Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Suffering Servant

Today is Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of the last supper Jesus shared with his apostles.  In addition, he revealed his true servant nature by washing all those dirty feet.  Today, re-read this amazing passage written at least 400 years earlier by the prophet Isaiah.  It is one of the Servant Songs contained in the book of Isaiah, and is a spot on description of Jesus, the suffering servant, not the victorious King that people were looking for. Have no fear, that King is coming, but today be blessed as you reflect on the humble, man who came to  serve and save.

Who has believed what he has heard from us?a
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3He was despised and rejectedb by men;
a man of sorrows,c and acquainted withd grief;e

and as one from whom men hide their facesf

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5But 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.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the 
LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
8By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
g
when his soul makes
h an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the 
LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11Out of the anguish of his soul he shall seei and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,j
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
k
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

 Isaiah 54



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