Thoughts for the Day

Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases...

he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
he did not open his mouth....

he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The end of Isaiah, Chapter 52 and all of Chapter 53 cover the fourth of the Servant Songs. If you want to be reminded of these just press 'Servant Song' at the top of this page. Isaiah sees the Servant as the Messiah - the one who will come to save God's people. These are some of the things that he prophesies concerning the Messiah in these songs:

• He will come to save God's people.
• He has already been appointed by God, before he was called.
• He will be a gifted teacher.
• He will be concerned with justice.
• His ministry will spread to the Gentiles.
• He will experience suffering.
• He will be put to death.
• He will be honoured above all.

In six week's time we enter Advent, the new Church year, and in ten week's time we celebrate Christmas and the birth of the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem. Let us not forget what awaits him in his task of taking upon himself the punishment for our sin, and in doing so, re-uniting us with God.

Lord Jesus,
You underwent condemnation
from Your fellow countrymen;
You were misunderstood and reviled;
and You suffered a cruel death
not because of Your sin,
but because of our sin.
In doing so You offer us forgiveness,
and a way back to God.
May we gladly take that offer
and seek to change our life.
Amen.