READ: Isaiah 53,54; Psalms 89; Galatians 4
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 53: 4 Surely
he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by
God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are
healed.
OBSERVATION: We live in
the selfie era; people love to take a lot of self-portraits in a day and share
them with others and social media. However, only the images that please them or
match their heart desire will be shown/shared with others. In Is.52:13-53:12,
we read the fourth and final song of the suffering servant in the book of
Isaiah. Isaiah 53 gives us a portrait of Jesus, in which there is “no beauty or
majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire
him” (v.2). Yet, we Christians like this chapter so much and love to read it very
often. But Jews who refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah do not read it at
all. Jewish Rabbis would not encourage Jews to read Isaiah 53. What is unique
in the description of the suffering servant?
Is.53:4-6 is the crucial passage of
the servant songs that says of the coming Messiah. Here we read, what the
Messiah did for us and its results on our lives. Notice how many times the word
“our” comes in the above two verses. Jesus the Messiah has borne all of “our
pain,” “our suffering,” “our transgressions,” and “our iniquities.” He endured
all of them to bring peace, forgiveness, and healing to our lives. Jesus takes our
ugly and painful things and gives us his incredible love. It is hard to explain
the pain of his sufferings and describe all the punishments he endured for us
(Is.52:14). It was not accidental or coincidental. As the Bible says, it
manifests God’s great love for humanity (Jn.3:16). When we accept God’s love
and confess that Jesus gave himself to carry our pain and suffering, to receive
the punishment for our sins and iniquities, we have peace with God and receive
spiritual and physical healing. God forgives our sins and purifies us. Just
reread Is.53:4-5 by putting your name in the place where the word “our” come,
and meditate on it.
APPLICATION: The greatest truth
of the bible is, as a renowned theologian Karl Barth once said, “Jesus loves me
this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I may not fully comprehend God’s love
for me. When I read this prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus’ life, I
understand God’s love is true! All I can do is to accept God’s love and receive
all that Jesus has for me. “What shall I return to the Lord for all his
goodness to me?” (Ps.116:12).
PRAYER: Father God, thank
you for your love that surpasses knowledge. Jesus, thank you for your greater and
saving love. Holy Spirit, thank you for pouring out God’s love into my heart.
Lord, help me ever to remain in your love. Amen.
- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573
Day - 271
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