Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Isaiah 53:4-5 …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.
THE SUFFERING SERVANT OF THE LORD (3)
It is either HE FOR US or it is EVERYONE FOR HIMSELF. The latter is plain heathenism and eternal death. HE FOR US is the truth on which rests the gospel of righteousness by faith without the works of the law. St. Paul testifies to this again and again:
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
"For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:3-4).
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree)" (Galatians 3:13).
The apostle Peter testifies of Jesus: "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
Behold the Suffering Servant of the Lord, our Divine Substitute!
My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression Which bro't this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee; Wrath were my rightful lot.
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me Thine forever! And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 172:4, 8)
