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Messiah Would Be Rejected By His Own People

by on December 23, 2021

Key Scripture: Isaiah 53:3, “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

The prophet Isaiah describes a Suffering Servant who dies for the sins of those who reject him and then is exalted by God. This is shocking news to the Jews. The Jews looked at Jesus and said, “This can’t be the Messiah because He is not going to enter like this.” They were fixated on appearance and success. And Jesus was not what they had in mind.

This Servant would not suffer for any evil He had done, but rather for the evil others had done. This is a new concept to the people: a righteous King would suffer, die, and be a substitute for His people. However, again, the Jews have an adverse reaction to Jesus in His beginnings, in His life, and especially in His death. They were consumed with self- righteousness and pleasing God by being good and religious, by doing good works. But Jesus comes, claims to be the Messiah and the King, and instead of being triumphant He’s despised and forsaken of men. He is simply the opposite of their definition of a Messiah.

No specific name for this person is given in Isaiah 53 other than to call him the Servant of God. His role is simply described. Jesus fits the portrait. The New Testament proclaims this in several texts—Mark 6:1- 6; Luke 4:16-30; John 1:11; 7:5 to name a few. Isaiah 53 contains the gospel if we only have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Questions to Consider:

Do you accept Jesus as the true Messiah? Have you received His substitutionary death in your place?

Prayer Prompts:

  • Lord, please help us to accept Your humble sacrifice for us.

  • Give us confidence to share the good news of your life, death, and resurrection with a world that is currently rejecting You.

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