Messiah the Suffering Servant (6)—The Two “Alls” - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6 NKJV

Messiah the Suffering Servant (6)—The Two “Alls”
Today’s text is the story of the Bible in one verse. The message of the Bible is twofold: it is the record of the history of man’s sinfulness, and it is also the unfolding plan of redemption through God’s grace and counsels in Christ. These two features are exactly what is revealed in Isaiah 53:6.

The godly Jewish remnant in the time of the Great Tribulation will gradually come to faith in Christ; it will dawn upon them that it was their own sinfulness which had led them to the point of extremity, and that their Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, bore the wrath which was due to them. Isaiah 53:6 will be their confession in that day.

It is also the confession of every sinner, Jew or Gentile, who comes to faith in Christ: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We were doing our own will—which is the definition of sin—and like sheep, going our own way. God’s answer was sending His Son into the world, and He “has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” The word translated “laid” has a deeper meaning than appears in our language: it means, “caused to land on Him,” or “caused to meet on Him.” God’s wrath met, or centered upon Christ at the cross (2 Cor. 5:21).

The great evangelist of the 19th century, D. L. Moody, was having a gospel campaign in the city of Philadelphia. At the end of the week he was leaving the city by train. A man could be seen running after the train on the station platform as it pulled away. “Mr. Moody, what must I do to be saved?” Moody, standing at the rear of the train yelled, “Go home and read Isaiah 53:6. Enter in at the first all and come out at the second all.” That’s good advice for every one of us.

-- Brian Reynolds