Isaiah 53:3-6
“He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.“
He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him of no account.
Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6
This passage is from one of four “servant songs” in Isaiah. (42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-7, and 52:13–53:12) These songs are understood as prophesying the coming of the Messiah.
In Jesus’ day, many people thought the Messiah would come in strength to defeat Rome. How does this passage challenge that? How does this passage challenge our understanding today?
How does Jesus fulfill this passage?
It says “he was wounded for our transgressions” and “by his bruises we are healed.” Take a moment to honestly confess your sins before God. What healing do you need God to bring in your life?
PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK
O Lord Jesus, you entered history to carry the cross and walk the way of suffering. Help us to die to ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow you into the world to love and serve our neighbors and even our enemies. Amen.