Transformed by His Death on the Cross

Isaiah 53 reminds us again and again that the Messiah bore our suffering. "He was wounded for our transgression, bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." This was partly fulfilled in the miracles of healing performed by Jesus (Matt 8:17). He suffered with the sick and healed them. But the primary fulfilment was when Jesus bore for us all the suffering that we were doomed to, as a result of sin (I Pet 2:24). Commenting on Isa 53:5, Ellen White wrote the passage that many have memorized. "Christ was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves. . ." DA 25

There are three outstanding ideas in the text on the event. (1) It was vicious--He was wounded, bruised and chastised. (2) It was vicarious--it was not for His own, but for our transgressions and iniquities, and (3) It was victorious--with His stripes we are healed.

Vicious

We encounter crosses daily. We've seen so many in metal, wood, cloth and plastic, we have become immune to the pain it inflicted. But the pain of the cross was so severe, a word had to be invented for it -"excruciating," meaning "derived from the cross." Painful as it might be, we must be reminded of what Jesus endured on our behalf. Ellen White wrote that if we focus on the cross and concentrate on it our "spiritual faculties will be charged with divine power direct from God." MB 44

Physical Pain

Jesus's pain began even before the crucifixion. Flogging with a whip that slashed repeatedly on bruised tissue, cut progressively deeper, multiplying the pain. The thorns of Zyziphus Jujuba, long and surprisingly painful, was pressed on to the scalp--extra sensitive to pain and bleeding.

Weakened by the flogging, and with his head dripping with blood, Jesus had to carry the heavy cross. It's rough wood cut into His lacerated skin and muscles. Finally it was removed, but Jesus still had to walk half a mile to Golgotha.

Rough iron spikes tore through the skin, nerves and sinews of His hands and skewered His flesh to wood. Then another spike was smashed through the bones of both feet, and into the post. From now on every movement caused excruciating pain.

When the cross was thrust into the pit dug for it (DA 745), the flesh of the hands and legs strained at the spikes as the body was jerked, and then again as the body sagged, putting more weight on the nails. Pain shot up from the legs and arms.

Suspended by the hands, the body was in a state of perpetual inhalation. For a gulp of fresh air Jesus had to push downwards against the nails in the feet to raise Himself, easing the pressure on His chest. Each time He moved up or slumped down He scraped His raw wounded back on the rough wood. Death was sometimes hastened by breaking the legs which prevented the victim from raising upward to breathe, resulting in suffocation.

Emotional Pain

There is a common jingle--"Sticks and stones don't hurt my bones," but words do. We have all experienced hurt caused by words. They are often harder to bear than physical hurt, and take longer to heal.

The rabble jeered Jesus. They repeated his words--"coming in the clouds of heaven," "sitting at the right hand of God," with derision. They bowed and worshipped Him in jest. Then they spat on Him. From time to time, one snatched the cane they had given Him as a sceptre and hit Him on the head. They mocked the circumstances of His birth and humble life. Jokes were made and repeated. Satan egged the crowd on. On every side Jesus could hear insults, outrage, and derision. It continued even as he hung on the cross. "If thou be the son of God, come down," He saved others, He cannot save himself!" For hours He bore the jeers and curses of the crowd.

Vicarious

We have all suffered for our own mistakes, and we have suffered with someone else as we saw them either sick, hungry or hurt. We may have even suffered in place of someone else. People do the work of friend, pay another's debts, and take the blame and punishment that a loved one might escape. This is something we understand even from a young age. Our son Nonoy was only about four years old when his little sister Nene did something wrong and needed correction. I forget what she did, but it was deliberate and we decided she needed a tiny spanking. His tender heart could not accept it. "Don't spank her," he pleaded. But when we pointed out she had been forewarned of punishment, he said, "Spank me instead."

The Old Testament taught removal of sin by the sacrifice of an innocent animal. But the blood of cattle was good enough only as a symbol. Neither could the blood of a sinful human redeem a fellow human (Heb 10:4-8). But Jesus's righteousness was enough to cover the sin of the entire human race of all ages because He was God Rom 3:21. However, He could not offer His righteousness as a substitute for us without bearing our guilt and punishment.

