Marred more than any man: Is 52:13-15

"Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand." (Isaiah 52:13-15)

This scripture prophecies of the brutality of Jesus' death. It says that he will be "marred more than any man." Jesus death was not pleasant. Roman crucifixion was one of the most painful means of death that has ever been invented. Most of today's art, in depicting Christ's death on the cross, fail to accurately depict the brutality of His death. As Jesus hung on the cross, He was so disfigured that you couldn't even recognize that it was Him. Jesus died a painful and horrible death, and He did it for us!

Through His death, God gives us this promise, "He will sprinkle many nations." God is speaking of the salvation of the gentiles. Jesus died not only for the Jews, but he died for all mankind, even the gentiles. The blood of Jesus, poured out on the cross, was to effect the redemption of all mankind, of the Jew first and also the gentile. Even today, Jesus' blood is cleansing all those who turn to Him in faith. The effect of Jesus' death on the cross is still being felt today.

Paul, in writing to the Colossians, says that the gospel, "has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth." (Colossians 1:6) The gospel is continuously bearing fruit because the work Jesus did on the cross is continuously working in the lives of those who believe. Thank God that the spilled blood of Jesus is just as powerful today as it was 2000 years ago.

David Robison