Slices
Prepare
Social media often feeds on the stories of the rich and famous, but I draw near now to one who shares his identity with the poor and forgotten of the earth. He invites me to sit with him and enjoy his still presence.
Bible passage
The suffering and glory of the servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness –
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
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.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge[i] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Explore
In this reading, Isaiah introduces his readers to the servant for the last time (v 13). God’s anonymous messenger, who represents the suffering of an entire nation, experiences agony (53:5) and ecstasy (53:11). While the powerful of the earth turn away from this broken man, he will be vindicated by God and bring light to nations waiting in darkness. He will dumbfound the powerful but the nations will be refreshed (v 15).
This familiar passage is often used when talking about the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 22:37), identifying him with the Suffering Servant, the title given to today’s passage. While the passage begins in a hopeful way, with the servant being highly exalted (v 13), we quickly get to a description of his appearance (v 14), his rejection (v 3) and the way he was despised (vs 2,3) – very different to what we might expect the one who will ‘justify many’ (v 11) to be like. We have a Servant King. What does that mean to you?
Respond
‘Lord Jesus, in the loneliness of your suffering, you bore the weight of a world in pain. In your resurrection, you are revealed as Lord of all, enfolding everyone in the embrace of God. Your sorrow brings me life and hope.’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Amos 3,4; Psalms 140,141
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Partner The Bus Stop and their mission planning with the Diocese of York, looking at how best they can resource rural churches currently without youthwork, but with a desire to connect with young people.
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