Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10
This is a wonderful statement about what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection. Notice, God’s will is at the beginning and end: “It was the will of the LORD to crush him… the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” God’s will is the main theme here, but before we get to the resurrection, we need to see that God’s will also prevailed in the death of Jesus.
Peter said, “This Jesus… you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23). Judas betrayed Jesus for money. Caiaphas condemned Jesus out of envy. Pilate handed Jesus over to keep the peace. So, was God’s purpose thwarted in Jesus’ death? Absolutely not.
God’s will prevailed: “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (2:23). We might expect Peter to say, “This Jesus, delivered up by Judas, or Caiaphas, or Pontius Pilate.” Why doesn’t he?
Because the will of God the Son was aligned with the will of God the Father. The Father willed to give up His Son for us; the Son willed to give Himself for us. Father and Son were at one in loving us and saving us at unfathomable cost.
God’s will prevailed in the death of Jesus, and what was true of Jesus will be true of you: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28, NIV). “All things” means the evil as well as the good. Whatever darkness you face, whatever evil you encounter, whatever suffering you endure, God will always be at work for your eternal good and for the good of others.
How do you think God could use the suffering in your life to accomplish His purpose?
