Focal passage: Isaiah 53:1-12
My wife loves to watch Hallmark Mystery movies. In every episode, there are all kinds of unexpected twists and turns. There are people who are guilty that seem innocent and people who are innocent that at times appear guilty.
There is always a relentless pursuit of the evidence in trying to solve the mystery. In the end, the goal is the same – for justice to be served.
As Isaiah delivers God’s Word to His people in this passage, there is one aspect that is straightforward and expected – justice demands that mankind’s sin be punished for rebellion against Holy God.
In fact, God would not be just if such a penalty were not carried out. However, everything else about God’s message served as a completely unexpected turn.
God’s plan of redemption, sending His Son as a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s sin against God, doesn’t just make for a good story ending, but rather it is Good News for sinful mankind, all of whom are guilty before God.
Hallmark knows nothing of the innocent suffering so the guilty can go free.
Before a holy God, there are no innocent humans, only guilty. Praise God that He, not laying aside His perfect justice, but demonstrating His overwhelming love, gave His Son to suffer for us, so that, through repentance and faith in Him, we might be justified!
All glory to our just and loving God!