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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