering King.

It is messianic prophecy that the Saviour would come in humility and poverty, be rejected and despised, and be wounded, bruised and slain for transgressions and iniquities, bearing chastisement to give peace and healing. Its agreement with Jesus' life, suffering, death and teachings proves he is Messiah and gives inspired proof of his mission, suffering and death, correcting expectation of only earthly power and of a Messiah coming in earthly power or bringing only wonderful elevation to the Jewish nation. It is part of the testimony of Moses and the prophets spoken by the voice of Christ from the days of Adam, unlocked by Christ as key to the rich treasures of the Old Testament without whom religious services and ceremonies are valueless, and Christ's lowly self-denying life accorded with the prophetic vision portraying his experience in advance. His crucifixion was the work of the promised Redeemer, the true offering to which sacrifices of the ceremonial law pointed.

It belongs to prophecies foretelling the Redeemer would be rejected and slain by those who should have been first to recognize him as the Promised One. It belongs to Isaiah's testimony of the first coming which the Jews fulfilled by what they did to Christ while misreading Scripture and failing to recognize the time and manner of his appearance. The passage foretells a suffering Saviour and Lamb of God who takes away sin and makes holy by cleansing people from sin, not a political prince to bring nations under Israel's rule. All the prophets testified of Jesus in this character as God's great remedy for sin, the guiltless One to bear the sins of the guilty, as Moses pointed Israel forward to Christ as the Prophet to hear, and this Old Testament testimony was used to persuade concerning Jesus and convince honest seekers of truth.

It holds deep truths long obscured yet vital to salvation, correcting expectation of only Jewish elevation by showing he must suffer and die as Lamb of God. At twelve on his first temple feast at Jerusalem the veil on his mission lifted, showing Isaiah 53 was to be fulfilled in himself, and he received the Father's communication to proclaim the acceptable year as Prophet of the Most High, knowing he must be about his Father's business. There he set this prophecy of humiliation, suffering and death before rabbis and teachers and asked its meaning, identifying himself as the Lamb that takes away sin and making the plan of salvation clear light shining in a dark place to darkened minds, using questions that gave a divine lesson, placed truth in a new aspect, and exposed how narrow and superficial was the wisdom of the wise men.

His kingdom is spiritual, not temporal reign on David's throne; his being refused and rejected, his humiliation, suffering, death and rising on the third day were ordained in the councils between Father and Son and foretold by prophets and men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and every specification was fulfilled as he opened the Scriptures step by step. The Old Testament representations of what he suffered in his own person are remarkably vivid and are to be sacredly cherished, because by that suffering salvation was secured. The verse belongs to the prophecies of the suffering Saviour that he would suffer at Calvary and be offered up for the sins of the world, then rise after three days, with his return pointing to his Redeemer and advocate work before the Father. His blood saves those who by faith make his life their own, as the Passover lamb's blood sheltering Israel pointed to him as personal Saviour received by faith. It is part of prophecy foretelling his life and death, that he came in poverty and humiliation and was crucified as foretold, bearing suffering on behalf of humanity as his mission though no one on earth fully understood the burden he carried.

Though he suffered and was punished for transgressions and iniquities to provide peace and healing, the world would not receive and acknowledge him as Redeemer. The blindness of the impenitent is because Satan has controlling power over them, and they choose his service before the service of Prince Immanuel. He was wounded for the transgressions of the very ones who despised and rejected him, in a self-denying sorrowful mission to save people who rejected and misunderstood him. The verse belongs to the account of a Christ rejected and not desired by those not recognizing his worth, while those who repent and seek God's glory see in his suffering their only hope though the world fails to discern it.

His suffering to bring peace was foreshadowed when his three-day separation from his parents pointed to his death for world sins and his being found again, after which faith could rest on him as Redeemer and advocate with the Father. As Israel's invisible leader he would bear the people's iniquities and suffer more intensely than Moses, because they sinned against him and offended him, not Moses. The sacrificial offerings pointed forward to his crucifixion and suffering for salvation, and the smitten rock typified him wounded for transgressions so that the stream of salvation might flow to all. Smitten by God and suffering for transgressions and iniquities, from him salvation flows for a lost race as life-giving water flowed from the smitten rock in the desert. As the rock was smitten once, Christ was to be offered once to bear the sins of many and was not to be sacrificed a second time, and seekers receive grace by asking in Jesus' name in penitential prayer which brings his wounds before the Lord of hosts, so that life-giving blood flows forth afresh as symbolized by living water for Israel.

