The Blessings From The Cross

The greatest love of the Father was shown on the cross. When Jesus was tortured and abused by the soldiers, Jesus prayed for them and asked God to forgive them! Has anyone seen a love like this?

Jesus was tortured so heinously that he was not even recognisable as a human being. Isaiah 53 gives us a picture of how heinous the crucifixion was. No movie or description could capture it. The Word says that He became unrecognisable and disfigured. He did this all for us.
In Isaiah 53:2, it says that Jesus was not beautiful or majestic to any. We do not know what Jesus looked like. 

Isaiah 53:3-4 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

He was rejected by people and yet He took up our pain and suffering. All the while, people thought He was being punished by God.
 
Matthew quotes this verse in Matthew 8.17 “This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”; in reference to all the healings Jesus did. 

Isaiah 53:5 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.
He did this all for us; for our sins and for our healing and peace.

1 Peter 2:24-25 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus, who was blameless, was punished and oppressed for our sins. He did this without hesitating or complaining. He was stricken 39 times and these wounds were for the healing of our bodies. By His wounds we can still be healed, even today, if we believe.

Isaiah 53:7-9 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  By oppression and judgement he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
He was silent like a sheep walking towards His death. Isaiah received this revelation and this is exactly what happens centuries later. How amazing and sharp is God’s Word!

From Isaiah 54, there is great joy in his prophecy!
1 “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. 4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

After the crucifixion is where our joy begins. Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to remember it in sadness once a year. He did it to set us free and bless His people. The barren woman represents the Old Testament which did not bear fruit. Jesus went through so much pain to give birth to His spiritual children of the New Testament.
He can turn our sadness into joy and our mourning into dancing when we are filled in the Spirit. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit. Because Jesus suffered on the Cross, we reap the fruits/benefits. He can enlarge our territory and strengthen us. He will take away our shame and disgrace. There is nothing to fear. If we receive the revelation of the Cross, we will always be joyful and enjoy the fruits.

Isaiah 54:5  For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

The message of the cross as is written in Isaiah 52 and 53 is foolishness to those who are perishing but the wisdom of God to those who believe. The Cross is the source of eternal life and blessing to those who receive its revelation.