During Holy Week, the words of Isaiah the prophet, spoken more than seven hundred years before Jesus was born, speak to us more than two thousand years after Jesus’ crucifixion: Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. 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.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord had laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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 the shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 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.

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. 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 his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

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 intersession for their transgressions. ( Isaiah 53: 2-12)

This immortal passage from Isaiah breathes the very breath of Holy Week. In it the prophet foresees the coming of the Christ, and his suffering on the cross, and even his resurrection. Isaiah also reports that they, the Holy people, will misunderstand, and kill the very one sent to them by their God. Isaiah also emphasizes that God’s “righteous servant” will perform for all human beings: After he has suffered he will see the light of life and be satisfied.” That light we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.

Love in Him,

Prue