“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)
The prophetic description of Jesus in Isaiah 53 is beautiful yet uncomfortable to read. We do not like to hear that Jesus was despised and rejected. What does it mean to be a “man of sorrows”? What does it mean when it says that He was familiar with suffering? How do you get familiar with suffering and why?
This is the part of our redemption that we turn away from…”hide our faces”. But, if we are to experience the fullness of God’s love for us we must take time to look at the ugliness of the cross that Jesus bore for you and me. Jesus became familiar with suffering. He got to know it so well that Isaiah calls Him the Man of Sorrows. Our Savior left a place that was free from suffering to suffer for us. The Scripture describes heaven as a place where God will “wipe away every tear”, where there is no mourning or pain (Rev. 21:4). This is what Jesus gave up to redeem us. This is how much He loves us. He was willing to step down into the pain and grief of this world and become acquainted with our broken lives so that we could be reconciled to God. Jesus is familiar with your suffering. He really does know how you feel.
“For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people”. (Hebrews 2:17)
As we begin this week of our lenten journey take opportunity to read the whole chapter of Isaiah 53. You may be tempted to look away but resist it. Today come into the presence of the Man of Sorrows. This is what He did for you.