Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

When we read these kinds of passages that speak of the great suffering that Jesus had to endure for us, we should make them personal. Jesus was pierced for me. He had to die a terrible death on the cross because of me. He was willing to be wounded on the cross because of His love for me. When we view these passages personally, it tends to make us more appreciative of what Jesus did for us and we are more remorseful by the fact that He had to do it. Sadly, some, not only do not appreciate the suffering that Jesus experienced for our transgressions, but they are ashamed of it. One reason some of the Jews rejected Jesus was because of His suffering on the cross. They viewed it as a disgrace and something that the true Messiah would never have experienced. But He did, and in doing so He fulfilled prophecy. We should never be ashamed of what Jesus did for us. Instead, we should be sure that we understand the great benefits we have as a result of His suffering.

Because Jesus died, we could be redeemed. Paul said, “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). No one else could pay this price but Jesus, that is, without being eternally lost. If you or I died for our own sins, we would be condemned eternally because we would die as sinners. Jesus, on the other hand, could die for our sins without dying in sin because He was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). In His death, the blood was shed that washes away our sins (Revelation 1:5). So then, the redemptive price for our sins was nothing less than the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). Are you not glad that Jesus was willing to suffer for you? The fact is it was the only way for Jesus to become the captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). He was perfect through sufferings, that is, by tasting death for every man, He became the Savior He left heaven to be (Hebrews 2:9).

Because Jesus died, we could enjoy more fully the wonderful gift of prayer. The reason we can have a powerful and dynamic prayer life today is because we have a great high priest (Hebrews 4:14). But, for Jesus to be our high priest, He first had to die. First, we need to remember that Jesus could not even be a priest until after He died and ushered in the new covenant (Hebrews 9:16-17). But it is in this new covenant, what the Hebrews writer calls the new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), that we, by the blood of Jesus, can enter the holy of holies (ver. 19). This is not referring to the old testament tabernacle that served as a type of heaven, but to heaven itself. Jesus went there first as our forerunner (Hebrews 6:19-20). After suffering on the cross, Jesus ascended back to the right hand of God. Now we have access to the presence of God all because Jesus was willing to shed His blood, suffer, and die for us. Remember, in the old way, only the high priest could enter the most holy place, and he could only do it once a year, and not without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:6-7). But now in the new and living way, all the priests, that is, every single Christian, can enter the holy of holies, and we can do so with confidence and in full assurance of faith. Why? All because Jesus was willing to suffer. All because He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities.

Never, ever be ashamed of the suffering of our Savior. You can be remorseful that He had to suffer such a horrible death for you. You can be appreciative that He was willing to do it. But do not dare be ashamed. Instead, remind as many as you can that He suffered for them too.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.