SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 53
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [Isaiah 53:5-6]
This passage so clearly points to Jesus, it is difficult to make sense of it in any other way.
It refers to His ignoble birth, His rejection by His own followers, His innocence, His silence and surrender through His interrogation, His cruel death and the reason for His dying – for sin, for our peace – and also to His resurrection.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. [Isaiah 53:11]

Jesus knew that His purpose was to suffer and die: “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” [John 12:27-28]
He also knew what was at stake, that through His death all sin, death and hell would be defeated.
Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [John 12:31]
He knew that through His death, He would restore God’s family, and the “many” will be justified, “all men” will be brought back to Himself.
‘But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.’ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. [John 12:32-33]

The death of Jesus was not the end of His mission, but the turning point in His mission.
His sacrificial death on our behalf is a ‘deed of light’ in a ‘world of darkness’, and after His death (“the suffering of His soul”, Isaiah 53:11) He is restored to the light (life), He sees the light, and He brings light to all those living in darkness.
Jesus – His love, His teaching, His death, His resurrection, everything about Him – is light in darkness.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. [John 1:4]
It was after Jesus heard God’s voice affirming His willingness to suffer and die for human sin that He said to His audience: Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. [John 12:36]

Not sure where I am going with all of this…
I guess the assurance that what Jesus did was all according to God’s plan, and Jesus willingly submitted Himself to that plan.
To me, that makes Him a light in the darkness, and the reason that people from all over the world are drawn to His love and teaching.

PRAYER:
Lord, its amazing to me how this passage from Isaiah anticipates everything about You. It assures me that everything is unfolding according to the plan – Your plan to rescue and restore me, and all people!