ChristmasReading2022A - Flipbook - Page 38
DAY Eighteen: December 15 - Thursday
Servant Song
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of su ering, and
familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was
despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:3
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is
des ned to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a
sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many
hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Luke 2:34-35
It is so easy to roman cize the Christmas season. We have considered
Jesus as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlas ng Father and
Prince of Peace the last few days. He is, indeed, all of these. They
describe Him and the nature of His mission on earth. It’s perhaps
inappropriate to think of a death during the days we think of a birth,
but there is no escaping that this baby was des ned to su er and die
for the sins of the people.
Jesus’ path to glory, according to Philippians 2:1-11, would involve an
unimaginable descent, a constant humility, costly obedience and
death. Jesus dying on a cross. Isaiah 53 makes this point over and over.
Jesus would:
• Be despised and rejected (v. 3)
• Take up our pain and a ic on (v. 4)
• Be pierced and crushed for our sins (v. 5)
• Have our iniquity laid on Him (v. 6)
• Be like a lamb led to slaughter (v. 7)
• Be oppressed, judged and punished although innocent (v. 8,9)
• Be crushed (v. 10)
But…
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…though the Lord makes his life an o ering for sin, he will see his
o spring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in
his hand. A er he has su ered, he will see the light of life and be
sa s ed… Isaiah 53:10-11