DECEMBER 22 THE SERVANT WHO SUFFERED FOR US By Mark Yarbrough President, Dallas Theological Seminary
Today’s Passage: Hebrews 12:3; Philippians 2:5–11
“Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (Hebrews 12:3)
In this Advent season, we pause to remember not only the joy of Jesus’ birth but the weight of His mission. The baby born in Bethlehem was no ordinary child. He came to become the Suffering Servant – sent by God to redeem a world locked in sin’s condemning hold. Hebrews 12:3 reminds us to reflect deeply on what Jesus endured: “hostility…from sinful people.” He came knowing the road ahead would be marked with rejection, betrayal, and the agony of the cross. His entrance into our world was not grand or regal – He entered our realm humbly, wrapped in clothes, only to be laid in a well- used manger. From the cradle to the cross, Jesus embraced suffering so that He might walk with us through ours. Philippians 2 offers a deeper glimpse into His humility: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…He gave up His divine privileges…and was born as a human being…[and] humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” This is the true miracle of Christmas: God, in Christ, did not remain distant. He came near in His Son by entering our pain, breathing our air, and feeling our weakness. In His incarnation, Jesus identified fully with our humanity. And because of His suffering – and through His atoning death – He offers comfort, strength, and salvation to all who trust in Him. So, if your heart is weary this Christmas, look to the Suffering Servant. He knows your name. He sees your struggle. And He wants to relieve your load – He has walked this path before you.
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