June 24, 2004

THE DESPISED ONE

"He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:3, NKJV).

Isaiah's touching portrait of the suffering Christ is packed with pain and pathos. The pain of His thorn-crowned brow, the nail-pierced hands, and the bleeding side are mild in comparison to the excruciating emotional agony of rejection. To be despised and rejected by the very ones for whom one suffers is the deepest pain of all.

Think of it, The Prince of life, heaven's adorable Lord, is despised, belittled, and betrayed by the very world He came to redeem! He suffered, bled and died alone. The crowds that two days previously had shouted, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21:9, NKJV), were now conspicuously absent. The multitudes He had healed from their diseases, the disciples--His closest confidants--all had forsaken Him and fled (see Matthew 26:56). The despised One is left to suffer and die alone. From the depth of His humanity He cried, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, NKJV).

In this arena of mocking scorn and rejection, the Lord of glory died without a murmur or complaint. What matchless love, pity, and divine condescension, that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NKJV). Though despised and rejected when He died on the cross, He did it for all the human race without exception (see 2 Corinthians 5:15). "Those who really love the Saviour cannot but hail with gladness the announcement founded upon the Word of God, that He in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered, is coming again, not to be insulted, despised, and rejected, as at His first advent, but in power and glory, to redeem His people."--Sons and Daughters of God. p. 366.

My Prayer Today: Lord, though despised and rejected, You gave Your life for me. In gratitude, I give my all to You forever. Amen.