Divine Person and Love

As Creator he came into this world and stood among the beings he had made as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief, wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, bearing the chastisement that brings peace and giving healing by stripes.
The verse reveals God's love seen at Calvary in Jesus on the cross, showing his death was caused by sin and exposing sin's heinous character as transgression of the law, suffered in sinners' place to bring peace and healing, so that when the sinner realizes Christ died to impute righteousness to him he magnifies God's love in the plan of salvation.
When redemption was to be worked out God commanded the sword to awake against his only begotten Son, one with him from eternity, the Father subjecting himself to sorrow and sparing not his Son but freely delivering him up for all, a strange work for fury is not in him, revealing wonderful love that needs to be better understood.

His suffering is God's costlier plan chosen in great love instead of cutting off and destroying the sinner, giving his only-begotten Son to bear the world's sins to provide hope for the hopeless, and since God poured out all heaven in that one gift he will withhold no needed aid so the sinner may take salvation and become heir of God, joint heir with Christ.
It reveals the cost of God's self-sacrifice in giving his Son to save humanity, for law could not be altered or changed to save lost perishing man so God suffered his beloved Son to die for transgression because law is unchangeable, angels being assigned to ascend and descend with strengthening balm from glory to soothe him.
It means God gave his only begotten Son to die for sinners and bear the penalty of the whole world's sins with merits sufficient for redemption, and those who repent, plant feet on obedience, accept those merits, and take God at his word receive power to live truth under most trying circumstances and hope of eternal life.
Justice requires sin to be punished and mercy provides pardon through repentance and confession only through his Son, for Christ alone can expiate sin and only when repented of and forsaken, since man severed connection with God and the soul became palsied by sin's deadly poison, yet a divine life equal with the Father was given as ransom as announced in heavenly courts, and God will soon vindicate justice before the universe.

The loved Commander in heavenly courts stooped from high estate laying aside glory he had with the Father, leaving sinless worlds on high and the ninety and nine that loved him and went not astray to save the one lost sheep, this little fallen apostatized world ruined by sin yet more precious than vast sinless dominions, God giving himself in his Son to have joy of receiving back the lost.
The Highest who was with the Father before the world was, high and lifted up on heaven's throne, submitted to humiliation clothing divinity with humanity to lift the lowly, proclaiming himself advocate of the sinful family, suffering in human form lacerated with stripes and bruised for iniquities with chastisement of peace upon him bringing healing, pouring out life on the cross for the one lost sheep so love might flow in rich currents to sufferers, revealing infinite love in which the Father gave himself in the Son, calling for gratitude and humble surrender.
He laid aside robes of royalty, majesty, splendor, riches, reputation and glory, clothed divinity with humanity, and as Commander left royal courts to share human trials, sorrow, insult, reproach and mockery as man of sorrows, so humanity could touch humanity and divinity lay hold of divine power for the race laboring under Adam and Eve's sin and open a way of escape, a sacrifice calling believers to venture all for truth and follow in self-denial, labor and fellowship in sufferings.

He laid aside royal robe, kingly crown and command in heaven, took humanity, was tempted as humans are, lived without sin, became poor and submitted to poverty and temptation so humans can gain eternal riches, share divine nature, escape corruption through lust, obtain everlasting life and eternal weight of glory with happiness in this world and the world to come.
One equal with God clothed divinity with humanity, accepted human affections and temptations, stood as head of humanity, took guilt and died as propitiation, since after the fall law could be obeyed only through the Son's sacred life bound up with God, to place man on vantage ground, pardon and love returners to loyalty and obedience, take away sins, impute righteousness, wash and cleanse, give grace to partake divine nature and perfect character through sinless merits, so beholders are changed from character to character to become sons and daughters equal to angels, complete in him in highest attainment.
His wounding meant being in all things made like brethren and becoming flesh even as humans are, knowing hunger, thirst, weariness, sustained by food and refreshed by sleep, living as stranger and sojourner in but not of the world, tempted as men and women are yet free from sin, in tender compassionate sympathy representing God full of grace and truth, stooping from sinless worlds and ninety and nine to uplift the fallen.

Though divine he humbled himself taking human form and enduring suffering, setting self-sacrifice example, coming with divinity clothed with humanity as man of sorrow acquainted with grief, wounded, bruised, chastised and striped for healing, revealing God's love for fallen world that loves sinner without loving sin to restore God's moral image, living the law as God's character, keeping Father's commandments at head of humanity to remove Satan's excuse and prove him liar.
Though divine he took humanity and lived among people without sin as tempted sorrowing man, bearing wounds and burden caused by transgressions and iniquities to bring healing and peace, an experience enabling him to succor the tempted, while looking to his meek unretaliating suffering teaches endurance, forbearance and forgiveness.
As Substitute and Surety he felt in human nature every pang man can feel and suffered being tempted, every insult to fellow man making him more conscious of their need of divine sympathy and every insult endured teaching man's great need, feeling need of angels' ministration and Father's help as no other ever felt, yet faith did not fail under most trying circumstances as he placed himself in Father's hands winning as powerful warrior victory for the world he created.

