Bible Commentaries

The Offence of the Cross

Isaiah 53:3
Galatians 5:11

Around the Cross a certain romantic interest has gathered, but what the Cross really stands for is an offence, a stumbling-block and a scandal to men. The Prophet Isaiah 53:6

"The constant and characteristic effort of our Lord's life," says Dr. Smith in his work on Isaiah 53:6

No one ignorant of the nature, power, and guilt of sin can understand this text, but to the humbled sinner it is "good tidings of great joy," of which Christmas and the Epiphany speak to us.

I. For the Sacrifice is for His Salvation.

a. It gives him rest from the works of the law ( Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 3:10-13).

b. It brings reconciliation and communion with God ( Romans 5:9-11).

c. It assures his heart with a triumphant confidence ( Romans 8:32-34).

II. The Virtue of this Sacrifice is its Completeness ( John 19:30; Hebrews 10:14).

a. The sinner has broken the holy law of God ( Romans 3:20).

b. His own righteousness is of no avail ( Isaiah 64:6)

c. But Christ is a complete surety for the sinner ( Hebrews 7:20-22); an accepted surety ( 2 Corinthians 5:21); and the sinner stands complete and accepted in Him ( Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 2:10).

III. Shall we not Lay our Sin where the Lord hath Laid it—on Him? ( Leviticus 16:21).

a. Shall we dare to trifle with that sin, which cost Him such bitter suffering? ( Zechariah 12:10; Hebrews 10:29).

b. Shall we allow self-righteousness to rob us of the precious hope of full redemption in Him? ( Galatians 2:21; Galatians 3:12-13; Galatians 5:2-4).

(c) Shall we not rise to the heavenly privilege of praise for this great work? ( Revelation 1:5).

References.—LIII:6.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xii. No694; vol. xvi. No925. W. Hay M. H. Aitken, Mission Sermons (2Series), p112. W. Howell Evans, Sermons for the Church's Year, p93. Ambrose Shepherd, The Gospel and Social Questions, p49. A. Maclaren, Paul's Prayers, p168. LIII:7.—W. H. Hutchings, Sermon-Sketches, p105. G. S. Barrett, Outlines of Sermons on the Old Testament, p221. Rutherford Waddell, Behold the Lamb of God, p69. "Plain Sermons "by contributors to the Tracts for the Times, vol. v. p86. A. Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture— Isaiah 53:11

The travail of His soul! The Prophet lays no particular emphasis upon Christ's bodily suffering, because, though most visible, it was not the main part of His atoning sufferings. He emphasizes the inward mental spiritual agony, as that in which chiefly He bore our iniquities. Mental is in itself harder to bear than bodily pain. The soul, with its larger capacities, finer sensibilities, and chief place as governor of the body, is more sensitive. Bodily pain is narrower in its range and exhausts itself sooner. What physical agony can compare with the sharp sting of inward anguish?

Let us reverently note some of those things which we may conceive constituted for our Lord "the travail of His soul".

We must not limit Christ's atoning mental sufferings to His actual endurance on the cross, or forget what He endured before the last scenes of His ministry on earth. His closing sufferings were more intense, but in the death-sufferings we should not lose sight of the life-sufferings; for the whole period of His public ministry was a "temptation," and to Him temptation was suffering, as He met and fought it. It came upon Him from friend and foe.

I. He Endured the Contradiction of Sinners against Himself.—What neglects and oppositions were heaped upon Him! Ignorant but well-meaning friends tried His patience, failed to understand His character or believe in His words, and sought to thwart His aims which they could not grasp (cf. St. Matthew 16:8 seq, 16:23 , 17:17; St. Luke 24:25). Enemies gainsaid Him, refused His counsel, despised His teaching, caricatured His doctrine, said all manner of evil against Him falsely, even calling Him Beelzebub. Such contradiction, with all the irritation, and sorrow, and pain, and heaviness it caused Him, no one has ever endured, and none can understand what a humiliation and grief it was for Him to put up with it from those whom He came to save, and over whose sinful souls, even as they blasphemed Him, His pitying heart yearned with boundless compassion.

