先知以赛亚在耶稣降生前约700年提到祂,形容祂是神受苦的仆人:“像羊羔被牵到宰杀之地,……他也是这样不开口。”神的儿子“为我们的过犯受害,”“为我们的罪孽压伤。”“因他受的鞭伤,我们得医治。”祂被藐视、被戏弄。祂被好流人血的众人咒诅,被钉在十字架上,却不以咒还咒。耶稣像一只沉默的羔羊,为我们的罪献上自己为祭。
祂忍受着被钉十字架的剧痛,当着众人的面被举起、被杀死。尽管祂遭受了可怕的折磨,祂却因那摆在面前的喜乐就轻看十字架的羞辱(来 12:2)。祂虽然顺服以至于死,却忍受了本是我们配受的律法的严厉惩罚,。虽然祂是受祝福的,但祂代替了我们,成为受咒诅的。祂担当了我们的罪,流出了宝血,救赎我们脱离被掳和必死的结局。祂的痛苦给我们带来了安慰。祂的受死使我们得着生命。在十字架上,耶稣为我们开启了永不枯竭的救恩之泉!
神啊,你的儿子承受了本该属于我的痛苦。但祂从未抱怨过。祂被爱所感动,担当了我的惩罚,好使我得安宁。在祂里面我献上感恩。阿们。
以赛亚书 53章
1我们所传的有谁信呢?耶和华的膀臂向谁显露呢?
2他在耶和华面前生长如嫩芽,像根出于干地;他无佳形美容,我们看见他的时候,也无美貌使我们羡慕他。
3他被藐视,被人厌弃,多受痛苦,常经忧患。他被藐视,好像被人掩面不看的一样,我们也不尊重他。
4他诚然担当我们的忧患,背负我们的痛苦,我们却以为他受责罚,被神击打苦待了。
5哪知他为我们的过犯受害,为我们的罪孽压伤。因他受的刑罚我们得平安,因他受的鞭伤我们得医治。
6我们都如羊走迷,各人偏行己路,耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在他身上。
7他被欺压,在受苦的时候却不开口。他像羊羔被牵到宰杀之地,又像羊在剪毛的人手下无声,他也是这样不开口。
8因受欺压和审判,他被夺去,至于他同世的人,谁想他受鞭打,从活人之地被剪除,是因我百姓的罪过呢?
9他虽然未行强暴,口中也没有诡诈,人还使他与恶人同埋,谁知死的时候与财主同葬。
10耶和华却定意将他压伤,使他受痛苦。耶和华以他为赎罪祭,他必看见后裔,并且延长年日,耶和华所喜悦的事必在他手中亨通。
11“他必看见自己劳苦的功效,便心满意足。有许多人因认识我的义仆得称为义,并且他要担当他们的罪孽。
12所以我要使他与位大的同分,与强盛的均分掳物。因为他将命倾倒以至于死,他也被列在罪犯之中,他却担当多人的罪,又为罪犯代求。”
"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. . . ." - Isaiah 53:7
The prophet Isaiah pointed to Jesus about 700 years before his birth, describing him as a suffering servant of God who was "led like a lamb to the slaughter, and . . . did not open his mouth." The Son of God was "pierced for our transgressions" and "crushed for our iniquities." And "by his wounds we are healed." He was despised and mocked. He was led to crucifixion under the cursing of a bloodthirsty crowd, but he did not return cursing for cursing. Like a silent lamb, Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for our sin.
He endured the excruciating pain of being nailed to a cross and lifted up to die in view of all who passed by. Even though he suffered terrible torment, he scorned the shame of the cross for the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2). Even though he was obedient to death, he endured the crushing blow of the law that we deserved. Even though he was the blessed one, he was made to be a curse for us by taking our place. He bore our sins and shed his blood to redeem us from captivity and certain death. His suffering brought us relief. His death brought us life. There, at the cross, Jesus opened for us the inexhaustible fountain of salvation!
Lord God, your Son bore the sufferings that should have been mine. But at no time did he complain. He was moved by love to receive my punishment so that I might have peace. In him I give thanks. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