He suffered not for his own sake but as humanity's representative and head, bearing infirmities and testing beyond what people are called to suffer, so relying on merits they may become victors, and his affliction and experience of lowliness, privation, poverty and grief mean he knows how to reach, help and sympathize with every suffering sinner and tempted soul, calling followers to follow his self-denying path to share future glory.
His endurance of insult and pain gave deep sympathy for need, living perfect example and sympathizing with suffering while suffering penalty in body and heart as Innocent for guilty at infinite cost, and through union of divinity with humanity bridging sin's gulf and bearing the cross so lookers in faith are healed and made whole, facing darkness alone and winning victory, a truth to be lived not merely known in theory, offering moral power and access to heaven to every striving soul.
Through human nature he reconciles people to God and through divine nature reconciles God to them, taking weakness, sin, griefs, sorrows, ridicule and humiliation without complaint to the cross, lifting from sin, bringing back to God, restoring earth-heaven connection, paying debt for breaking law not to license breaking it but to awaken sorrow, repentance and obedience with imputed righteousness, revealing God's character and love, upholding law's dignity and vindicating its requirements for all with personal interest in Christ crucified, bridging separation though himself without sin or sorrow.

He was not compelled but voluntarily left heavenly courts, royal robe and crown to be hated, abused, rejected, scourged and thorn-crowned to save from eternal ruin, by choice dying before assembled worshipers as priest and victim combined where type met antitype as Passover sacrificed and Lamb slain from foundation, true High Priest forever after Melchizedek raised from grave triumphing over death after humiliation, shame, reproach, crucifixion and burial.
Everything God and Christ could do has been done to save sinners under death sentence, the sinless heaven-found ransom laying off royal position and command over heaven and clothing divinity with humanity to carry infirmities and bear temptations, providing peace and healing in sinners' place and by becoming poor making sinners rich, leaving angels' admiration to endure insult from a mob lashed by priests and rulers.
Poor creatures sick unto death have life because from heaven he beheld miserable humanity, came to be one with us and found ransom through humiliation and sacrifice, the Lord of glory and brightness of Father's glory sacrificing life submitting to scorn, derision and rejection as man of sorrows, living self-denial and poverty without luxuries, houses or lands to evidence love and give opportunity to return to God, paying ransom for every son and daughter of Adam, for which Father waits to see gratitude in self-sacrifice and warns refusal shows contempt.

His poverty and sacrifice were for humanity to receive eternal riches, his humiliation and poverty pouring fullness and riches into poverty-stricken souls to give peace, rest, joy and share in throne glories, while his voluntary bearing of punishment with every pang and indignity without murmur, descending step by step laying down life for enemies amid bitter opposition from his own nation, grants probation and imputes spotless righteousness to repenting believers to lift them to purity and completeness, revealing sin's terrible character and fulfilling prophecy in temptation, ministry and agony.
The Son pledged himself for fallen humanity to self-denial, poverty and suffering, unappreciated, unacknowledged, despised and rejected, wounded, bruised, chastised and striped for healing, fulfilling Saviour, Substitute and Example giving pattern of obedience and self-sacrifice, often weary, hungry and sorrowful in unrequited love, misunderstood by the nation he came to save who knew not his mission.
He left glory, riches, majesty, command, purity, peace, joy and immortal life to take human nature and die for rebels, draining with his own lips the bitter cup their sins prepared while offering salvation's cup, not to humiliate but to make escape from hopeless misery and elevate saved to his right hand, a great immense sacrifice understood only by those tasting godliness and powers of the world to come.

His self-sacrifice reveals the Father's great tender yearning love for erring people, giving life to transgressors through his death in sinners' place, calling every sinner to look and live with gratitude, making wants, trials, griefs and sufferings his own to save from eternal ruin, exposing pride, vanity and self-sufficiency, calling followers to patience, mercy and love in restoring others and to stand steadfast without complaint in sharing his sufferings.
What he in greatness and goodness endured reveals him altogether lovely, chiefest among ten thousand, filling surrendered heart with fullness of God's love, a truth that breaks the heart and brings weeping and much feeling when spoken.
Though man of sorrows wounded, bruised and striped for healing, he is now high and lifted up with train filling the temple, able to make his people all light with strength and power, and lack of glory is not because heaven is sealed or source exhausted but because iniquities separated people from God and need is unfelt with no hungering for righteousness so blessing is not received.

Though declared innocent by God and earthly judge he made himself responsible to universal Judge for law-transgression, suffering for uncommitted sin and becoming captive of justice even in grave as substitute and surety, his crucifixion sternly manifesting God's wrath against sin and against rejecters of light remaining in unbelief, revealing hatred for sin.
His abuse, condemnation and death were consequence of sin displaying redemption's cost, human sin bringing intense agony and abandonment showing seriousness of sin and cost of salvation, transgression piercing Christ so sin is offense against him requiring acknowledgment and mercy not self-penance, the cross leading those near him to humility not claims of sinlessness with hope only on crucified risen merits, while his work heals sin's wounds by divine power to restore original state as believers lay hold by faith and cooperate in forming character so God saves justly upholding law.
His suffering and death pay broken law's penalty bringing peace and healing, cross shame and humiliation revealing God's love does not set aside righteousness, hatred of sin and justice of law, and the cross is decisive evidence God will punish transgressors and is not too merciful to leave sin unpunished, for death of spotless Son become sin bearing guilt and Father's hiding till heart broken and life crushed shows every violation must receive retribution, redeeming sinners in no other way, so refusers of atonement must bear guilt themselves.

His suffering in sinners' place as divine-human Substitute bore law's full penalty making full atonement satisfying justice without abolishing, weakening, diminishing, annulling or relaxing law, demands met and authority maintained, including lash, thorns and nails as offering for sin bearing curse while upholding law, God not changing law to save lost but giving Son to die, making pardon possible for repentant to return to loyalty, be converted and work with God, so God saves sinner remaining just.
His suffering in sinners' place was penalty borne as offering fully satisfying justice, meeting debt for breaking law while law's authority remained unchanged, showing righteousness of law which identifies sin but cannot pardon.
He took deserved punishment so believers may be pardoned through faith and return to allegiance and loyalty, his sacrifice satisfying justice, vindicating law's honor without setting aside righteousness standard, upholding shame-revealed standard, ground of reconciliation and hope through crucified risen merits.

He suffered as Substitute to save and return to loyalty without abolishing unalterable law which cannot pardon or cleanse and remains government's foundation, crucifixion establishing it, wounding and death called for by transgression giving opportunity to become loyal subjects, so truth as in Jesus must be kept before people.
Penalty is temporarily withheld not because law's claims ended or are set aside but to draw to holiness and obedience, repentance first step to obedience, seeing disobedience's harm revealing law's excellence, he having borne penalty as Substitute and Surety.
He suffered in place of sinful people, living perfect obedience for them, joining them through suffering and blood and shedding blood on cross, bridging guilt to redeem from second death, the innocent mocked at Calvary while repentant comers receive robe of righteousness, salvation, forgiveness, peace and complete saving.

His suffering and death supremely prove love in giving blood to purchase people at price beyond knowledge, pictured as price to restore strayed one, though guiltless cut off not for himself taking defiled curse and condemnation as Substitute and Surety to bring to God, clothe in righteousness, allow standing without fault, show each value and give reason to trust under temptation for eternal reward though undeserving.
His abuse, humiliation and death were cost of redeeming borne through eternal love, God's only begotten sinless innocent righteous Son always pleasing Father bearing guilty chastisement with severest human punishment under wrath for law-transgression, expressing love and desire to lead to obedience.
In bearing human nature he lived sin-free character without comparison offered to God so fallen could be uplifted, accepting every phase of sorrow wounded and bruised for peace and healing, treading winepress alone with sorrows none can share, greatest sorrow that beneficiaries did not appreciate each soul's value.

His suffering was sufficient because in sinless purity and divine excellence he alone could fully understand gravity of sin and offer acceptable atonement, anguish proportionate to sin's magnitude and his purity making atonement for transgressors.
His grief came from bearing race's burden and from people refusing blessings and choosing sin, taking sins bringing bitterness while offering blessing, greatest sorrow unappreciated infinite sacrifice.
He humbled himself step by step to become perfect human example for every descendant of Adam, and contemplating his work leads to repentance, confession and humility, his wounds bringing peace and healing.
He would bear penalty and conquer Satan by entering world and meeting him on his battlefield, wounding and death called for by law-transgression.

He bore human sins so sinners could receive righteousness, salvation depending on faith in power to save fully and on blood alone, suffering for guilty lawbreakers who cannot save themselves, accepting agony and blood at any cost to rescue so they may gain everlasting life.
He suffered to make possible obtaining life measuring with God's life by following footsteps with healing by stripes, Isaiah revealing Jesus as life-giving Saviour and only hope of God-like life whose self-gift makes becoming sons and daughters possible.
The verse describes suffering Saviour sharing sorrows and dying to save rebellious race calling to trust, presenting helper bearing grief making healing possible, redeemer of convicted soul looking for refreshment, bringing peace with God and healing from sin.