II. The Sight and Contact of Human Sin and Misery as they lay Passive around Him must have Deeply Wounded His Soul.—He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. He had all sources of personal happiness within Himself, yet He went down into the depths of society, into the depths of this fallen world, where only scenes of sin and misery could meet His eye, and tear His heart, and pain His purity. How must that native purity of His sinless humanity have been repelled and shocked as Isaiah 53:11

Our text speaks to us of the "satisfaction" the Lord will experience at the result of His great atoning work. Many a man is not satisfied with the fruit of all his labour; no man is indeed in this world ever satisfied with the results of his expenditure. But Christ is satisfied at every stage with the progress made. His satisfaction keeps pace with every enlarging vision of the travail of His soul. His satisfaction shall be full when the vision is complete. When the sons and daughters are all brought home, He will desire nothing more, and regret nothing. His delight is then perfect. He shall be satisfied with His people.

I. Satisfied with their Number.—There will be a multitude that no man can number; the vast majority of the race: a mighty gathering, countless as the dewdrops from the womb of the morning ( Psalm 110:3); and as He casts His eye over the General Assembly and Church of Himself, the First-born, He will not murmur that He has not more. Sufficient reward will He deem them to be for His travail of soul.

II. With their Variety.—All kindreds and nations shall be represented there; all varieties of generations, and ages, and climes, of culture, and temperament, and experience, of rank and degree in the social and the moral world, shall be brought together in perfect unity, to satisfy Him with the sight of their diversity in unity, and of the suitability of the "common salvation".

III. With their Character and Attainments.— All shall stand perfect and complete in all the Will of God; each, in his measure and degree, according to his capacity, filled with the Spirit, conformed to the image of the "First-born among many brethren," and partaking of the Divine nature, and beginning an eternal progress; so that He shall see them faultless and worthy of Himself, and have no greater joy than see them walking in the truth, and desire no greater perfection in them at any stage of their eternal history.

IV. With their Prospects.—They shall have fullness of joy, pleasures for evermore, new reaches of duty, new anticipations of higher felicity in His presence; and, under His guidance, enlarged and ever-enlarging capacities. There will be no drawbacks and deductions with God Himself their portion, heaven their home, His truth their study, His service their duty, His presence their light and glory. He will ask nothing more for them. He shall be satisfied with what God has given to Him for them.

V. With their Praises.—They shall thank Him, cast their crowns at His feet, fill heaven with His glory, and bless Him with full hearts and unfaltering lips as they never could on earth; and as they cry, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!" He shall be satisfied, and feel such adoring gratitude ample recompense for the travail of His soul. How great must be the number, variety, attainments, prospects, and thanks of Christ's redeemed to satisfy Him for His sorrow, and make Him think that that was not too sharp and sore for what it has brought!

References.—LIII:11.—A. Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture—Isaiah XLIX-LXVI. p108. T. Binney, Sermon Preached in the King's Weigh-House Chapel, p1. W. P. Balfern, Glimpses of Jesus, p237. R. Waddy Moss, The Discipline of the Soul, p57. T. Monod, Outlines of Sermons on the Old Testament, p219. J. Keble, Sermons for the Holy Week, p153. LIII:12.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. viii. No458; vol. xxiii. No1385; vol. xxxv. No2070. W. H. Hutchings, Sermon-Sketches (2Series), p44. J. B. Stedeford, Christian World Pulpit, vol. lxvi1904 , p133. R. E. Hutton, The Crown of Christ, vol. ii. p173. W. Alexander, Verbum Crucis, p19. A. Maclaren, Exposition of Holy Scripture—Isaiah XLIX-LXVI. p117. Jesse Butt, The Soul's Escape, p62. LIV:1.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xi. No649.