Despised

April 6, 2020

Lent 2020

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“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.” (Isaiah 53:3)

What causes you to shrink away in disgust or fear? Does blood, an accident, chaos or ugliness cause you to turn your head away? Twice in the Old Testament passage today the word “despised” is used. It almost hurts to use the word as it connotes such a vigorous, active dislike and yet it is used to describe the reaction received by the Messiah. In today’s New Testament passage, Jesus speaks truth to His own neighbors and He is forcibly taken to the brink of a cliff to be thrown off, a physical representation of being despised and rejected in the beginning of His ministry.

Every day we hear truth and see brokenness, our own or others, and choose how to respond. In this passage, Jesus responds by walking through the hate and scorn continuing on with His mission. While He was alone amidst the anger and rejection, we have the benefit of being able to walk on with Jesus having found healing from His death and resurrection. Forgiveness, hope and love flow from what many scorn and we must consciously see Jesus, His pain and suffering experienced for us. Our response may cause us to join Him in brokenness but, ultimately, we join Him in glorifying the Heavenly Father for His provision of hope and life. Our path in this season must include viewing and responding to the ugliness of life and bring Jesus’ healing and hope to those we interact with daily. No matter their place or past, Jesus comes to all who are open to Him and His message of salvation and peace.

DIG DEEPER: