crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his
wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our
own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.’
And again in verses 10- 11 of the same chapter:
‘Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes^
his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the
Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life^ and be
satisfied; by his knowledge^ my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their
iniquities.’
Jesus Christ was not a human sacrifice to God. He was the offering for the sin of
mankind so that we can be fully forgiven, cleansed and sanctified, reconciled to
God, and live a life of obedience, service and fellowship. And after the will of God
was fulfilled, He raised Christ back to life again, just as he symbolically raised
Isaac back to life again. Our God does not require human sacrifice, but only that
His purposes of salvation are accomplished.
Isaiah 53: 11 - 12: ‘ After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his
knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,^ and he will divide the spoils
with the strong,^ because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with
the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors.’
God does not leave His children in suffering or in death any longer than necessary
for heavenly purpose. He raises them back to life again and rewards them for their
suffering because suffering is never the purpose of our tests and trials. The
purpose is always to purify and perfect us, and to advance God’s Kingdom. Thus,
even in reference to Christ, the Bible says in Hebrews 2:10-11:
‘In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and
through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through
what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of
the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.’