Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

Despised. Rejected. A man of sorrows. It is not often I look at Jesus through the lens of  of what he endured during his time here on earth. The reality of how he was treated is horrific and heartbreaking, and yet, He loves us still. In reading this scripture I am tempted to reconcile it with my own goodness and excuse myself from this accusation of being one who didn’t care about him because I wasn’t present in the time period that Jesus walked the earth. Seems reasonable enough, but it isn’t the truth.

The truth is I too rejected him and even looked the other way. This passage speaks to the human condition and the very nature of our wretched hearts. We all reject him until we accept him. Not one of us is saved until we accept the offer of His grace and mercy.

Our condition of eternal separation from God is clearly stated in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Our rescue from this certain death is given in Romans 10:9-10  ^“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” If you have not yet trusted in Jesus this way, what is it that is holding you back from this freedom? Turn to him He really is waiting with open arms.

Questions to consider:

What do you think it was like to be treated the way Jesus was? Can you relate?

Have you ever viewed his ministry on earth in this way or did you view it as a more exciting and encouraging time?

In what ways have you turned your back to him?

Pray this:

Heavenly Father, you are so good to us. You love us despite our wretched nature. Because you are good you have offered us salvation and have saved us from our eternal destiny apart from you. Thank you for this gift of knowing you. Thank you for the freedom you give us through Christ. Please forgive us for the ways which we have turned from you. If there are any ways we are turning from you now reveal them to us so that we may be restored. In Jesus name, amen.