In the book of Isaiah there are four “servant songs” which include prophecies about a future Messiah who is also a servant who suffers on behalf of his people.

This Messiah and servant is Jesus.

Isaiah 53:12 (CSB) says that “he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.”

At first glance, this seems to be about the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus (Luke 23:32).

But isn’t it also about you and me?

Maybe “rebels” seems like too harsh a description. I realize that we are made the image of God (Genesis 1:27), that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and that we are “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

But we also rebel against God and his commands. Isaiah 53:6 describes us well: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way…”

And what happened? Did he let us go? No. Jesus the Righteous One gave his life for ours, the rebellious ones.

This isn’t to make you feel bad about how bad you are, but good about how good God is!

Makes you thankful, doesn’t it?

Do you get discouraged by your bad days? By your missteps, sin or selfishness? Me too.

The good news is that you’re not forever defined by your rebellion; you’re forever defined by a Redeemer.

No one is too far gone for God’s reach. Including you.

By Matthew Ruttan

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–Bible quotes are from the NIV unless otherwise noted.

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