Christ’s Satisfaction

Maybe there was a time when you worked really hard for something.

You gave a lot to some cause, poured tons of time and energy into a project, and looked forward to the day when it would come to a good completion.

Perhaps years ago you bought a fixer-upper. After a home renovation that felt like it would never end, after a lot of sweat and stress, finally it’s done, and you’re satisfied. Or you began a program at university, studied hard, and now you got your degree. In this there’s a sense of fulfillment in the work that God has allowed you to do.

This is what Christ does in Isaiah 53: He looks with joy at the fruit of all his anguish, all his labours. As the Lord’s servant, Jesus gave everything to this work. For three years of ministry, He’d wept, He’d struggled, He’d prayed—He’d worked day and night to preach the good news, to help the needy, to remain faithful to God.

Then in suffering and dying, He spent himself completely, until there was nothing left. In so doing, Isaiah says, “He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (v. 12). What we could not give, He gave. What we could not suffer, He was willing to suffer, even to the bitter end.

And for what? If Christ had remained dead past the weekend, that would’ve been the finale. He’d never have been able to enjoy his labours. If He stayed in the grave, Christ would never have seen his apostles go out and preach the gospel to all the world. If his eyes had stayed shut, He would never have watched as his church grew and spread. If Christ stayed dead, the church would’ve died along with him.

But God announces about his faithful Servant in verse 11,

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied.

 Rising from the dead, He gets to see the blessed outcome of all his hard work. He knew what He had to do, and He did it. He did it well, and now He can enjoy his prize: “He shall see and be satisfied.”

So Jesus came out of his grave with great joy. Think of how He greeted his disciples on that first Easter Sunday morning. Literally He says to them, “Rejoice!” For good reason. He was dead, but now He’s alive. He was gone, but now He has returned in victory. Jesus delights to see the labour of his soul!

This is what Hebrews 12:2 says: “For the joy that was set before him, Jesus endured the cross.” He looked past all the shame and anguish of the cross, fixated on the great joy that He could have on the other side.

And what was it that gave great joy to Christ through his anguish and suffering? In the first place, Jesus loves to do his Father’s will. This was always Jesus’s greatest delight: to obey his Father, even when it was hard. Out of a deep love for God, Christ persevered and He rejoiced to finish his work.

Second, Jesus loves sinners. He knew that by his anguish He was going to satisfy the justice of God. And so by his dying, He would create lasting peace between God and sinners who repent, and He would open the way of our salvation.

This made his work not a grudging duty for Christ, but a true pleasure. Rising from the dead, He rejoices to think about all the good that is going to come from his hard labour: salvation, life, renewal, and peace. The hard struggle was worth it, and now his life’s work has been crowned with blessing.

Through the risen Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is opened wide. Through him, the devil is demolished. Through him, all creation is made new. Through him, his people are washed clean. On that Easter morning when Jesus surveys his work, He is deeply content with his efforts: it had been an acceptable sacrifice to God.

But Christ doesn’t keep his reward to himself. Christ takes everything that He gained by his death and resurrection—honour and righteousness and glory and authority—and He shares generous portions with his people. The resurrected Christ sends you the gift of his Holy Spirit, even the same Spirit who filled and empowered him. Christ gives you free access to God’s throne of grace. He gives you the power of his Word and the encouragement of his sacraments. There’s also the promise of a great homecoming for all God’s people, when we too will be resurrected and given our rooms in the Father’s house.

So when you know Christ, then you too, can be satisfied. Christ was satisfied with the anguish of his soul, and you too, can be satisfied. 

That’s something for us to reflect on today: What does it mean for you to be satisfied? When can you say that you have enough? The rich man will always want more. The most popular person is never quite secure. A moment of intense pleasure is never long enough. One big accomplishment or completed project—it might give happiness for a short while, then it’s gone.

The goal posts of our happiness are always moving.

So where do we find satisfaction? Christ shows the better way, the only way: only with God, only with him. It’s only through communion with God that we’ll be filled.

Only when we delight in Christ will we find the desires of our heart. Then we experience that He’s all that we truly need. When you know Christ in his death and resurrection, you can know that your earthly labours are not in vain, because they’re all for him.

When you know Christ, and when you share by faith in his flesh and blood, then you can be satisfied: truly, lastingly, fully satisfied.