Jesus: Our Suffering Savior

Before the cross was planted in Golgatha, it was pictured by Isaiah. Isaiah shared with us the image of a savior who came into the world and would suffer immensely — not by accident, nor by rage, though plenty was demonstrated, but on purpose. This savior would be despised, rejected, pierced for transgressions which were not his own, and crushed for iniquities which he, himself, did not inquire (Is 53:3-6). Every stroke of the image cast of this suffering savior became identifiable in the suffering of Christ (1 Pet 2:24-25).

Jesus is the Suffering Savior. He did not suffer because He was weak, but because He was willing (Jn 10:17-18). He stepped out from the glorious splendor of heaven to our world of brokenness to bear up the burden we could do nothing but fall under: sin, shame, guilt, and death (2 Cor 5:21). There was a punishment for our peace; it was whipped into His back, crushed onto His head, driven between His wrists and ankles, and lifted up for unworthy man. Our punishment for peace fell upon Him (Is 53:5).

Our culture relishes in comfort; it avoids pain and suffering - we too might fall into the trapped thought of serenity through selfishness. Our Lord thought differently. Our Lord embraced shame and suffering for our salvation (Heb 12:2). Our Lord suffered, not as a tragic mishappening, but as the divine plan of God, all three persons. His suffering is at the core of the good news (1 Cor 15:3). His wounds are our balm. His silence is our security. His sacrifice is our salvation.

Isaiah reminds us that grace is never cheap. Salvation cost the blood of God’s own Son (Acts 20:28). And yet He gave Himself freely, “like a lamb led to the slaughter” (Isa 53:7), because the cause of redemption outweighs the cruelty of the cross.

With all the people living in the world and those who have lived, we may feel small, insignificant, and like a minor cause. Remember, God looked down from heaven and kept to the plan, no matter how difficult and dehumanizing it was, because of a soul - your soul. He bore every weight and embraced every sorrow that was necessary for you to have joy - a joy the world cannot snatch away.

Jesus, our Savior, suffered and died, but He rose from the grave victoriously (Rev 1:18). He gave a pound of flesh for our freedom. He gave His life for our life. He is our victory and our song.