Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isa 52:14).That verse is well worthy of memorizing. The Hebrew reveals the words appalled at him mean the people were amazed and devastated by what they saw! They were shocked.
What the people saw as Jesus hung on the cross was now an unrecognizable blob of swollen, bruised and bleeding flesh. His disfigured, enlarged and bleeding face and body had deep gashes where his skin was ripped open and his blood was pouring out. The second half of Isa. 52:14 reads:
... his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.It says, beyond human likeness. Jesus looked like some mangled thing nailed to the cross. Jesus had endured:
Thus, his appearance was appalling, shocking, stunning, paralyzing and devastating. It is almost unbelievable that any person would be treated as he was (yet he endured it all for Jesus had to die on the cross). He had to make it to the cross for YOU. Now many were appalled at his sight, as he was dying and paying for our redemption. The physical pain he endured at that time must have been off the charts to get YOU!
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds (should be WOUND -- singular) you have been healed (1 Pet 2:24, NIV).With Jesus' appalling appearance in mind, the Greek in 1 Pet. 2:24 shows the actual tense for the word wrongly translated in the KJV as stripes and NIV as wounds is SINGULAR!
We can't imagine what the one and only PRECIOUS Savior looked like then. Doesn't that make you want to LOVE JESUS more? He endured all that to get YOU, dearly beloved. Are you willing to SUFFER for righteousness (Mt. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:14) over his cause?
Yet as Jesus hung there, and his blood was draining from his body, he was still being mocked and ridiculed -- some even misrepresented what he said. Imagine what that was like for the Lord Jesus. Horrifying, yet God does things with eternity in mind and not just for the moment.
The many who hated him were glad that Jesus was suffering and dying in such a humiliating way. Imagine being in such misery, but around mocking and sneering people who detest you. That was the environment he endured to get YOU. He also could have ended his sufferings by calling on more than 12 legions of angels but he didn't (Mt. 26:53)! He endured all that unimaginable pain and shame, for YOU were on his mind.
It is too bad there has never been even a single picture of Jesus on the cross, which has ever come close to portraying what he really looked like at that time -- not even close. If there were, it would not be allowed in a day like ours. It would be considered offensive and too graphic to be openly shown in public. But that single misrepresentation of his appearance on the cross as the lamb of God has done much harm -- minimizing the extreme price Jesus paid. Again, it's bloodcurdling how anyone could be treated so horribly bad even by his enemies that resulted in him being disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness. He did it so we could have peace with God:
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:5)Jesus took our sins so we could have peace with God! Imagine that. What a price he paid for us to have that peace. Of course, peace with God doesn't come automatically. What we have to do is repent and submissively follow the Lord Jesus in faith to have that peace (Acts 20:21; Rom. 5:1; 2 Cor. 7:10; etc.), but we couldn't ever get it without Jesus' sin sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross, our redemption was paid in full.
Jesus hung on the cross 6 hours before he died (Mark 15:25 cf. Mt. 27:46-50), instead of the typical 18 to 48 hours -- 3 to 8 times shorter than the norm! Why did Jesus die on the cross so quickly? It's because he was so savagely and mercilessly beaten before he was nailed there, that is, when he was getting marred beyond human likeness to get YOU.
In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)
For by him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col 1:16-20)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life (Jesus), which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (1 John 1:1,2)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! (Phil 2:5-8)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Heb 2:14,15)NOTE what Jesus did, as recorded there and what he said after he resurrected from the grave:
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev 1:18)Jesus triumphed (Rev. 5:5). Jesus got the keys of death (and Hades). It's assumed he got them from the devil (who had the power of death) Heb. 2:14,15. The Savior got those keys for our benefit. So, there is no need to fear death, IF you are pure of heart. THANK YOU Lord Jesus, the champion of the universe.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who ENDURED SUCH OPPOSITION FROM SINFUL MEN, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:2,3)That passage is a key for us to know and consider to endure to the end for salvation's sake (Mt. 10:22; Heb. 3:14; Rev. 2:10,11). Jesus abhorred the thought of going to the cross, which is where criminals die, yet had to do it to get YOU! He endured all that opposition and shame from sinful men for us.
If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15)
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching...." (John 14:23,24)You don't love Jesus, unless you are obeying his teachings, according to the King. So, will you reject his unsurpassable love for you for the love of this world and sin, which will end in fiery torment? Will you wisely follow Jesus for your sake and for those you love the most? Jesus wants YOU with him forever, but do YOU really want him? Do YOU really love Jesus?
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Cor 5:14,15)That's what Jesus did, but now it's your turn. What will you do? Will you reject Jesus' sacrifice and love to get YOU or will you repent and submissively follow Jesus?
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