Road Warriors: Isaiah—A Message of Redemption - Thursday
Isaiah 53:2-3
My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. (NLT)
Isaiah 53 paints a word picture with similes that, when viewed through the lens of the events as they would actually occur some 700 years later, are stunningly accurate. Isaiah’s audience was his own people. Born in Jerusalem, he was called by God and given visions as a prophet to keep Israel focused on their first love: the One True God. Isaiah’s words were filled with warnings about the challenges that were ahead for God’s people, but also assurances that God would remain faithful and deliver them if they would humbly repent. The Jewish people had a history of captivity and exile, their land and temple routinely given over to hostile nations and kings because of their sin and disobedience. Isaiah’s greatest message would reach beyond the people of Israel as he announced salvation to the world through the coming Messiah. But what a strange way to introduce the One who would conquer and reign: Tender? Servant? Unattractive? Despised? Rejected? Sorrowful? Grieving? These would not have been descriptions of the Messiah that the Jewish people expected to vanquish their enemies! It’s also part of the reason why centuries ago, Jewish rabbis moved away from interpreting Isaiah 53 to be about the Messiah—they instead began believing that Isaiah was just speaking metaphorically about Israel as a nation.
I often think about how much I subtly reject Jesus as well. I’m enamored by external appearances. He attracted people with His love and message. I want financial security. He was betrayed for a few pieces of silver. I want to fit in. He was rejected. I want to be known. He wanted His Father to be known.
Jesus the Servant was willing. He was willing to stand and be declared guilty for me. He was sentenced and took my punishment.
Thursday’s Reflection
The invitation today is simply to sit in the awareness and tension of our fallenness. To realize our need for a Messiah.
