Saturday's Snippet

Isaiah 53:4-5

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Good morning, one and all, 'tis Saturday!!

As this weekend has been designated as the Easter weekend, I wanted to re-read the account of Jesus being tried and then crucified. Isaiah, the Messianic prophet, penned it well when he wrote that "he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows," and, ".. he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities..." It was for us that Jesus paid the price at Calvary.

What cruel treatment was laid on His precious back when they whipped Him!!! The humiliation when they placed upon His back a scarlet robe, upon His head a painful crown of thorns, and a reed in His right hand. They mocked Him. They spit on Him. They took the reed out of His hand and hit Him in the head. What awful treatment was rendered to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Yet, He remained silent. Isaiah wrote... "I gave my back to the smiters......" (Isaiah 50:6)

The crucifixion itself was worse than horrible, and I cannot fully convey what I feel about that part because it tears at the core of my soul as I imagine what took place. Yet, it was the reason why He came. God had a plan when He robed Himself in flesh and was born to a virgin. God walked among men in the body of Jesus Christ. With Jesus' death at Calvary, it ended the need for yearly sacrificing of animals. Jesus was our Lamb of God, slain for all our sins and iniquities.

For me and you He came, lived and died. His death was not in vain for many have believed in Him, and have obeyed what He told Nicodemus - "... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5). Many have obeyed His words to ".... tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49). Many have repented, been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2). 

We were the reason He came, died, and rose again. The late Dottie Rambo penned it well in her song, For What Earthly Reason:

Verse One

For what earthly reason would the Heavenly Father send down His Son

To suffer rejection and pay for crimes He had not done?

For what earthly reason would the Father let Him hang on a tree?

I wept with the answer, that one earthly reason was me

Chorus

I was the reason, that one earthly reason

I was the guilty, He was the sacrifice

I was the taker, He was the giver

Dying while I go free,

That one earthly reason was me

Verse Two

The fairest of angels were not summoned 

from the throne up in the sky

To purchase my pardon, and not even the angels could die

The only provision for my freedom was destined to be

The sweet Lamb of Glory, and His only reason was me

May we find a place today to weep once more for the price paid that we could be saved!

Until tomorrow, Lord willing....................