The Old Testament passage we are looking at today is one of my very favorite Scripture passages, Isaiah 53.

When man sinned it didn't take God by surprise. God knew when he created man that man would sin and that He would need to make a way of salvation for man. God still chose to create mankind though because He loves us.

It was no surprise to Jesus what He would have to go through. He knew coming into the situation, He would lay down His life to provide salvation for us. He told the disciples many times what lay ahead, but they didn't get it.

Jesus knew what Isaiah 53 said. Lets read it :

Isaiah 53:1 ¶ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 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.
 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
 10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.(KJV)

Those verses are so precious to me - it presents salvation so clearly. It shows plainly we can not save ourselves. There is no mention of any law we can keep or work we can do that will save us. Belonging to a church, being baptized, taking of communion, none of these things save us. Verse 10 is very plain on how we are reconciled to God and become God's child :

Isa 53:10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

When we repent of our sin, and going our way and believe God, that only Jesus can save us, and we come to Him confessing our sin and our faith in Jesus alone for salvation, then we are born again, saved; we become the child of God.

Jesus words in John 10 show that He knew what He was doing and why :

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus knew He would suffer and die on the cross for our sin. He knew He would shed His blood so our sins could be washed away. He knew He would be beaten, mocked, and that in bearing our sin, He would suffer the wrath of God that our sin brings. He also knew He would rise again.

That is exactly what He did. He took our sins, paid the price, suffered and died. On the 3rd day He got up alive in victory. He went through all He went through for only ONE reason - He loves us. Hebrews 12 tells us in verse 2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

What joy is that talking about? - it is talking about us accepting the salvation He is offering, believing Him and becoming His.

Have you accepted the gift Jesus Christ bought with His own blood? Will you insult Him by offering your works?

He loves you. He bore your sin and sorrows and shed His blood that You can be cleansed and saved. He is alive and offering you salvation free and clear - He already paid for all your sin. Will you accept Him.

Read again the words of Isaiah 53:4-6 and put your name in there - Isa 53:4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our (my)griefs, and carried (my) sorrows: yet we (I) did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
 5 But he was wounded for our(my) transgressions, he was bruised for our(my) iniquities: the chastisement of our (my) peace was upon him; and with his stripes we (I am) are healed.
 6 All we (I) like sheep have gone astray; we (I turned)have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of (me) us all.

But just as I can put myself in these verses I can also put myself in verse 10

Isa 53:10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (When I make His soul an offering for my sin, he shall see his seed...)

I have done that.

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10, &13:

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you haven't done that, won't you come to Him today and receive His gift of love?