A Servant Despised: Isaiah 52:13-53:3
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief..."I recall sitting on my college bunk one evening in complete darkness, listening to this text as arranged by Handel in his musical masterpiece, Messiah. I was deeply moved that evening and I think the experience led me to a new awareness of our Lord's sufferings. There is something about the image of Christ as "a man of sorrows" that has always drawn me. It's how I most often look at him.
To truly understand this world is to be in significant measure, "a man of sorrows." Of course, no one understood life, reality, and eternity the way Jesus did. He knew the joys of heaven and the bliss of unhindered fellowship with the Father. He knew what a world without sin would look like, and just how much had been lost in the Garden. And he left heaven, to remedy the mess.
Our text for today tells us this sorrowful man was also despised and rejected by men. What an irony! Jesus was rejected by those for whom love had driven him to be "acquainted with grief." Loving the sinner is a sorrowful proposition! Were it not for his great love, he would not be that "man of sorrows." Sorrow is a function of love. Ask the parent of a wayward child--the greater the love, the greater the sorrow.
But recall, Our Lord was also "anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows." Another irony—the saddest man on earth is also the most joyful! Love and joy led Jesus to submit to the sufferings of the cross. "Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross..."
Brothers and sisters, what a Savior!
Today, as we meditate on these words of scripture, we must understand that it was love for us that made Jesus the "man of sorrows." It was love for us that caused him to become that marred and disfigured man on the road to Calvary. Hear the words of the hymn writer, Philip Bliss:
Man of Sorrows, what a name
For the Son of God who came,
Ruined sinners to reclaim;
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Labels: Cross Centered Living, Death of Christ, Gospel, Guest Post, The Work of Christ
posted by Petros at
7:30 AM
3 Comments:
Yes "sorrow is a function of love". Tears come because we care. Hence Jesus wept and sorrowed more than any other--because he cared more than any other for us.
Yet simultaneously he was (and is) as you say Peter, One who rejoices.
I think that as a dominant chacteristic, sorrow marked his love in His incarnation, through His passion. And joy marks His love from that moment of victory on.
Jesus--for our sakes--has been the ultimate example of "weeping that lasts for a nightime and joy that comes in the morning!"
O what love is this--that would endure the very deepest woes, that He might lead us into the very highest joys?
We love you Lord Jesus.
Thank you Peter for quoting from
one of my favorite hymns. I had to post it. Who would have thought that sorrow and joy would be tied in such a way. But they are in the glorious gospel, which can be found very clearly in this hymn.
Man of Sorrows! What a Name
(Hallelujah! What a Savior!)
Words & Music: Philip P. Bliss
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
"It is finished!" was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Thanks Tim, for giving excellent clarity to this... and thank you EJK, I love that hymn also!
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