THAT most beautiful chapter, the fifty-third of Isaiah, which contains a description of the Person and sufferings of our Lord, begins with the question, “Who hath believed our report?" That question was asked a very great many years ago, and yet if it were asked now-a-days, there are numbers who would have to confess that they have not truly believed the report; they have not believed that "He," the Lord Jesus, "bare the sin of many."
A soldier, who was in great distress about his soul's salvation, was taken by one of his comrades to a lady in a soldiers' home. After some time spent in prayer and conversation, the lady opened her Bible at the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, and asked him to read the sixth verse. He read thus: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on us the iniquity of us all." He was asked to read the verse again, and did so: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." On Him! The soldier realized the difference of having his sins upon himself and having his sins laid by God upon Jesus. He believed at that moment that if his sins had been laid on Jesus, he himself must be free.
“Who hath believed our report?" Many are trying to establish their own righteousness. They do not believe by His blood Christ thus made the sinner's peace with God. Yes, in spite of the fact that God is even now holding out His salvation as a gift, many are trying to buy it, trying to obtain salvation by means of their own works; but "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," and that gift is "without money and without price."
"Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." When we believe that Jesus Christ has saved us, then we have in Him One who feels for us, and is with us whenever we are in any trouble, an All-mighty and All-loving Friend, who will never leave us. We may not always be able to feel His presence, but we can always rest assured in Him, for He loves His own who are in the world even to the end.
Some hesitate because they do not feel they are saved, but there are no conditions about feeling mentioned in the Bible; the Scriptures bid us to "Believe." One whom I knew was in the state of "waiting to feel," when a friend pointed out to him the words, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," adding, God does not say thou shalt feel saved, and this led him from building upon his feelings, and taught him to trust in Christ, and brought him into rest. With others again is the difficulty that they cannot “repent enough," but we do not obtain salvation by repentance; it is a free gift. If we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we shall feel and mourn for our sins, and we shall know that He is worthy, but that He has taken our place on the cross, and that His blood cleanses us from all sin. C. B.