HE TOOK UP THE CAUSE OF ALL THE BLACK SHEEP


In the English language, black sheep is an idiom used to describe an odd or disreputable (
scandalous, disgraceful) member of a group, especially within a family. The term has typically been given negative implications, implying waywardness, being different, difficult and stubborn. 

The term originated from the occasional black sheep which are born into a herd of white sheep. Black wool was considered commercially undesirable because it could not be dyed. In 18th and 19th century England, the black colour of the sheep was seen as the mark of the devil. In modern usage the term is usually given to the member of a group who has certain characteristics or lack thereof deemed undesirable by that group. 

The black sheep of a family is the odd, disputable one in a family; he is disliked by everybody, hated and rejected by everybody. Maybe you are in a situation where your family is ashamed of you, and you cannot do anything right in their eyes. 

Isaiah 53:2-12 (The Message)

(2)  The servant grew up before God--a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look.

(3)  He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

(4)  But the fact is, it was our pains he carried-- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures.

(5)  But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him--our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed.

(6)  We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him.

(7)  He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence.

(8)  Justice miscarried, and he was led off-- and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people.

(9)  They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true.

(10)  Still, it's what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it--life, life, and more life. And GOD's plan will deeply prosper through him.

(11)  Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many "righteous ones," as he himself carries the burden of their sins.

(12)  Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly-- the best of everything, the highest honors-- Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep. 

Jesus took up the cause of all the black sheep. If I am a black sheep I can be encouraged by the fact that He stood up in my place.

THIS IS THE GOSPEL IN 4 WORDS: Jesus in my place.
 

We know that God has to punish sins because He is a fair God, and the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. But He loves us, everybody, He loves  the world, His people, His creation, therefore He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place, to stand in our place. 

He stood in my place, so that I can stand in His place – HEAVEN

From Isaiah 53 it is clear that
:  

* He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, He made us completely well (verse 5) 

* All the time this was God’s plan to save us: Still, it's what GOD had in mind all along, to crush Him with pain. The plan was that He give himself as an offering for sin so that He'd see life come from it--life, life, and more life. And GOD's plan will deeply prosper through Him. (verse 10) 

* He gave himself as offering 

* LIFE (John 10:10 I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness) is what came for us through His death on the cross.

* We are forgiven, washed, the slate is now clean, etc. 

* God has piled ALL our sins on Him (verse 6) 

* Through Him we become righteous ones 

* He took the place of many sinners and prayed that they might be forgiven 

BUT ALSO:

From Isaiah 53 I realize that Jesus also stood in my place for all the emotions, sickness, pain and problems that I may experience.

He knew first hand how pain felt, how rejection felt.

He can feel sympathy for our weaknesses, because He was fully human. (Heb 4:15) 

HE TOOK UP THE CAUSE OF ALL THE BLACK SHEEP

Here are 25 words from different translations of Isaiah 53 that describe what Jesus experienced on the cross:

1)    There was nothing attractive about Him

2)    He had no dignity, no beauty

3)    People looked down on Him

4)    He was passed over

5)    He was seen as useless

6)    Filled with sorrow

7)    Despised

8)    Abused

9)    One who suffered

10)          He was treated harshly

11)          He was crushed

12)          Wounded, although He did nothing wrong

13)          Beaten

14)          Spat on

15)          Knew pain first hand

16)          Hated

17)          Rejected – people turned away from Him

18)          People thought He was scum

19)          His best friend and disciple, Peter, denied Him

20)          He was betrayed by his followers

21)          no one cared about his fate

22)          He was arrested

23)          He was sentenced without a fair trial

24)          Hated

25)          He was a nobody

Isaiah 53:4   But the fact is, it was our pains He carried-- our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. 

He carried our sins – yes! we can have eternal life.
He also carried our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us – yes! we can have LIFE! Life, life and more life!

RECEIVE THE NEW LIFE NOW – let Him wash all the disfigurements..... come to the cross, taste His goodness, experience His forgiveness, feel His love and compassion; start a new life as a new creation today.
2 Cor  5:17
Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
 

Duplisering en verspreiding word toegelaat sonder veranderinge en met verwysing na die webruimte (www.heuning.co.za)