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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 2020
As we go through this Christmas season, there are two categories of people and you fall into one. Those who have been hurt and know grief and sorrow, and now have a compassion and empathy during the Holidays to see those who are hurting and offer help, to be able to speak hope when and where it is so desperately needed. … Or those who are hurting right now. You look around and see the lights and decorations and none of it seems to matter, because the last thing you want to do is celebrate … anything. I want you to know if that is you, I get it. I have felt that way. I know that horrible feeling. All those in the first group of survivors know that heartbreak all too well.
But there is Someone else who understands your pain. He is Immanuel, the Promised One who came and is with you now. Today, we read from Isaiah once again, in chapter 53, and again, the text prophesies about the life of Jesus. If you really listen to what these words say about Christ, you’ll see He knows pain and understands heartbreak. Close your eyes. Tune in. Listen with your heart.
(Isaiah 53NLT)
Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.
Sorrow, pain, anguish, injustice, feeling despised, harsh treatment … all because of us, all for us, so God could be with us. Who better to invite into your hurt and your healing than Jesus? Can you imagine this God who loved you so immensely being crushed to make your whole? He is acquainted with grief and He is with you right now.
Let’s pray: “Lord, thank You that You came, that You suffered for us, that You endured all this when You didn’t have to do anything at all … but You did. I can be counted righteous today because of You. Thank you for being God with Us. Immanuel - God with us.”
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By Kindred Resources / SPS
5
1313 ratings
As we go through this Christmas season, there are two categories of people and you fall into one. Those who have been hurt and know grief and sorrow, and now have a compassion and empathy during the Holidays to see those who are hurting and offer help, to be able to speak hope when and where it is so desperately needed. … Or those who are hurting right now. You look around and see the lights and decorations and none of it seems to matter, because the last thing you want to do is celebrate … anything. I want you to know if that is you, I get it. I have felt that way. I know that horrible feeling. All those in the first group of survivors know that heartbreak all too well.
But there is Someone else who understands your pain. He is Immanuel, the Promised One who came and is with you now. Today, we read from Isaiah once again, in chapter 53, and again, the text prophesies about the life of Jesus. If you really listen to what these words say about Christ, you’ll see He knows pain and understands heartbreak. Close your eyes. Tune in. Listen with your heart.
(Isaiah 53NLT)
Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.
Sorrow, pain, anguish, injustice, feeling despised, harsh treatment … all because of us, all for us, so God could be with us. Who better to invite into your hurt and your healing than Jesus? Can you imagine this God who loved you so immensely being crushed to make your whole? He is acquainted with grief and He is with you right now.
Let’s pray: “Lord, thank You that You came, that You suffered for us, that You endured all this when You didn’t have to do anything at all … but You did. I can be counted righteous today because of You. Thank you for being God with Us. Immanuel - God with us.”