It is a promise to claim against burden and fear of sin affirming sacrifice provides forgiveness and healing, Jesus standing between wrath and guilty carrying iniquity suffering and dying in place bearing world's guilt with humiliation and cruelty so many are saved and reconciled to God.
The Son by dying in transgressors' place pays ransom from death and makes atonement possible, through merits and intercession people received again into favor and restored to holiness as they accept atonement and obey law.
His suffering on the cross as atoning sacrifice for transgressions and iniquities is source of mercy, regeneration, salvation and redemption, blood cleansing, death atoning, bringing peace and healing, pillar of faith leaving no human merit or invention able to save, cross providing light by which every Scripture truth is understood.

His sacrifice alone on the cross secures divine favor and salvation, human offerings unable to atone or replace faith, wounds and chastisement revealing infinite cost leaving no ground for pride, proving price paid showing people are not their own as evidence of condescension of Majesty waiting as suppliant at heart's door, calling families to open hearts, turn from idols and glorify God in body and spirit which are his.
His life of toil, self-denial and death as humanity's sacrifice saved others from ruin, atonement source of blessings received through grace, carrying world's guilt and woe as foundation of hope through whose righteousness condemned are purified, made white and strengthened in daily struggles.
His sinless life and humiliation made redemption and eternal life possible, suffering on behalf of humanity in sinners' place to save and open way for pardon and acceptance through righteousness with peace and healing.

The One from heaven in human form suffered wounds and bruising for sin bringing peace and healing by making pardon and redemption possible, suffering and dying in sinners' place so love could reach sufferers, God providing salvation and grace's power to develop character, overcome through merits and be reshaped after his pattern beautiful with glory lifting from dust and restoring God's image, cheered in toil by foreseeing travail not in vain viewing pardoned happiness and redeemed song, yet choosing cross despising shame for set joy though blood-baptism lay ahead and world sins weighed under woe.
It points to power to restore soul and give new life and energy, rescuing from sin and making whole those recognizing need and coming, sacrifice lifting from degradation.
His bruised wounded hands and feet reveal shame and suffering endured for sinners from tender compassion calling them to humble themselves and come without delay able to change them, pierced hands reminding each believer he suffered personally as ground of healing, speaking directly to each as invitation to look, be saved and be made whole possessing him beyond comparison.

It shows Christ's love for repentant sinner who robbed God of years of service with nothing for restitution and no means to cancel debt, Jesus interposing between sinner and God offering to pay debt himself asking sinner be spared while he suffers instead.
He took bitter cup due humanity and through sacrifice offers mercy, blessing and salvation, patient endurance of indignity and agony in Gethsemane and Calvary revealing depth and boundless love, measure of self-giving love believers show one another, calling followers to self-denial and devotion.
He bore penalty for transgressor's sins and for every man including ignominy, suffering and humiliation not death alone, so he can ransom every soul however fallen accepting law as righteousness standard, one seeing guilt and infinite sacrifice asking what to do to be saved, pointed to Lamb taking away sin, accepting truth as in Jesus and beginning loyalty, revealing hatred of sin and justice of law.

His suffering is part of provided salvation because humanity could not overcome in own strength, bearing penalty to rescue from penalty, necessary to free from defiling power and make restored communion with holy beings and spiritual life possible, showing terrible seriousness of sin and that higher life comes through submission.
His suffering on the cross was for humanity as Sin-bearer bearing guilt and enduring divine justice agony, wounds and stripes part of loving sacrifice offering deliverance from death and opening Paradise.
He bore others' griefs and iniquities, stood as race's representative and submitted as transgressor to bridge gulf, understanding atonement depending on recognizing law's sacred claims.

His wounds, grief, chastisement and healing were part of work for humanity bearing punishment bringing peace, suffering and abuse even at hands of blessed showing great value God places on humanity and ransom price, calling to humility and respectful treatment rather than contempt.
Blessings are estimated in light of cross, looking on him pierced by sins and burdened by sorrows giving gratitude, praise and submission of thoughts to his will, wounding revealing divine character as mercy, tenderness and forgiveness blended with equity and justice, revealing infinite value of man and importance of working to exalt men to God's throne.
God's mercy in giving only begotten Son whose suffering borne on our account lets people partake divine nature and escape corruption through lust should fill heart with sense of mercies and move to self-denial and liberal giving for needy missions instead of withholding.

