A Man of Sorrows-Yes, But For Whom?

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3

God gave these words to the Prophet Isaiah many centuries before the birth of Immanuel. And as foretold and scripted, Jesus was despised and a man of sorrows; acquainted with grief. However, please don’t assume that He sorrowed over His rejection, as we would have felt if someone we loved did not believe us and we saw the truth ever before our eyes. If Jesus was only a man; not God and man, then He might have lashed out in anger as we often sinfully do in pride, but in humility and grace He knew what was to happen long before. His way was prepared, even as He prepared ours. Besides, He also knew that He had the power to summon a legion of angels to save Him from that final hour as He was raised up on the Cross. Yet still, as the centurions raised His Cross, He knew shortly thereafter that His Father would raise Him from the grave. This too was foretold: that He would not see corruption of His body. That verse in Psalms itself provides a wonderful insight into our resurrection and glorification, but lest I digress….Do you understand His sorrow? Do you understand why it was and for whom Jesus wept? Lazarus then; us today. If the Holy Spirit dwells within us, then we know that is true. Weren’t we asked, ‘What servant is greater than His master?’ Were we not told that we too would be rejected? Therein, I can rejoice; not sorrow. Why? Because Christ counted me worthy to suffer with Him; but still I sorrow… Why? Because God in His grace and tender mercy revealed His love and gift to me, and in knowing the reality of that love and His faithfulness, I look out and see a world in darkness. Believe me, the reality of that truth brings genuine and heartfelt sorrow within me for those who hear but refuse to turn from their sin. I do not gloat; nor condemn. As for my time to rejoice, I will do so later when I am with Him. Today, I will sorrow in any missed opportunities to communicate God’s love, mercy and grace that I know…it is right before my eyes… and it is extended to all.

Posted to FACEBOOK, July 5, 2014