He was numbered with the transgressors

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

What a statement is contained here! What a mighty concept! What condescension! What a tremendous pity and pathos has been showed mankind by a holy God! For you see, Christ was numbered with the transgressors. Was He a transgressor? He was not! He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. There was no deceit in Him! He knew no sin! Yet He was numbered with the transgressors. He was crucified between two malefactors! He was considered vile, evil, estranged. He was despised and rejected of men. We esteemed Him not! They put Him in the same category as thieves. They put Him on a murderer’s cross. Barabbas was released so that Jesus could be judged. A murderer was given freedom, so that the Savior of the world could be killed. He was numbered with the transgressors! He became as me so that He might redeem me! He took my sin that I may be made clean. He has justified many by bearing their inquiries. He bare my sin!

Now, my friends, we know that Christ had no sin. He should not have been numbered with the sinners and the thieves, the murderers and the insurrectionists. So why did it happen this way? Christ chose this path in obedience to His Father. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He hath put Him to grief. He made His soul an offering for sin. He had to be numbered with us to save us. He had to become as us to deliver us. He was numbered with the transgressors! And furthermore, does not the Scripture here tell us that He made intercession for the transgressors? Did He not say, on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do?” Surely He did! He prayed for the ones who hurt Him, hated Him, and hailed Him with mockery and derision. He asked forgiveness for those who brutalized His body and crushed His soul. He interceded for those who hung Him on the cruel cross. This is my Savior. This is my friend! He has purchased my soul, and procured my forgiveness. But the only way this could ever be done is by becoming one of us. The perfect, sinless, holy Son of God became one of us to remove our transgressions. Oh, may we meditate on this great truth today, praising Him for our forgiveness that was obtained at such great cost to the only begotten Son of God! He was numbered with us, and interceded for us. And dear Christian, be encouraged today, that because of His infinite mercy and marvelous grace, to this day He intercedes on your behalf, praying to the Father for you. What a Savior!

“Dear Lord Jesus, we want to thank you today that you became one of us, and was numbered by this evil and wicked world as one of us. You were considered a sinner when you never sinned, and a villain when you never destroyed. You were accounted a thief when you never stole; a malefactor when you were a benefactor. What wondrous love is this! Thank you for taking away our transgressions by your great intercessory work for us. We have salvation only because of your grief and sufferings. How could we ever properly praise your Holy name? This we will do by giving our all to Thee. Be pleased with the small sacrifice of our lives today, as we seek to live wholeheartedly for the precious Savior who gave all for us. In the lovely name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.”