“He is despised (held in contempt,
disdain; deemed worthless) and
rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it
were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He
has borne our griefs (sickness) and carried our sorrows (pain—mental and physical; sorrow);
yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten (to
strike, hit, beat, slay; kill) by
God, and afflicted (to be
occupied, bruised; oppress, humble, bowed down; mishandled, humiliated; humble
or weaken oneself). But
He was wounded (to (profane, defile, pollute,
desecrate; to violate; to pierce through) for
our transgressions (rebellion),
He was bruised (to be
crushed, be contrite, be broken; shattered) for
our iniquities (perversity,
depravity, guilt; consequence or punishment for iniquity); the chastisement (discipline, chastening,
correction) for our peace (shalom: completeness, soundness,
welfare; safety, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment; peace;
friendship; covenant relationship) was
upon Him, and by His stripes (bruise,
stripe, wound, blow) we are healed (make healthy; healed of national
hurts or of personal distress).” Is. 53:3-5
(meaning of original Hebrew word in parenthesis)
Jesus experienced unimaginable pain and agony and ultimately
death that we might live.
Ever felt despised? Worthless? Rejected? Humiliated? Defiled?
Violated? Broken? Crushed? Shattered? Contrite? As I read through this passage,
I am struck by the fact that there is not one devastating emotion that we as
human beings experience that Jesus Himself did not endure. A Man of sorrows,
acquainted with grief…He bore it all that we might live free.
Jesus was defiled, desecrated, pierced, and violated to atone
for our rebellion; He was crushed, broken, and shattered as a propitiation for
our perversity, depravity, and guilt. Jesus submitted Himself to the ultimate
discipline, chastening, and correction in order to make provision for our
mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical well being. He bore the bruises,
stripes, wounds, and blows that we may be healed.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved (keep safe and sound,
to rescue from danger or destruction; to one suffering from disease, to make
well, heal, restore to health; to deliver from penalties).” John 3:16-17
As we reflect today on Good Friday, may we be overwhelmed
with gratitude for and stand in awe of the immeasurable love God the Father
demonstrated when He sacrificed His only Son, Jesus. He is a merciful, merciful
God; the one true and living God, Messiah, Savior, Creator, and Lord.
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