He Was Numbered With the Transgressors

Isaiah 53:12

Besides the usual interest that this word awakens, it is also of a unique and special interest to everyone who has paid attention to and has believed this word from Jesus’ mouth: “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink . . . .” Mark 10:39.

There is no way around it if we want to become like Him. Therefore it says that we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Rom. 8:17.

We need to take our time in order to dwell on this topic. Think about it! Think that we have been called and chosen to be numbered with the transgressors, to (by and large) be rejected by God’s people, and to suffer much from them!

Let us immerse ourselves in the causes for why Jesus was so hated.

1. He spoke truths that touched their lives, that exposed their malice, and it judged their works. For example: John 5:38, 40, 42, 43, 47; 6:26; 7:19; 8:15, 26, 37, 40, 42, 43, 44, 55.

2. He said that He was the Son of God, that He did not commit sin, and that He was always obedient to the Father; in other words, that He was unlike them, that He was better than they were. Examples: John 5:41; 7:29; 8:14, 15, 16, 29, 46, 55.

These two things had the same effect; they awakened their hatred and their rage that was not satisfied until they knew that He was condemned to death and out of the way. This is truly something to take to heart.

Because they lived in such a way that the light condemned them to death, therefore He—whose life and words were impeccable—should be put to death!!!

This gave rise to the saying, “You are right; therefore you shall be hanged!” I wonder if it is any different for us? Not at all! On the contrary! It is not any different for us. Therefore Jesus said, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” Matt. 10:25. The master is Christ, and we are His household.

Regardless of what Jesus spoke about and to whom He spoke, it confirmed the fact that He was truly better than they were. Nothing could be done about that. If He had spoken differently—in order to please them—He would have had to lie.

It was entirely because of the fact that He was something out of the ordinary—He was greater and better than they and their leaders were (John 8:53)—that enraged them and filled them with envy that put Him on the cross in the end.

Our way goes in that direction as well—to Calvary—with a robber on each side. Why is that? For the same reason that He ended up there. Because we speak the truth and walk in uprightness and faithfulness to the Lord, our God! Because by doing that we disturb the others’ sleep in their sins, etc. Thus we become disturbers of their peace, causing division and uproar. 1 Cor. 11:18-19; Acts 17:6. This was precisely the same thing that Jesus was accused of. John 10:19; Luke 23:5.

We are different than the others, because they cannot dominate us, overcome us, or scare us, etc. Besides, our true testimonies penetrate into other people’s hearts, lives, and activities, revealing their folly—therefore we will necessarily be hated by all those of a different mind.

However, it starts with a lowly beginning, followed by a prolonged continuation before it comes to a final conclusion. Therefore it is vital now to get used to being reckoned as transgressors, as haughty people who cause uproars, as being hard and unloving and self-important, as impure and malicious—even as possessed and mad—in the midst of a pure and noble life.

This will eventually become our daily bread so we are finally able to empty the cup completely.

It is significant what Jesus mentions in His prayer on the cross: “For they do not know what they do.” We, on the other hand, ought to know what we are called to do; namely drink the cup that He drank, the cup that others in their ignorance fill up for us. Amen.

Elias Aslaksen