“Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12, NASB
I just had to write today because my heart is so full contemplating the crucifixion of our Lord. I’m struck by this phrase in Isaiah 53, “He poured out Himself to death.” A note in my Bible provides an alternate meaning for the word Himself, translating it also as “His soul.”
When I meditate on Christ pouring out Himself on the cross, I picture His precious blood flowing. Cascading from His head all the way down His body, puddled on the ground beneath the cross. This horrifying yet beautiful truth still speaks. Christ’s blood is the means by which we’re forgiven and saved.
But the perspective of Jesus pouring out His soul adds to my picture. All of Christ’s affections, His purpose, and His character—the essence of who He is—was poured out on that splintered cross.
Jesus gave Himself in the most tremendous sense possible. In addition to offering His body, He offered His heart. You know how vulnerable that feels sometimes? To lay yourself out there for all to see … to reveal the innermost thoughts and feelings you possess? The possibility of rejection looms, but that’s what Jesus did as an act of intercession for us.
Opening wide for all to see, Christ revealed the full nature of God on the cross.
In Jesus’ sacrifice, we witness the exquisite beauty of God. All humanity can know who God is because Jesus perfectly displayed Himself on the cross.
The Savior of the world poured out His blood in obedience to His Father, demonstrating His love toward mankind. He poured out Himself—His very soul—so we can know Him and be saved for eternity.
As we grasp this power of the cross, we are changed.
Blessings, my friends, as you worship the Lord Jesus Christ for all He is and all He accomplished on the cross.
With much love in Him,
In Jesus' sacrifice, we witness the exquisite beauty of God. #Jesus #JesusSaves #Christianity Share on X
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Blessings to you too dear Emily. I enjoy all of your writing. This devotional is beautifully expressed. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Word and to our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for faithfully putting your heart for His Name and His Word on the printed page.
Dear Mary Ann,
I am so grateful for your encouragement time and time again. Thank you for reading the messages God places on my heart. It’s truly a privilege and joy to write for Him!
In His matchless love,
Emily