Read Isaiah 53:1-12
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah’s name means “Jehovah is Salvation”, the book of Isaiah has been described as a Symphony of Salvation. This Salvation is experienced both personally and corporately and ultimately through the servant who will suffer. The person, Isaiah describes will be wounded and crushed for our sins to bring us back to God and take away our punishment. Salvation would come through the Messiah. Messiah, in Hebrew, means “Anointed One”, in Greek this is translated Christos or ‘Christ’. The Messiah was the coming King, David’s true heir, through whom YHWH would restore all things, through both judgement and salvation.
At the end of the book of Luke, two disciples meet a post resurrected Jesus (they don’t know it at the time), He leads them through the whole story of scripture showing them how,
“…it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.” Luke 24:44-48
He shows them the Messianic meaning and the missional meaning of the story of The Story. The Story so far can be seen as 5 Acts… Act 1: Creation, Act 2: Fall and Act 3: Israel. Our Lent Adventure is about to take us into Act 4: Messiah. Hold on…
The Messiah would suffer on your behalf. What does this mean for you? Is His Sacrifice something that you accept or reject? Something you are thankful for or despise?
Today, where are you in need of Saving? Where are you in need of “total life-change”?
Whether you realise it or not, You are part of the great Story of God. What happened to and through Jesus affects your life. Jesus was sent to accomplish the Mission of God. You and I are called and sent to continue this mission: bringing the message of Salvation to those around us. Will you accept this mission? Will you go?
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