His generation—Easter Series Part 8

By oppression and cialis sans ordonnance judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the link land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? Isaiah 53:8, NASB

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. Isaiah 53:8, KJV

The first of the above two versions of Isaiah 53:8 is from the translation I normally use, the New American Standard Bible (NASB). The second is from the King James Version (KJV); using both versions together sheds new light on this verse.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away… (NASB)

John MacArthur said of the crucifixion of Jesus, “No victim of injustice was ever more innocent than the sinless Son of God…It was the greatest travesty of justice the world has ever seen” (see http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/portraits-of-grace/read/articles/the-murder-of-jesus-13577.html).

Others have stated that His arrest, trial, and sentencing was, by far, the worst case of criminal miscarriage of justice in history. It was because of man’s oppression and evil judgment that Jesus was nailed to the http://www.careerguru.careerunway.com/order-viagra-usa/ cross, but God turned the twisted wisdom of men’s murderous ambition on its head. Instead of the intended “snuff job”, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ gave the entire human race access to redemption and eternal life—not the outcome His executioners were anticipating.

He was taken from prison and from judgment… (KJV)

Jesus had been oppressed and judged by man’s judgments, and He was taken from the prison of the grave and judgment by the resurrection power of God. Commentator Matthew Henry wrote of this verse, “He was discharged…He was by an express order from heaven taken out of the prison of the grave, an angel was sent on purpose to roll away the stone and set him at liberty, by which the judgment given against him was reversed and taken off” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Isa/Isa_053.cfm). Because of His sinlessness, neither judgment, nor death, nor the grave could hold Him down once He had completed His redemptive mission.

…and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? (NASB)

Who living in that generation even once considered during the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ that He was cut off—assassinated—for their own sins and http://www.sumatealahistoria.cl/farmacia-online-generica-kamagra/ guilt-laden ways? They deserved death and judgment; He took it on for them; they were clueless concerning it.

… 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 (KJV).

The KJV reads, “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation?” Because Jesus was sinless, death could not hold Him. Therefore, when He rose from the dead He became the firstborn among many brethren after bearing our sins and wiping out our debt. As a result, His generation—you and I and all the others who would be born again through faith in Him—would be without number.

“Declare” in this verse is siyach, and according to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, it means “to think upon anything” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7878&t=KJV).  It is the same word used in Psalm 143:5, “muse”—“I muse on the work of Your hands.” With this definition in mind, a paraphrase of this portion of Isaiah 53:8 might be, “He was taken from prison and from judgment by the resurrection from the dead; who can ponder the full extent of His generation—the innumerable company of His brothers and sisters—who have been raised to newness of life through faith in Him?” Glory to God—that includes you and me!

His generation—those alive during His time—had no idea how significant that gruesome day was until they themselves were raised from death to life by faith in Him. And His generation—the uncountable multitude of human beings who have become His brothers and His sisters by believing in Him—span all generations from His day forward, throughout history, for as long as this age remains.

You, too, are a member of His generation if you believe in Him and the reality of His death and resurrection on your behalf. And because of your genuine faith in Him, the stroke and judgment for your sin will never fall upon you. For you the prison door has been opened; you are no longer guilty; you are free.

Dorothy

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren… Hebrews 2:10-11