Man on the Middle Cross

Jesus died for my sins. I'm forgiven. God gave up His Son for me out of love.

Did those phrases really sink in for you? Or did your eyes skim over them almost without thought? These words don't have the effect they should have on me anymore. In fact, I don't think they ever really did. Until I read Isaiah 53.

"Yet He Never Said a Word"

After Jesus was betrayed by the Jews to the Romans, He was brought to Pilate, the Roman governor. When the leading priests and other authorities involved in Jesus' trail made false claims and accusations against Him, He didn't say a thing. In Matthew 27:12-14 (NLT) it reads:

But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. "Don't you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?" Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor's surprise.

This scene from Matthew was prophesied in Isaiah 53 (verse 7, NLT):

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Jesus was in the right, yet He didn't defend Himself. He could have gotten out of His death if He had simply said something. But His silence said everything. Through love, Jesus did not open His mouth, giving us the gift of grace and ultimately, our salvation.

"Why Have You Abandoned Me?"

At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

Jesus' desolate cry is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:1, which reads: "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?" (NLT)

It shows the depth of His distress as He suffered separation from His Father. But it was also at this point that Jesus endured the wrath of God's judgment on sin. The worst part about it, is that Jesus didn't deserve this separation or judgment because He was perfect. Every sin that had been and will be, was laid on His shoulders. Sin He hadn't committed. Your sin. My sin.

Isaiah says it so clearly in chapter 53 verse 8:

Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

That is why this line is so important. It was exact moment that all our sin was erased. Forever.

"It Is Finished!"

The Man on the middle cross said one last and chilling sentence before He died.

It is finished! (John 19:30 NLT)

It is finished.

Jesus' last words meant more than His work was done. It meant something more and Isaiah tells us this in Isaiah 53:11 (NLT):

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.

His work was finished. But not only that, but He was satisfied. He was satisfied with His work. Satisfied with what His death had accomplished for us. For us sinful people. Isn't that something to celebrate?

In Closing

So how do these three lines of Jesus link together? Well, this is the hope of salvation. This is the story of God's mercy, love, and grace.

In the first line I talked about, from Isaiah 53:7, Jesus stayed silent, through love.

Second, verse 8 of Isaiah 53 talks about Jesus being struck down. It was the exact time your sin and my sin, was erased forever.

And lastly, Jesus was satisfied with His work. Satisfied with what His death had given us, God's sinful people.

Never forget what Jesus did for you. He stayed silent, willingly erased your sin, and died for you.

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