You are going to pay for that!  My wife has used that expression with me after I have eaten some really spicy food.  At the time I enjoyed it, but she knew I would be up all night with heartburn.  I was going to pay for it.

In this lesson from Isaiah our just God tells us, “The Christ is going to pay for that!”  When pointing ahead to Jesus Christ, Isaiah writes, “It was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…his life will be a guilt offering…and he will bear our iniquities (sins).”  Our God has every right to punish us for the wrongs that we have done and the sins that we have committed, but instead he sent us a Savior, Jesus Christ.  When we consider Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, we see this prophecy from Isaiah come true.  Jesus paid for the sins that we have committed.  He paid for the sins of all people for all time.

After Jesus died for our sins, he saw “the light of life.”  In other words, Jesus rose from the dead.  His resurrection was proof that God accepted Jesus’ payment for our sin.  Now we can stand before God perfectly forgiven.  Another way that Isaiah assures us of this same truth is by saying Jesus would “justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”  The word “justify” paints the picture of a court room where a judge finds a defendant “not guilty” of a crime.  Because of the payment Jesus made for us, the Lord finds us “not guilty” of any of the wrongs we have done.   When speaking about our sins, we can say with certainty, “Jesus paid for them!”

Because of his surprising love in paying for our sins, Jesus is called “great” by the prophet Isaiah. It is my prayer that you will see that greatness of Jesus.  He has paid for your sins.  He has restored your relationship with your Heavenly Father.  He has given you a bright future.