Isaiah 53: Who Would Believe That?

Who has believed our message
   and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  - Is. 53:1 NIV

Who would believe Isaiah's message?  Although it was one of hope, it was too far fetched to believe.  One could believe that a king would sacrifice his life for his child, for the child's future.  It's a little harder to believe that a king would be willing to die for his constituents, especially when we see the opposite today:  dictators, leaders of every kind, who would sacrifice their people in order to stay in power.  So the mere promise of someone who would sacrifice their life for ours, is contrary to our experience..

Then Isaiah adds another twist to the promise.  He would die, not to save the innocent, but to save the guilty.  

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
   and by his wounds we are healed. - Is. 53:5 NIV

To paraphrase Paul, There are those who would sacrifice their life for those they loved,:  taking the hit for a good buddy in wartime, bodyguards throwing themselves on the one they are paid to protect, a father covering his child as the tornado approaches, but with God it was different.  While we were yet sinners, with nothing to look forward to, no reason to live, nothing to offer, Christ died for us.  Who would believe that?

2010 Post - Isaiah 53: Surely, Surely