Sin wounds and shames him, as deception and falsehood wounded and bruised Christ, and because sinner is blood-bought the repentant should be forgiven, helped and given another chance toward hope and faith without first requiring proof of change.
He comes very close as Sin-bearer and stronghold in emergency, having loved when dead in trespasses and sins, and when permitted takes sins, imputes righteousness, accepts just as are cleansing, purifying and sanctifying, lifting to enjoy love and grace restoring God's moral image.
He is refuge for perplexed and distressed bearing troubling matters himself giving rest to weary heavy-laden so they need not trouble others, personal Saviour pitying and carrying wounds caused by sins, able to deliver penitents seeking pardon and overcoming grace with burden not to place on others.

Those to be saved must look to Jesus and trust instead of dwelling on unworthiness, spotless Lamb, Surety and Substitute bearing suffering giving hope to helpless under condemnation to serve in humility and cast helpless soul on Christ for help and understanding.
Human beings cannot cleanse sin from hearts or themselves; purified only by faith in Christ who takes away world sin, his suffering bringing peace and healing from sin.
He was smitten, bruised and afflicted with inexpressible suffering, hunger, humiliation and condescension becoming sin unhonored and unknown to place redemption within reach, exalt to heavenly honors and immortal joys and make heaven possible, submitting to greater humiliation than any will endure so none may murmur at conflict, self-abasement, toil, penitence, cross-bearing and tears ordained as provisions for comfort, peace, assurance and immortal reward requiring what each will sacrifice, sweetest joy through repentance for transgressing law and faith in redeemer and advocate, victory over temptation providing strength to overcome in his name.
Jesus as Majesty of heaven and King of glory suffering on earth under opposition with everything made as ridiculous and painful as possible leaves believers without ground to complain about trials small beside his.

Receiving and Following Christ

The verse exposes the shame of shunning the cross and refusing to run any risk, calling all who read it to deny self, make covenant with Christ, walk in His footsteps, and willingly share His humiliation and suffering rather than from timidity or fear of reproach side with breakers of God's law and endanger their souls. His life of privation, self-denial and sorrow is the pattern for followers, who should respond with love and gratitude by showing His spirit and denying themselves in obedience to His words. That self-sacrifice lays a claim of grateful obedience that rebukes independence from Him, love of supremacy, self-exaltation and crooked ways, calling those who have received great light to press close to His side, learn from Him, put away exalting self, become as little children, and take up God-given responsibilities in His Spirit, so that by partaking with Him in self-sacrifice they will partake with Him in glory when the Deliverer comes.

His willing humility and suffering reveal the Saviour's love and prepare the way for people to share His future glory as they follow Him, deny self and take up the cross. His death makes eternal life possible for believers, and those who follow Him by denying self and taking up the cross may share His kingdom. His example as the suffering Man of Calvary calls His servants to accept hardship and the cross rather than expect ease, honor or greatness in this life. His self-sacrifice is the example for servants not to expect ease or turn away from the cross.

His crown of thorns and anguish reveal the self-denying sacrifice of the humble Pattern whom followers are to imitate. As King of glory who gave His life to redeem sinners and spilt His blood to wash them, His sacred head decorated with a crown of thorns as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief, wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, bearing chastisement to give peace and stripes to give healing, He is the holy, self-denying, humble Pattern, and those professing to be washed by Him must not decorate mortal bodies with ribbons, laces, collars and other needless finery, for such pride and conformity to the world denies Him, proves corruption still in the heart, and shuts sinners out from God, while truth received in the heart kills love of the world and makes followers separate, distinct, modest and pure. As the meek Lamb He was wounded, bruised, smitten and afflicted for sinners, worthy of gratitude and allegiance, and those who share in His sufferings by cheerfully enduring trials and daily crucifying self may share in His glory.

As the meek and slain Lamb wounded, bruised, smitten and afflicted for sins, His suffering is the pattern that followers are to deny self and willingly endure suffering for His sake. His self-denial and sufferings provide the pattern for those surrendered to God, who share in His self-denial and fellowship with Him in suffering. His stripes were endured to redeem those professing to be washed by His blood, making Him the self-denying, humble pattern for followers. As the believer's example in suffering He lived as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief and endured wounding and bruising instead of seeking pleasure, ease and convenience, so believers must not rest satisfied with position but endure hardness as good soldiers, seek divine grace, and watch humbly and prayerfully with humble dependence on God and childlike trust in promises rather than pride and self-reliance.

