He will bruise His darling Son!
(by Francis Covell, 1875)
(You will find it helpful to Listen to the Audio, as you read the text below.)
"He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
What are we? We are only lumps of sin and dirt!
But see the eternal love of God towards sinful men. His boundless love set His infinite wisdom to work how to save these sinful and sinning creatures from the burning pit!
It pleased the Lord Himself to bruise His Son. He thrust the sword of justice into the heart of His own dear Son, that mercy might flow to the "objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory."
His dear Son must suffer, that they might be spared.
There was such love in God towards sinful men that many waters could not quench it. He did not spare His Son one iota. The Darling of Heaven cried out, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me!"
But that we might go eternally free, and that God might look on us in justice and holiness, with smiles and kisses—He bruised His own Son.
Jesus bore thousands of hells in His own sufferings in the garden and on the accursed tree; and the Father never withdrew the sword until He cried out, "It is finished!"
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us!"—to save us from a burning pit; to bring us to the heights of bliss! O the depths of God's love!
If He will pardon sin; if He will save a wretch, a rebel, a man damned by the law; if God will let His heart's love run out to save sinful man from what he deserves—then He must part with the love of His heart, the joy of His soul—His only begotten Son!
But would He actually do that? Is His love so surprisingly great, boundless, full, and free—that to save an enemy, a vile and a cursed sinner, He will bruise His darling Son?
He will! "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief!" Isaiah 53:10