He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form of majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him. Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we have all turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth. He was taken away because of oppression and judgment; and who considered his fate? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was struck because of my people’s rebellion. Isaiah 53:2-8 HCSB
What I love about the Bible is that we can pick it up and read something in Genesis concerning Adam and Eve and apply it to our lives today. In this particular scripture passage, Isaiah is prophesying about Jesus’ birth, life, and death. He is talking about what will happen in the future when Jesus is born and walks the earth and then must suffer the humiliation and torture of the crucifixion for our sins. However, it can easily be applied to the way we live today.
We talked yesterday about how Jesus did not die only for the sins of those living in His day but for the future sins of generations to come. It pains me to say this but I have turned away from Him, I have despised Him and I have not valued Him. I have gone astray and turned to my own way.
It took me a while to really understand what God did for me and how much he truly loved me. It took me a while to understand that my sin crucified Him. He suffered because of me. Once I understood this, I knew that I had to turn back to Him and away from my sin. Isaiah 59:2 tells us that our sin separates us from God and causes his face to be hidden from us and for Him to not hear us.
Yesterday our church celebrated Good Friday with an Easter egg hunt for the kids. There were all kinds of games and a bouncy house. It was a great time of fellowship and a good celebration for the all. Our pastor explained it to the kids this way, Good Friday was bad for Jesus because He was crucified, but good for us because it gave us a chance to be saved from our sins.
Now salvation is offered but not forced on us, we have to accept it. We have to turn to God and pray for His forgiveness. We have to repent of our sin and strive for righteousness.
Tomorrow many of us will be in church celebrating Christ’s resurrection. We will celebrate Jesus’ victory over death which gives us victory over death as well. 1 Corinthians 15:55, Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting? As Christians we don’t die, we are just called home. So for us death is a win/win situation.
Prepare yourself for church tomorrow by having a thorough heart exam before attending Easter service. I don’t mean by going to your cardiologist, I mean by going to the Great Healer, the Mighty Counselor. Don’t just pick out your nicest clothes to prepare for church, prepare your heart as well. If you have not attended church services since last Easter or maybe Christmas, look at why you stay away from the Lord’s house. Look at what is getting in your way of Bible study, worship and prayer. Ask Him to open your heart tomorrow as you listen to the sermon and ask Him to remove any distractions that might get in your way of loving Him. Ask Him to help you to remove the sin from your life and to live your life for Him. He has made the biggest sacrifice of all. The sacrifices we make are nothing compared to the rewards we are given, so what are you waiting for?
Have a wonderful Easter!