Thoughts for another day

July 4, 2008

Today's verse: Is. 53:3. 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. (RSV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When I think of the awesome sacrifice of Jesus, I can’t bear but be grieved in my soul. For the great work He did for us. Though God, He became puny man. He spans the earth and the heavens in girth and therefore to fit into the finite body of a man was a great thing indeed; akin to fitting the waters of the sea into a tea cup!

Then again, He who is more glorious than the sun was countenanced with as much glow a mere man has. He shed His glory for us, lest just looking at Him we die. Besides, with the appearance He took and the position He assumed in Jewish society of that time, even the least of men were able to approach Him with confidence, without fear. The suffering He endured was, to say the least appalling. What Isaiah prophesied long before, happened in the life of our beloved Lord. He was hated of men and we know how they bayed for His blood, screaming, ‘crucify Him, crucify Him.’ When I say ‘they’, it could very well mean us, for we too would do the same, were we there.

On that day along the road from Gethsemane to the temple precincts and the Chief Priest’s house, the abode of Pilate and to Calvary, He was led in chains and ropes like a notorious criminal, all the people saw on His face was sorrow. None understood it as sorrow for the human race and not for Himself. His face was marred by the whipping He got at the pillar. His eyes were engorged as if ready to fall out of His socket. The sweat all over His body, mixed with dirt formed lines of stains across His robes and His hands and face. Pieces of flesh had been yanked out of His back and His legs like that of a corpse pecked upon by the fowls of the air. Yes, He looked very much the curse that He took upon Himself!

Never a man looking, could recognise Him as the One who, in seeming royal visage sat in the temple yard giving in authoritative tones, directions to live, as could be only of God! In the scorching heat of the morn as He hung between heaven and earth, the only refrain He gave comprised His seven sayings, which though caught in simple words, mean the world to a fallen race. Here my friend is One who suffered severely for us worthless humans, because He loved us. He kept His pact with the Father for He knew the Father loved us dearly and wanted us saved. He Himself who could bear no sin, became sin on our behalf. Oh the love of my Jesus… Had I eternity to myself and paper unlimited, I’d still not find it enough to write of His love. So great it is and so unconditional, that only on the infinite canvas of eternity can it be embellished.