The Picture of the Cross (Part 1)

Every year, in Good Friday services around the world, voices unite to sing, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” This familiar hymn is more than a song, however. It is a challenge—a challenge to understand the cross of Christ, so that we might embrace it with our whole hearts and appreciate it with our deepest gratitude. Interestingly, it is the same challenge that calls to us from Isaiah 53.

In the Old Testament, we have several foreshadowings of the crucifixion of Christ, and each brings its own perspective.

• In the Passover, we see the cross from the Father’s perspective, as Christ becomes our Passover.
• In Psalm 22, we see the cross from the perspective of Christ Himself as David gives us the heart of Christ as He suffers for our sin.

In Isaiah 53, however, it is the cross from ground level—how men and women viewed the cross. It tells us what they saw, and what they failed to see, and what they desperately needed to see. But, as we approach this text we must do so with a sense of caution. It is terribly vital that we not make commonplace what is so essentially sacred. Why?

• This is the heart and soul of the gospel.
• This is the Redeemer in the act of redeeming.
• This is what compelled the Ethiopian Eunuch to pursue the identity of the Sufferer as he read Isaiah 53 in Acts 8:32.

So, we stand once again at the foot of the wondrous cross and survey what is there, and we consider “Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself… (Heb.12:3)” What do we see?

Part One: Christ Rejected By Men (Isaiah 53:1-3)

This is actually part of an extended “servant song” that begins in Isa.52:13 and continues through 53:12. As this hymn reveals the attitude of a rebellious world to the Christ, it forms a framework for what follows.

As Isaiah 53 opens, it is against this backdrop of rejection (particularly v.14, “So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.”). That is why the chapter opens as it does—their reaction to the servant of God (as Isaiah often calls Christ) is thoroughly negative.

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isa.53:1-3)

“Who has believed” (v.1)- It is more an explanation than a question. “Our message” means “that which has been heard,” which tells us that the problem is not a lack of information. The message has been heard, and either ignored (passive) or rejected (active). Paul picked up on this theme (1 Cor.1) when he said the message of the cross is foolishness (empty of value) to this world, but to the redeemed it is the wisdom of God. Even “the arm of the Lord,” God’s power and strength, does not convince them. Isaiah says that, though all this has been clearly declared, they will still reject—and they did!

Notice the contrast in v.2. What God sees as a “tender shoot out of parched ground”—the beginning of new life out of the death of the past—men see nothing of worth. They see no “stately form or majesty,” and certainly no beautiful appearance to attract them.

• They expected regal splendor and instead got someone of common appearance.
• They expected elegance, but for Christ, it was a coming in humiliation.

Why? Because He chose to not come in the glory of a king, but in the humility of a servant. How did the people respond? We see the answer in verse 3:

• Despised: to view with contempt
• Forsaken of men: cast aside, shunned
• Man of sorrows: severe pains
• Acquainted with grief: brutal injuries
• Hid our faces: like pulling away from a leper.
• Despised, did not esteem Him: literally, “saw no value in Him!”

Amazing—men saw no value in Him, but the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found all my delight!” Psalm 45:2 refers to Messiah as “fairer than the children of men,” but men were ready to cry, “Crucify Him.”

2 Responses to “The Picture of the Cross (Part 1)”

1. Mark L says:

   April 8, 2009 at 11:37 am

   There is a picture of a cross, it is vacant and under the picture are the words,” It was not the nails that held Him to the cross but His love for you and me” No one could have forced Jesus to go through such excruciating agony that had to be worse then any other person could have endured. If He was not God in flesh He would have not survived the floggings and abuse as a mere man. No mere man could have carried the weight of the world’s sin after being so physically abused. Satan poured out every once of wrath against Him and lost as Jesus walked the path to our redemption. The movie by Mel Gibson “The Passion of Christ” just touches on what Jesus must of went through as Satan tried to destroy Him and win. Jesus proved His love not only for us but to The Father in obedience.

   Jesus knew what He was going to go through and cried drops of blood asking the Father, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt”. Mark 14:36 Can you imagine knowing what was in your future? Knowing the sadistic hate was waiting to be poured out on you because you gave sight to the blind, cleansed the leaper, fed the multitudes and brought the dead back to life. A mere man would have held resentment and bitterness against those who falsely accused Him and even betrayed Him. I can not honestly say I would have been as forgiving as I try to slip into the Saviors sandals even for a second.

   No tool or technology could have ever held Jesus to the cross only His free will out of love for us could. Even during this time when we nailed Jesus to the cross, God was extending His Mercy to us by holding back the angels that surely would have come down and did some serious damage. But God had a plan the perfect plan of redemption to remove the sin of the world by sacrificing Himself to show how much He loves us and wants to have fellowship with us to bless and give us the desires of our heart. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
2. Bill Crowder says:

   April 8, 2009 at 5:51 pm

   Thanks Mark…
   You are absolutely right… it was only the depth of His love that took Him to the cross, and only the depth of His love that held Him there. We are so blessed to have such a loving Savior!