Isaiah 53 1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 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.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten 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 upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 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.
8 By oppression [a] 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. [b]
9 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.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes [c] 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.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life [d] and be satisfied [e] ;
by his knowledge [f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [h]
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.
This morning while I was waiting for my friend Ernestine to fetch to me to church, thought I would just turn to my bible and read a few verses. Didn’t even pray, just flipped open casually, no particular page....and the 1st page I flipped to ended on Isaiah53. and I felt God speaking to me, the message of Easter... today’s Good Friday for those of you who don’t celebrate Easter...this passage isn’t something new, yet I saw afresh what He gave for me.... especially verse 3-5
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten 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 upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
He went through all for me...and I haven’t even given it much thought...not for some time...truthfully, this week preceding to today...most of thoughts on Easter has been centered on chocolate eggs, holidays...and a much needed break. Worn out by medical posting. And haven’t spent much time on reflecting on His sacrifice for me...superficial and shallow thoughts. and it struck me sometime yesterday...Easter has nothing to do with chocolate bunnies, holidays...it’s everything to do with Jesus... totally off perception...*teeeeetttttt!!!* switch mode....
And in church today...no guesses for which chapter was preached...Isaiah 53....ta da!!! God, I knew u had a reason for me to read that chapter. It wasn’t just a coincidence my hands flipped to that chapter. Half way at the back of my mind, I was imagining His angels hinting, “yea...there there....stop there hands... okie, open now...aha!! smart, you got the correct page...whew! job done...” I m being nonsensical, it was nothing like that. Was just a casual flip and no voices heard from heaven. And yet God spoke. I believe God do speak through the mundane things of life. No fireworks, no miraculous prophesies.... yet He can touch my heart....with just a message from my friend, the beauty of His creation, babies, flowers.... all so perfectly made...
Father, I thank You for speaking to me. Although sometimes I seem to be half listening only...and perhaps even ignoring You, Father I pray You who began a good work in me will complete it till the day of Christ Jesus. Blessed father, thank You for this day 2000 years ago that You gave Your Son, Jesus for me and for the world. Even when we were yet sinners, You loved us. For whatever reasons I cannot fathom, I know I experienced Your love and that You’ll never let me go. Help me never let You go too... I love You, Father. In Jesus name. Amen.
*can just imagine myself clambering into God’s lap...God is big and I’m a small lil girl... and just “manja-ing” with my Father. And He’ll take me into His arms and keep me safe and warm.* what a wonderful thought!
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