The punishment part--physical pain, didn't frighten Jesus. Even the thought of the jeering crowds didn't bother Him. But bearing the guilt of our sins was the real scare. Christ bore the sins of the human race in a very real sense, not just on paper or in theory. It's as though sin were literal filth, and the muck of the entire human race was smeared on Jesus's spotlessness. The effect was as though He was responsible for it, and it weighed heavily upon Him. This dirt of the human race and the separation from the Father was the real cross that Jesus bore, the cup that frightened Him. The death on the cross was the proof that He had accepted our burden.

Victorious

The defeat of Satan was prophecied as early as Gen 3:15. From then on people looked forward to a Saviour who would crush the head of the serpent. By His death Jesus destroyed him who holds the power of death--that is the devil, and freed those who all their lives were held by their fear of death (Heb 2:14,15). The death of Christ also sealed the fate of Satan. The heavenly beings did not realize fully the character of Satan. But at the cross the angels fully understood the issues of the great controversy. "The accuser was overcome by the blood of the Lamb." Rev 12:10, 11

Saved by Grace

The good news of justification is that Christ's righteousness is free to us. All our own goodness, no matter how well intended, is worth nothing more than filthy rags before God. Jesus told a story to illustrate justification. A Pharisee and a Publican went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like other sinners, robberrs, adulterers, or even a tax collector like the pathetic publican next tohim. He paid his tithe regularly and fasted twice a week. In contrast, the only thing the tax collector said was "God, have mercy on me a sinner." He made no claim to doing anything to commend himself to God. But Jesus said it was the publican who went home justified before God. All he had to do was admit he was a sinner, and beg for God's mercy.

But the good news of salvation does not end with justification. That is only the beginning. The cross also sanctifies us (Heb 10:10). Sanctified people will live in conformity with God's will MLT 248. But again, just like justification, there is nothing we have to do, or can do, or are expected to do. There can be no merit in anything we can do--sanctification is the work of grace. We are not only pardoned by grace, but we are transformed by grace.

The Power of Love

Love motivated the sacrifice on the cross (Jn 3:1), and love constrains us, compels in response (II Cor 5, 14, 15). The sanctified life is founded upon the power of love. I love my wife, and so I try not to do things that will hurt her. It happens once in a while, and it hurts me terribly when I do. But what is important is our love. And because we love and are loved, it's okay again.

Love to God is made evident by love to fellow humans I Jn 4:10. Paul says it is a debt we owe Rom 13:8, because the law is based on love--to God and to our fellowmen. Love is what transforms us and what makes it evident that we have been transformed. Transformed persons do not slander but are peaceable and considerate, and humble. They avoid quarrels and arguments Titus 3:2-4,9. Our church should be marked by this love that results in unity

By His Stripes You Are Healed

Isaiah concludes his famous passage with the sentence "By His stripes we are healed." Healing suggests that we were diseased. The human body cannot heal itself of sin, but Christ's power heals us. If you have a problem, by His stripes you may be healed.

If you love this world and its comforts and joys, and are neglecting God, keep your eyes focussed on the saviour suffering on the cross. By His stripes are you healed.

If you love sin, and a particular one has repeated hold over you, Christ's death makes it possible for you to be free. By His stripes you may be truly healed.

If you are discouragaged, filled with despair, and life looks hopeless, a look at the cross reminds you of a glorious future that will last forever. By His stripes you, each one, are healed.

If you are afflicted with self-righteousness and overconfidence, and are proud of your accomplishments, the cross tells you there is no merit in anything you can do. It is by His stripes that you are healed.

Christ's selflessness can heal your selfishness, your disinterest in the plight and suffering of others. The power of the cross can provide you with courage, the strength to do what you know you want to. A deep look at the cross can cure you of lukewarmness. If you are bothered by a nagging conscience, by doubts of your salvation, remember Christ paid it all on the cross. By his stripes you are, not might be healed. You are transformed by His death on the cross.