From the heavenly courts He beheld human misery and came to earth to find a ransom through great humiliation and suffering to rescue the fallen, the Lord of life and glory taking position and duties of a servant, submitting for sinners to mockery, insult, rejection, wounding, bruising, chastisement and stripes that bring peace and healing, and His suffering from heaven's height to the shame of the cross leaves no place for selfishness but binds those redeemed by His blood to do good to all, to encourage and strengthen, to love one another as He loved, and to restore, heal and bless suffering fellow beings. His self-giving on the cross reveals immeasurable love and provides salvation, and those receiving that love are to express it through compassion and persevering efforts to save others. His wounds bring healing to humanity, and His suffering and life as Man of sorrows are the pattern for those who represent Him. As Commander leaving royal courts, laying aside royal robes and crown of honor, clothing divinity with humanity so humanity could touch humanity and divinity lay hold of God's power for the fallen race, living without love of ease and pleasure and self-exaltation in sorrow and grief, bearing punishment for sin to bring peace and healing, He calls all making unreserved surrender to follow Him in self-denial, labor and sacrifice for souls without Christ and share fellowship with Him in sufferings.

Meditating on Him with penitence and humble trust leads people to follow His example and become like Him, relying on His merits rather than claiming righteousness of their own. His suffering on Calvary was for each person, providing reason to surrender fully to God and take a stand for righteousness. His suffering is the basis for His work as Redeemer and surety, and the tempted, praying, watching, believing soul receives help by coming to Him. His sacrifice giving up reputation, majesty, splendor, glory and riches to die for sinful men, living as man of sorrows acquainted with grief and bearing punishment for transgressions and iniquities to bring peace and healing, is the example calling believers to venture name, influence and all they have for truth. Voluntarily bearing punishment due transgressors of law, moved by love alone with no obligation, enduring without murmur every pang and indignity as part of redemption's plan, descending step by step in humiliation and suffering and laying down life for enemies while bearing bitter opposition and reproach from His own nation, to grant fallen man probation and impute merit of spotless righteousness to every repenting believer, humbling Himself to lowest depths to lift them to purity, holiness and completeness, pouring fullness and riches into poverty-stricken souls to give peace, rest, joy and share of throne glories, He calls for eager self-denial and self-sacrifice in lifting the cross to follow Him.

His work bearing humiliation and reproach to bring peace and healing is the pattern Christians are to study, and responding leads to repentance, confession and humility. His sacrifice included more than leaving heaven and dying condemned as a criminal, for He carried the weight of the world's sins, and His self-denial rebukes indifference and calls followers to self-denying service. For those suffering wrongfully He provides example: He did no sin, did not answer abuse with abuse or threaten harmers, but entrusted Himself to God who judges justly, and this healing is freedom from sin so people can live righteously. The burden He bore was not only the wooden cross but the sins of the world, making unwillingness to suffer for Him stand in sharp contrast. In carrying sin, bearing the cross and sharing human sorrow and distress, He is not distant from sufferers but sympathizes with their pain.

As great Pattern and Redeemer whose life and suffering in sinners' place to provide peace and healing are full of meaning, keeping Him ever in view brings help through sanctification of truth, strength to put on gospel armor and work the cities, power to move steadily forward with sanctified intellect, to pray in faith, to work out personal salvation revealing grace, and to obtain rich experience even when others do not show faith that works by love and purifies the soul, calling for not failing nor being discouraged but talking faith, hope and courage, letting faith be made perfect by works and shine with light He imparts, increasing confidence and glorifying God. He lived a pure faultless life for believers to imitate as man of sorrows bearing transgression and bringing healing through suffering, in contrast between earthly life with few sympathizers and second coming with power and great glory accompanied by the whole heavenly host, with multiplied crowns upon the brow once pierced by thorns, coming to wake the dead, so that being prepared to meet Him and reign with Him requires suffering with Him on earth. His suffering and humiliation brought salvation rescuing people from ruin and misery, and those saved by His sacrifice are called to share His path of hardship rather than seek comfort or an easier way into His kingdom. His suffering reveals the sacrifice that convicts people of sin and condemnation and leads them to see truth of God's Word more clearly.

His wounds and suffering for transgressions and iniquities bring pardon and redemption to God by precious blood, and remembering His suffering places holy restraint on believers and awakens desire to suffer for Him in return. Remembering what He endured should restrain selfish words and conduct and awaken desire to live and suffer for Him. Remembering it restrains wrongdoing and awakens desire to suffer for Him. Christ and Him crucified, wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, bearing chastisement that gives peace and bringing healing by stripes, crucified for sins, is the truth to be presented in every missionary effort, and He who suffered this was one with God, having stood in God's counsels and dwelt in everlasting heights of the sanctuary, with all elements of truth in Him and of Him, so to present this crucified Christ risen and ascended as intercessor is the science of salvation to be learned and taught and to be the burden of the work, more than finite minds comprehend. His sin-bearing work is the heart of Christian teaching and missionary effort. His sacrifice is the foundation of presenting Christ crucified and leading people to forgiveness and restored character.

