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Made Sin for Us

Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness. (Isa. 52:14)
We believe that this is a picture of Jesus on the cross. If so, “His face was disfigured beyond that of any man,” meaning that no one has been disfigured that much ever; and “beyond human likeness,” meaning that His crucified body did not look human.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted; but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was 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. (Isa. 53:4-6)
This text tells us the reason behind the disfigurement. Every lie, every murder, every rape, every idolatrous act was nailed to the cross in Jesus. For those few hours, He not only carried every evil action in the history of the world, but He became sin itself: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

When we speak of the cross, it should not be glib or in a common place way. Thank God.

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