DAILY READING
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REFLECTION
Jesus Suffered for Us
by David Thompson
As I spoke about in last Wednesday's devotional, there were thousands of years of prophesying leading up to Jesus' life and death. Today we will be covering one of the prophesies of why Jesus had to suffer here on earth. I pray that all who read this devotional might be motivated to be more open about your faith with others.
Have you ever thought about the physical attributes of Jesus? The passage makes it clear in verse two that "He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him." Many of today's evangelists are good-looking, but apparently Jesus was not. Many historical kings and generals were majestic and awe-inspiring, but again the text tells us that Jesus was not. Jesus was humble, meek and selfless. What drew people to Jesus was what He did through His ministry and through His ultimate sacrifice. It took many dedicated people to take that message and spread it though-out the world. So much so that we have had the great benefit of hearing about it in our lifetime.
We are told in verses three through twelve that Jesus was crushed for our transgressions. Verse three tells us that "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hid their faces He was despised (Ps. 22:6) and we held Him in low esteem." How could the people of that time take up the cross and spread the Good News. And how can we? Verse six gives us some hint as to the answer. It says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord God has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all." Sin is the cause of why we have gone astray. However, through prayer and asking forgiveness, we are saved and brought into right thinking.
It sounds like this passage is kind of depressing. However look at verses ten through twelve. God promises that Jesus will suffer, but then He will see the victory of our forgiveness and salvation. Verse twelve states that "He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (us)." We thank you God and Jesus Christ for this wonderful gift. Our challenge is to spread our faith as far and wide as our sphere of influence will allow us to.
A song that sums up the emotion of Good Friday through Easter morning is "An Easter Hallelujah."
Lord, God, Thank you so much for being willing to be a sacrifice for so many. We praise you for your humble and selfless life and death. Because you died, 2000+ years of believers will live eternally.
Amen
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