Advent December 18, 2006

Third Monday: The Suffering Servant

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.Like one from whom men hide their faceshe was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmitiesand carried our sorrows,yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,yet he did not open his mouth;he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.And who can speak of his descendants?For he was cut off from the land of the living;for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,and with the rich in his death,though he had done no violence,nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV)

Have you ever looked and looked for something that you lost, but couldn't find it? And then you eventually find out it was right in front of you the whole time? That must be what it was like for the Jews in Jesus' day. They were so sure of what they were looking for in the Messiah that when He didn't match their expectations, they couldn't see Him to save their lives!

The Israelites were looking for a triumphant ruler who would bring them to religious and political freedom. They envisioned a mighty king who would arrive on white horseback with hundreds following behind him and destroy the Romans who had been enslaving the Israelites. They couldn't imagine one who wouldn't seek to destroy their enslavers on earth, and do it with a great display of power.

This passage in Isaiah points to a different way: it is the way of a suffering servant.

Almost every verse in this chapter speaks of another way the Messiah will suffer. Perhaps that is why the passage begins with "Who has believed our message..." Who would believe that the God of the Universe would allow--no, ordain--His Son to set aside His godly status and become a servant who willingly suffers. For whom? Could it be for humanity? Could it be for the Israelites? Could it be for the Gentiles as well? Could it even be for you and for me?

Reflect and discuss: Take a moment to write down all the words that involve suffering. Read them aloud, pondering what each word involves. Consider that Jesus is the one who willingly gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Write or say a prayer of thanks for what it cost Him.

For younger children: Remember with your children some of their "owies" or injuries. Talk about how much they hurt. Then talk about how much Jesus physically suffered by being the perfect sacrifice for us.