His sacrifice and forgiveness through Him are central truths to teach. Because He died on Calvary and suffered for sins, soul-workers must preach Christ and Him crucified, enter houses to teach Jesus, and hold up Him who died on Calvary so helpless souls are attracted to Him and not to themselves, with success coming when divine power unites with daily human effort one day at a time. Despised and rejected, He carried griefs and sorrows and was wounded, bruised and punished for others' transgressions and iniquities so peace, healing and salvation could come, and that salvation belongs to people in cities not yet worked, whose message must be carried without delay because time rapidly passes into eternity. He gave Himself as great sacrifice seen most fully in closing scenes of His life, and spending a thoughtful hour daily contemplating His life point by point, especially those closing scenes, makes confidence more constant, quickens love, fills with His Spirit, and learning penitence and humiliation at the cross is required to be saved at last.

His suffering, wounded, bruised, chastised and striped for transgression and iniquity to evidence love and pay ransom for every son and daughter of Adam, purchased opportunity to return to God, so every person takes sides by choice, either honoring Him by receiving and obeying truth and using the Lord's money to bring souls to Him, or insulting Him and showing contempt for sacrifice by refusing truth and spending on selfish pleasure, for which all must answer. He was cheered in toil and self-sacrifice by seeing beforehand that travail would not be for naught, viewing through eternity the happiness of the pardoned and hearing the shout of the redeemed singing, and though baptism of blood lay before Him and world sins weighed on His innocent soul under unspeakable woe, for joy set before Him He chose to endure the cross and despise shame, restoring in humanity God's image, lifting men from dust and reshaping character after His pattern beautiful with glory. His humiliation makes pardon and everlasting life possible, and sight of future joy sustained Him through betrayal and trial. What sustained Him in betrayal and trial was looking past humiliation to eternity's expanse, seeing happiness of those receiving pardon and everlasting life through being wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, bearing chastisement of peace and healing by stripes, and seeing that redemption and hearing in advance the shout and song of the redeemed satisfied and upheld Him. During betrayal and trial He was sustained by seeing their future happiness and hearing songs of praise, seeing result satisfied Him.

Wounded, bruised, chastised and striped for others' transgressions and iniquities so through humiliation they receive pardon, peace, happiness and everlasting life, in betrayal and trial He was sustained by seeing this outcome, catching view of eternity's expanse and happiness of pardoned, hearing shout of redeemed and hearing ransomed singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Because He bears griefs and sorrows caused by sin as substitute, not only as sympathizing friend, the Lamb who takes away sin must be pointed out to baptismal candidates with gospel requirement brought to bear, so sins of selfishness, unamiable temper, indolence and wrong habits and practices are to be positively put away, and one breaking with Satan is to give no place to temptations. He cannot take away sins of those refusing to put away perverse spirit, unchristlike words and dishonest conduct, for no person can bear another's sins or even his own, and He came to take away sin. Pardon through His sufferings and death cannot be received before feeling oneself a sinner and realizing sinfulness of sin, but when sincerely repenting, feeling that without pardoning blood one must perish, casting oneself in wretchedness wholly on Christ's mercy, and yielding will and way pleading for Jesus to control will and actions, one comes into position to receive and appreciate pardon and forgiveness.

Doing no sin and speaking no deceit, bearing sins in His own body on the tree, His wounds heal sinners so that dead to sins they live unto righteousness, calling those doing well and suffering wrongfully to follow His steps, enduring grief patiently without reviling or threatening but entrusting themselves to God who judges righteously, for such endurance is thankworthy and acceptable, picturing humans as straying sheep now returned to Shepherd and Bishop of souls, and servants are to remain subject with reverence even to harsh masters in this spirit. He is bruised and dishonored when professed followers choose selfish way, with self exalted as tyrant, pursuit of course injuring influence and soul, loss of spiritual eyesight, and unkind treatment of fellow burden-bearers wounding Christ Himself. As Shepherd He was wounded and bore punishment caused by transgression of God's law, the rod of the Father's hand falling on Him, and His suffering was for followers' sake. His self-denying life of poverty and suffering, marked by rejection and misunderstanding by people He came to save, suffered because of sin with wounding for transgressions, bruising for iniquities and healing through suffering. Bearing penalty due every person's transgressions and iniquities to bring peace and healing, He delivers those coming in penitence for pardon and overcoming grace, having come in human nature, set perfect example, sympathized with suffering and suffered punishment for sin.