Isaiah 52:13-15 ESV - 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you-- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-- 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.Isaiah 53:1-6 ESV - 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. Isaiah 53:7-8 ESV - 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their power, and as a possible means for Rome to intrude upon them. The “man on the street” assumed that Jesus must be some kind of fraud or criminal, because wouldn’t God rescue him if he really were innocent? (How quickly they must have forgotten this interchange not too long before . . .)
Luke 13:1-5 ESV – 1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Jesus’ fulfillment of the amazing plan of redemption and the salvation offered to mankind occurred with no fanfare, no television crews reporting of the amazing sacrifice of the righteous sinless Son of God. Jesus experienced betrayal, unfair treatment, diminished value, misunderstood motives. When Jesus cried out “it is finished” and gave up his spirit — heaven took note . . .
Luke 23:44-49 ESV – 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Lord, when I feel that no one notices my service (or cares), when I wonder if I matter at all — help me to see that for the lie that it is. You understand. You have prepared works for me to do (Ephesians 2:10) and serving You is an act of worship. It is not dependent upon how many people notice. Help me to be faithful to You, to obey You. Your plan is good.
Pray for the Persecuted Church–OpenDoorsUSA
Day 6: Pray for those in CAR who are internally displaced. Ask
God to give them assurance He is walking with them in
their chaos
Daily Wisdom Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 133 Proverbs 13
Plea for Grace 