[117]. A Message From A Poem – He Became Sin For Us

[117]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE BECAME SIN FOR US

This poem resulted from some discussion in one of the Christian forums on Isaiah 52 and 53. I was thinking into the sufferings of the Lamb upon the cross trying to capture the stark reality of that sacrificial death. Of course God blotted out the light so peering man would not enter into that event.

Practically everything we have on the DEPTHS of suffering at Calvary is found in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms and the prophetic book of Isaiah. The utterances from the cross we have recorded in the New, but the Old gives some insight into the reason behind those utterances. The books of Moses throw some light, too, on His sufferings typified in the various offerings found there. It is Psalm 22 and 69 that expose us to the deep emotion in the heart of the Lord Jesus on the cross, expressed through prayer.

The cross was a bitter time and meant entering the depths where no one had been before. The contemplation of that was behind the Garden statement about the cup passing from Him, yet Paul records - . . .”who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross . . . He became sin for us – {{2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”}}

Isaiah again tells us clearly - {{Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore and OUR SORROWS HE CARRIED, yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, but He was pierced through FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS. He was crushed FOR OUR INIQUITIES. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”}}. What a humbling fact it is that the Lord endured all that because He knew that we (the fruit) would result.

Although this poem has a relatively common 7-6-7-6 metre, it is written without any rhyme scheme (blank verse). That gives it a rougher edge and more suits the subject.

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HE BECAME SIN FOR US

His face was marred far worse,

Than any son of man.

Upon the cross He suffered,

A sacrifice by choice.

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Our sins were laid upon Him,

Placed by the Father’s hand,

And He alone did bear them;

For them he did atone.

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And in the hours forsaken,

The Father turned away.

The Son could find no standing,

The depthless pit was His.

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The weight of sin upon Him,

Borne in that dreadful hour,

When He, for sins, was made sin,

Was awful in extreme.

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His face was so contorted,

That none would understand;

And none could recognise Him,

As one, a son of man.

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God would not allow the sight,

And blotted out the sun.

None in earth or heaven beheld

His agony so deep.

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The wrathful cup was emptied;

The Lord had seen it drained;

For He won full atonement -

Redemption through His blood.

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Lamb of God, our sacrifice,

Our sinless offering;

Your deep, deep love and mercy

Joined with grace to save me.

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Salvation now is offered,

The freest of all gifts;

But one that had been purchased,

With a measureless price.

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Contemplation of that act

In which He gave His all,

Should result in our response

Where our all we give to Him.

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4 August, 1997 R E Ferguson Blank Verse 7-6-7-6