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Isaiah 53:5
Memorise Isaiah 53:5
“…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” 

What is the greatest pain that you have ever suffered? A broken bone, a toothache, or perhaps cuts from a bad fall? For me, the worst injury I ever suffered is probably a sprained ankle – nothing very major, but painful nonetheless. 

Few or none of us, therefore, can even begin to imagine the horror of death by crucifixion. Basically, the person being crucified is nailed by his hands and feet to a large wooden cross, or sometimes to a horizontal beam that is then attached to a tree trunk. For every breath that the person takes, he has to lift up his body by pushing up on his feet and arms; however, this would cause a searing, fiery pain because of the nails pierced into them. In such a state, they would be left to die, either by bleeding to death, or through asphyxiation. It was a slow, agonizing death. 

In today’s reading, we read that Christ was “wounded” and “bruised”, and that he suffered “chastisement” and “stripes”. Amazingly, even though this prophecy was written 700 years before the crucifixion of Christ, the description is so minutely accurate! The wounds that Christ suffered were the piercing of His hands and feet, and also of His side after He was dead (John 19:34). He was bruised, or crushed, by the weight of the sorrows that He bore on His shoulders. He suffered chastisement, which was the punishment for our sins. And He endured stripes, which refers to the beating and scourging He was given (Matthew 27:26). Besides the physical torment, there is also the humiliation involved. Christ had to carry his own cross to Calvary, while the crowds mocked and jeered. In the depth of His sufferings, He was stared at and spat on by the onlookers. He was stripped of all dignity, and died the death of only the most wicked criminals. 

Dear teen, do you realise that all that Christ had to endure was for your sake? It was because of our “transgressions” and “sins” that Christ had to die this cruel death, in order we might have “peace” and be “healed”. Will you carry on in your sins and take Christ’s sacrifice for granted, or will you live a consecrated life for Him today? 

Thought: All that Christ suffered was for me! 
Prayer: Thank You Lord, for the great sacrifice in sending Your Son to be crucified for our sins.