You can find today’s artwork and commentary from the Visual Commentary on Scripture here.
This week’s Scripture focus is on Isaiah Chapter 53. Today we continue with verses 4 and 5:
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
When this text is read by Christians with Jesus in mind it brings a very particular understanding to the crucifixion. The death of Jesus is seen as an atoning sacrifice that addresses the shortcomings of humanity, in the manner of the Temple sacrifice. Whilst this is understandable in the context of the Jewish-Christian movement of the day, it has left us with a skewed understanding of “purpose” in relation to the death of Jesus. In the words of many a worship song, it implies that God sent Jesus to die. But what about “God sent Jesus to live” – the message of the Incarnation? There is indeed a sacrifice here, as Jesus goes to the cross in the manner of self-sacrifice. This is not the same as been sent as a sacrifice. Perhaps we would do well to remember the story of the binding of Isaac, when God stays Abraham’s hand at the last minute – another perspective on God’s intentions in relation to sacrifice.
Here is a reworking of that Isaiah text that I feel better frames the reality of Jesus’ death:
Surely he has borne the marks of our infirmities; by these he was struck down and afflicted. He was wounded by our transgressions, crushed by our iniquities in the power struggles of his day; in his death was our weakness shown. Yet in his death and rising, despite our hand in it, he overcame our sin, and we are invited to healing by the light of the empty tomb.
As you consider today’s artwork, here is some powerful music to reflect on the self-sacrifice of the cross: Crucifixus, by Antonio Lotti.
Place of Wondering 