Saturday, December 19, 2009

Devo # 79: Jesus died in the place of rebels!

Key Verse: "He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels." 53:12b NLT

Isaiah reminds us why Jesus had to come and die. Though he was God, and had done no wrong as a man, he was punished in our place:

Jesus bore the penalty of our sins:

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
Jesus had done nothing wrong but willingly suffered for our sins!

7 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.
8 Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.[b]
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.[c]
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.

Jesus was not just the victim of man's inhumanity but his sacrifice for us was a part of God's plan.
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

Jesus would rejoice that his suffering brought about our righteousness!
11 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.

Jesus is worthy of our honor and praise for what he did for us!

12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for bearing my sin, Thank you for interceeding for me, even when I was dead in my trespasses and sins! Lord you are good and worthy of all praise, Glory and honor are due your name!!Though you were already God, thank you for coming to earth, being born in the form of a baby, living as a man, dying for my sins, rising again from the dead and now siting at the right hand of God. Thank you that you are now interceeding for me and that you will come back to judge and rule the world. Help me Lord to live a life worthy of your love and sacrifice for me! In Jesus Name! Amen!