0320. Substitution

Substitution

"And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa_53:6, l. c.).

The doctrine of SUBSTITUTION is taught in many passages throughout the Word of God, it is also set forth in the Jewish sacrificial offerings. The 53d chapter of Isaiah, however, stands forth pre-eminently as the substitutionary chapter.

1. It would be well first, to know how many times Christ is described as taking our place when He died upon the tree.

Isa_53:4, "He hath borne our griefs."

Isa_53:4, "He hath carried our sorrows."

Isa_53:5, "He was wounded for our transgressions."

Isa_53:5, "He was bruised for our iniquities."

Isa_53:5, "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him."

Isa_53:5, "With His stripes we are healed."

Isa_53:6, "The Lord hath laid on Him, the iniquity of us all."

Isa_53:8, "For the transgression of My people was He stricken."

Isa_53:10, "Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin."

Isa_53:11, "He shall bear their iniquities."

Isa_53:12, "He bare the sin of many."

Eleven times in one short chapter, of twelve verses, Christ is described in His substitutionary work. The same chapter describes Christ as "despised and rejected of men," as "oppressed and afflicted." He is seen as a Lamb brought to the slaughter; and, as the sheep, dumb before her shearers. He is the One "cut off from the land of the living;" making His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death. He is described as "bruised of the Lord; He put Him to grief." These references are all to the Cross, and are too plain to be sidestepped.

2. Who is this One Who was substituted for sin?

(1) Isa_53:2 describes Him thus: "He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant." Here we have His birth and childhood described. Christ was God manifest in the flesh: He was the Son, born of the virgin, the helpless little Babe lying in the manger at Bethlehem.

(2) In Isa_53:2, "He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." This means that the One Who died for us was reared in Nazareth–and Nathanael said: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" This verse foresees Christ in the carpenter’s shop without the prestige of wealth, or the recommendation of schooling,–for, "how hath this Man letters, having never learned?"

(3) In Isa_53:9, we read, "Because He had done no violence neither was any deceit in His mouth." This verse suggests Christ as the Holy One. The One Who did no sin, Who knew no sin and in Whom was no sin.

(4) Isa_52:14 of the preceding chapter, which, in reality, is a preface to chapter 53, says, "His visage was so marred, more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." This suggests the dying of Christ. The agonies of the Cross are upon Him. The thorns are pressed upon His brow, the Blood from His matted hair joins the Blood from His beaten back. He hangs upon the Cross with His exposed nerves, enflamed wounds and the agonies of death upon Him until His visage is so marred, and His form so smitten, that He seems to bear no semblance to sons of men.

Thus we have the Spirit’s description of the One Who became the sinner’s substitute.

3. What is the result of the substitutionary work of this Holy One Who was made flesh and died upon the Cross for us. It is all graphically described:

(1) Isa_53:10 says: "He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days." These words foretell the story, "He is risen indeed." Now He holds in His hand, the keys of death and hades; He is the One whose hair is white as snow, the One Who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore.

(2) Isa_53:10 says: "And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hands." Here Christ is described in the far-reaching effect of His Cross. The Gospel is preached to every nation, the redeemed are coming from every kindred, tongue and tribe of earth, washed in the Blood of the Lamb.

(3) Isa_53:11 reads: "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and will be satisfied." This verse describes the Lord’s Second Coming. We see and hear Him descending with a shout; we behold Him gathering His lambs to His bosom, happy as He greets the raptured hosts, redeemed through His Blood. This verse also describes Christ in Millennial glory, sitting in the midst of His people Israel, resting in His love, joying over them with singing. This verse does more,–it looks through to the consummation, it anticipates the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven; it is a foregleam of the city of God filled with the saved of all ages and Christ is there, satisfied.

(4) Isa_53:12 says: "I will divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide the spoil with the strong." This verse is the climax of the substitutionary work of Christ. The exalted One hath lifted up the ones who were made low. This verse anticipates the prayer of Christ, "Father, I will that they whom Thou hast given Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory." But the verse does more–it sees us "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; glorified together; reigning with Him. All of this is the inheritance of saints who have felt the power of the substitutionary work of the Cross and who know and follow Christ.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR