The Sufferings of Christ

"He was wounded for our transgressions." - Isaiah 53:5

Unconverted friends,

You must come and attentively reflect upon the sufferings of Christ in order to perceive as in a mirror what will befall you temporarily as well as eternally, if you do not repent. May this reflection be a means to work repentance and faith in you.

1. I therefore address myself to you who as yet are ignorant of sin in its abominable and bitter nature and do not perceive and feel your misery, but live in sin with delight, esteeming the same as long as it is delightful and does no harm, while having no regard for whether or not this is sin.
2. I address myself to you who burrow in the earth as a mole, the one to make a living, the other for riches, another for honour, respect, or status, doing so as if all depended on this. Your thoughts only focus upon this; all your concerns and desires relate to this, you have nothing else in view and you labour for nothing but this.
3. I address myself to you who as yet do not feel what a dreadful condition it is to miss God, to be separated from him, to live forgetful of him, not realising how blessed a state it is to be reconciled with God and to have communion with him. As a result of this you are neither troubled by the one nor desire the other.
4. I address myself to you who as yet are ignorant of the necessity of satisfaction of divine justice; and are of the opinion that if you but feel remorse over the commission of grievous sins and if you but pray for forgiveness, all will be well.
5. I address myself to you who as yet do not know Christ as Surety (Saviour) who satisfied for the sins of those who will be saved; to you who are ignorant of the manner in which one receives Christ by faith, and have neither wrestlings nor exercise of faith.
6. I address myself to you who live civil lives, frequently attend church, are baptised, partake of the Lord's supper, and live in such a fashion that no one will be able to say anything against you, and who on this basis build your confidence that you will be saved.

Poor people! You are still dead in sins and trespasses, blind, without Christ, and stand without as far as salvation is concerned.

Come, therefore, and consider each detail of the suffering of Christ; search for the reason why Christ had to suffer thus. Consider that this is only the portion of those who are converted, that is, for believers. Be sensibly convinced that you have no part in this, but that if you remain thus and die in this state, you will suffer the same to all eternity. For if the righteousness of God is so provoked to wrath towards the Surety (Christ), due to the sins of the elect who he has loved with an everlasting love, how can you be of the opinion that you will go free? Oh no, "for if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in a dry?" Luke 23:31. Conclude therefore with a lively impression that you are neither a partaker of Christ not of all he has merited, but that you, as you now are, must eternally endure the absence of God and be subject to the dreadful and unbearable wrath of God. May God apply it to your heart and cause you to tremble and shudder. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, betake yourself to this Jesus, seek him, and endeavour to believe in him in order to come to God through him and thus be saved. If you will not heed this, considering such fears to be the anxiety of a coward; and if you turn your heart away from this, you who hear this or read it yourself, proceed if you wish, but know that you have been warned, and that your condemnation will be the heavier.

Wilhelmus à Brakel (1635-1711)

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" Isaiah 1:18