Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
The greatest testimony of God’s love for His “chosen” people (Ephesians 1:4) is that it is “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). In this context, to be “smitten” is to have received a horrific death blow. It wasn’t man’s beatings that took our Lord’s life, and neither was it the cross; it was God Himself! Our Lord said it this way, “I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:15) and “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:17-18) and “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). It was the duty of the High Priest to kill the sin offering for the people (Leviticus 16:15). Therefore, in fulfillment of the Law, our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our “High Priest” (Hebrews 2:17), sacrificially offered Himself to the Father to Atone for our sin. Thus, He was “smitten of God”! It was the Son Of God, who is one in the God-Head (I John 5:7), that was “smitten” for our sin. It is important for us to note that, it was our Lord, Master, Savior, Shepherd, King, and High Priest who willingly sacrificed Himself on the Cross. It was Him alone; for, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12); only He, Sacrificing Himself, could appease the wrath of God against our sin; that is, atone for us. It is sometimes said that the authorities, and also sinners “killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3:15, Acts 2:36). It was indeed the authorities that beat Him and then nailed Him to the Cross, and our sin was the reason He was Crucified; but, God Himself administered His Sacrificial Death. Knowing of our Merciful Lord’s loving Sacrifice for us, “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalms 95:1) and “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalms 95:6)!