Take Another Look

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Look at that prisoner on death row. He’s about to get a lethal injection. He was found guilty and his punishment fit the crime. He was a bad man and had committed a heinous crime. He’s getting exactly what he deserved.

Look at that man on the cross. He must have done something terrible, treason, most likely. He’s getting what He deserved…but just a moment. Take another look!

From the perspective of the people who witnessed the crucifixion, He was just another criminal, supposedly the leader of a small band of insurrectionists…but just a moment. Take another look!

When the religionist looked at Him, he saw a condemned man suffering and dying. He was separated from God, stricken and smitten. He was getting what He deserved, affliction…but just a moment. Take another look!

700 years before the cross, the prophet Isaiah looked ahead and saw that He was not a criminal. He was no ordinary man. He was the promised Savior. He was not getting what He deserved, He was getting what we deserved! He was wounded for OUR transgressions. He was bruised for OUR iniquities. 

Wherever you are today - standing, sitting, kneeling - I encourage you to take another look at the cross. Those are your transgressions, your iniquities, your sorrows, your punishment—on Him! 

Now take another look! Do you see it? Peace, healing, forgiveness—in Jesus!

But  He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6