He was numbered with the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
"Q: WHY did
Jesus suffer Himself to be enrolled amongst sinners?
This wonderful
condescension was justified by many powerful reasons.
A: In such a character He could the better become their advocate.
In some trials there is an identification of the counsellor with the
client, nor can they be looked upon in the eye of the law as apart from
one another. Now, when the sinner is brought to the bar, Jesus appears
there Himself.
--He stands to answer the accusation.
--He points to
His side, His hands, His feet, and challenges Justice to bring anything
against the sinners whom He represents;
--He pleads His blood, and pleads
so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them,
that the Judge proclaims,
Our Lord Jesus was
numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their hearts drawn towards Him.
--Who can be afraid of one who is written in the same list with us?
--Surely we may come boldly to Him, and confess our guilt.
Was He not put down in the
transgressor's list that we might be written in the red roll of the saints?
--He was holy, and written among the holy; we were guilty, and numbered
among the guilty; He transfers His name from yonder list to this black
indictment, and our names are taken from the indictment and written in
the roll of acceptance, for there is a complete transfer made between
Jesus and His people.
His blood gives us as our dowry."
Charles Spurgeon
