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spised and rejected of men.” This is much stronger than neglect, this is, positive hatred. In the forty-ninth chapter it was prophesied of Him that He is one “whom man despiseth and the nation abhorreth.” No one ever born has been so intensely hated as Jesus. The Jews have changed the letters of His name Yeshua to Yeshu so that the initial letters mean, “Let His name and His memory be blotted out.” Another name used by the Jews for Him is “the hanged one.” In the Gospels we get occasional glimpses of that scorn: “Have any o f the rulers believed on Him, or of the Pharisees?” Why did they take up stones to stone Him? Why was He unable to work in Judaea but had to go to north Galilee and across the Jordan? Why did the rulers at the trial before the High Priest spit in His face? We must all meet opposition in various forms, but for an innocent and sensitive soul to endure scorn and vituperation calls for unusual grace and patience. What a change that was for Him! To leave the adoration of the angels and the countless th rong jn heaven to come down here to earth and dwell among sinners of every kind; to be misjudged, maligned, despised, hated, accused of being possessed with devils; to be regarded with suspicion and distrust; and to be compelled to see any one who became a follower of Him also put out of the synagogue and made an outcast among his fellows. His S uffering V icarious Job’s misfortune, so the people thought, was due to some secret sin. The man who was born blind must have sinned, or his parents, that he should be bom blind. When the viper fastened itself on Paul’s hand, he was only re ceiving the just desert of his crimes. And so it is writ ten of Christ, “We did esteem Him smitten of God and afflicted.” But the ideas were all wrong. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on Him the iniquity o f us all.” “IF VICARIOUS SUFFERING CAN BE DE SCRIBED IN WORDS, IT IS SO DESCRIBED IN THESE TWO VERSES.” There is nothing mystical or hard to understand in the meaning of the words. What we shall never be able to comprehend even in eternity is the vastness of the love of God who gave His Son to die for us. Think of Christ before P ilate! Think of them refus ing to go into the Praetorium lest they be defiled, when “their Rabbinic law pronounced the most severe anathema against anyone who should deliver a Jew to a heathen magistrate.” Was there ever a trial conducted where there was such bitter hatred manifested by the accusers and such unruffled calm shown by the One accused? No won der that Pilate, looking into His pure eyes, should go out to that mob six times and say to them, “I find no fault in Him.” Jesus knew the futility of being acquitted by them, and He also knew that He was about to fulfill not only His Father’s will but the great purpose for which He had come into the world, to make His soul an offering for sin. “The sins
Strange, indeed, that there should be, mention of His grave. Wasn’t it a merciful provision that Joseph and Nicodemus should come and care for His body as tenderly as loving hands could do? His body was preserved in order that on the third day, He should burst the bars of the grave and come forth the Conqueror of death and to all eternity assure us that as “He was delivered up for our trespasses so He was raised for our justification.” His R eward There is also the mention of His reward. In verse three is man’s estimate, “He was despised and rejected o f men.” In verse twelve is the Father’s, “I will divide Him a portion with the great.” What is the basis of this r e w a r d ? (1) He poured out His soul unto death. (2) He was numbered with the transgressors. (3) He bore the sins of many. (4) He made intercession for the transgressors. His reward came as the fruit of His suf ferings. As His humiliation was the deepest so His exal tation will be the highest. God has given Him a name that is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the- glory of God the Father. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Through His death believers, being united to Him, live in union with Him so that they become new creatures in Christ Jesus, and they will be presented faultless before the throne. “All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; So this prophecy begins and ends with the idea of exaltation. The Servant of Jehovah hath trodden the val ley of death that He might bring life to all who trust in Him. What about the servants? The very next word in Isa. 54 is “Sing.” Your Redeemer has come. His work is finished. Now let the redeemed of the Lord tell the good news. Everything needful has been done for us. Let us do everything we can for Him. We have not only been redeemed but we are His chosen ones to make His name known. There are two things each of us can do. First we can let our lives express something of the beauty of His character, and second we can determine that by His grace we shall win some one else this year to a real faith and trust in Christ our Lord. Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all.”
Of all mankind, with Him there crucified, Never to hurt them more who rightly trust In this His satisfaction.”
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