SUFFERING REDEEMER by Terry Benson

“We despised him and rejected him; he endured suffering and pain. No one would even look at him— we ignored him as if he were nothing. But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God…. My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased, will bear the punishment of many and for his sake I will forgive them.”  Isaiah 53:3-4, 11 (GNT)

A Messiah was promised who would take the part of servant, of slave – taking all the abuse and punishment and suffering and pain that human beings could heap on him. He, the Righteous Ruler, was Victorious Warrior by virtue of His humility. He overcame evil with good, He overcame violence with peace, He overcame arrogance with humility.

Human understanding of personal trouble is that it’s the result of our wrongdoing – so if a person is going through difficulties, through suffering and pain, through abuse, we think it must be because God is punishing him. Yet here is a picture of God’s faithful and “devoted” servant bearing the brunt of all punishment. He did nothing wrong, He was innocent as a newborn, as a lamb. Our troubles are most often the result of our predicament – we are born into a world full of brokenness and disease and death. It’s all the result of the first disobedience, but it’s not God wreaking vengeance on the poor human transgressor.

And yet, there is punishment involved and it does belong to us. But this Deliverer would come as the Sacrificial Servant, and the Messiah would become the Redeeming Savior – “I will forgive them (that’s us and all human beings),” because this “devoted servant” bore the punishment.

The Promised One has been the hope of humanity since the twilight of Eden and the onset of sin’s midnight rule. Our race looked for One who could overcome evil, One who would rule in justice and mercy, One who would save us from eternal death. And He did come, crushing the head of the Serpent. Now the only power Satan has over us other than temporary suffering and temporary death is the power we give him. No temptation need overtake us, no deceptive lies or seductive enticements need sweep us into His control because Jesus Christ conquered him. Jesus died not only because of our sins but with our sins, and He came back to life – breaking the power of the evil one, which was death. And now He lives as our Righteous Ruler, judging us with mercy and compassion and forgiveness; promising His eternal life as ours.

This Promised One upon whom all the hopes of humanity hung did come. Born as Jesus of Nazareth, He lived and loved, He suffered and died, He rose and ascended to heaven. And He promised He would return to destroy all death, end all suffering, wipe away all tears, and establish His rule of peace forever. The Promise remains. And we pray, “Come Lord Jesus, Come.”