Journey to Jerusalem Day 41

Monday in Holy Week, March 29 Isaiah 53:1-6

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Jesus’ birth was scandalous because he was born to an unmarried, engaged girl who everyone thought was a virgin. His death was also scandalous because he was guiltless and yet was still crucified. So, unless you knew differently, it would look like he was of no repute. However, the life he lived and his death on the cross was all part of God’s perfect plan to redeem a lost people to himself.

But as Philippians 2:6-8 says “who though he (Christ Jesus), was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

So, what should our response be to this scandalous but humble life of Jesus? He came to earth knowing that he would die for us and offer us everlasting fellowship with Him. We should fall on our faces in worship!

“I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how He could love me a sinner condemned, unclean. How marvelous, how wonderful and my song will ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me.” –Hymn by Charles Gabriel

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. Thank you, Lord.
Amen,