by: Carole L. Haines
As we reflect on our Precious Savior this Holy week. I want us to reflect on Christ’s actual triumphs in us through all He chose to suffer. We know He chose this path because we learned yesterday that He laid His life down by choice ((John 10:11,14-15,17-18). Today we will begin to look at the actual sufferings of Christ and the significance of those. Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension bought us a myriad of treasure in this life, not just a ticket out of hell in the next.
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we would look at Him, nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him.
He was despised and abandoned by men, a man of great pain and familiar with sickness; and like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. (Isaiah 53:1-3)
As we look more deeply into these three verses, we can see several of the sufferings of our Lord. Let’s keep in mind the truth that Christ has suffered in all points as we have, yet He never sinned in that suffering. (Hebrews 4:15)
- “He has no stately form or majesty that we would look at Him. Nor appearance that we would take pleasure in Him.” Jesus was not one of the Beautiful people. He was not handsome or attractive on the outside. Our society places so much emphasis on outward appearances, Jesus was not stately or majestic in His bodily appearance. He understands this suffering. His word tells us: “for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but The Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b)
- “He was despised and abandoned by men… and one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him.” Jesus was rejected by men, he was despised and hated by some Religious Leaders who were jealous of His popularity with the people. Jesus knew what it was like to be horribly misrepresented and misunderstood. But He never indulged in self-pity. His Word tells us, “while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.” (2 Peter 2:23-24).
Jesus trusted God, His Father to be the only one who knew the truth. He stuck close to Him and let all else go. So must we.
- “A man of Sorrow and acquainted with grief.” That word, sorrows, means physical and mental pain in the original Hebrew. Jesus understands illness of body and mind. He is our refuge mentally and physically. I have Anxiety disorder and can really relate to this need for His care of the mind.
The word for “griefs” means “affliction, sadness, or anxiety.” Jesus truly knows the anguish of mental suffering, as well as sickness of the body. We can rest in His Holy care and healing in our spirit, soul, mind and body (2 Thessalonians 5:23).
Our Savior chose to be made flesh and dwell among us (John 1:14). He has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Have you ever been rejected or despised by others? Jesus can heal that pain. Have you never been one of the beautiful, in-crowd people? Have you found yourself often treated as an outsider or weirdo? Jesus can heal that Pain. Come to Him, Dear Believers and pour out your hearts to the One who gave His all for us. Be a Blessing today, in Jesus.
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