Devotion:
When Isaiah spoke and wrote these words, few if any of the Children of Israel would have associated the suffering servant described here with the promised Messiah. Other prophecies about the Messiah being the Prince of Peace, coming from the house of David to reign forever were much easier to hear and hold onto.
We sat with a kind gentleman at the mission dinner at our annual conference a few years ago. He introduced himself simply as Millard and asked us all about our short-term mission trips. He affirmed our work and was genuinely happy to meet and talk with us through dinner. Not once did he mention his own work but gently shifted the conversation to what others were doing when we asked. Later that evening, I was shocked to learn that our table partner was Millard Fuller, who with his wife Linda, founded Habitat for Humanity! I would never have guessed it, but looking back on our dinner conversation, it makes perfect sense that this humble Christian man had done such a great thing.
Looking back as Christians on today’s passage, Isaiah’s description of the suffering servant makes perfect sense to us. Christ bore our sins and died on a brutal cross so that we might be healed and receive the gift of eternal life.
Personal Worship Option:
Reflect on the gift Christ gave us, putting aside his glory to come into the world as a human being, only to be rejected by religious leaders and executed as a criminal. It hurts us to think of that, but it feels so good to know that the gift was given in love for us. Give thanks to God for this unspeakable gift.
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