Friday, April 11, 2014

Celebrate Easter Big -- Lent: Day 38

Scripture:  Isaiah 53 (vv. 7-9)

This scripture is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, the Suffering Servant, 700 years before JESUS came into the world.

The Suffering Servant would be “oppressed”—His enemies would continually stalked Him, abuse Him, and finally capture and torment Him.  He would be “afflicted”—brought low, treated with contempt, shamed, belittled, scorned, mocked, and ridiculed.  He would be “led like a lamb to the slaughter”—He would die.  He would be “sheared like a sheep before its shearers”—He would be stripped of his clothes, His friends, His honor, and His divine protection.

Yet, through all of this torment, JESUS would not open His mouth.  Before Caiaphas when He was accused by false witnesses (Matthew 26:62-63); before Pilate (Mark 15:4-5); before Herod (Luke 23:9).  When JESUS was insulted and humiliated He never once expressed anger or hatred towards His accusers.

A friend recently told me about an experience she had at her work place.  She was covered up with work and was pretty stressed out.  A co-worker brought something else to her that would have added to her already over-flowing plate of responsibilities.  My friend kind of went off on her co-worker.  Later she saw how that did not reflect JESUS in her life and she made amends with her co-worker.  That’s a simple example of our lives every day.  But JESUS never responded in such a way.  Even while hanging on the cross and being jeered by those who nailed Him to that tree JESUS prayed for them and asked the Father to “forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

JESUS’ was “cut off out of the land of the living”—not for His own transgressions, but for the transgressions of His people.  He was wounded, bruised, chastised, and beaten for our iniquity and He died.

The statement if v. 8, “who considered” is daunting.  The word “considered” means to ponder or to meditate upon.  The most incredible event that has ever happened in the history of the world has taken place but do we even remotely consider, ponder, or meditate upon it! 

I’m afraid Easter comes and goes and the world doesn’t even take notice because the Church . . . believers . . . are not overwhelmed by it!

[I’ve heard the news . . . JESUS is definitely on His way to Jerusalem.  I think He will be here by Sunday!  WOW!]

JESUS is Risen . . . !

Richard Holloman

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