The Innocent Sufferer

 March 26, 2026

Jesus’ life was significant, but not in the ways people usually celebrate. He wasn’t chasing comfort, popularity, or influence. Those were the temptations that the Devil brought to him, but Jesus stayed the course of his calling. Instead of surrounding himself with wealth or status, he chose to live among struggling people every day. Instead being driven by political aspirations or power, he talked about a kingdom built on serving others. By normal World standards, Jesus’ life looked unsuccessful, he was rejected, misunderstood, and eventually executed in humiliating way. Yet what we witness is that instead of failure, Jesus revealed greatness through love, obedience, and selflessness.

Today’s scripture suggests that even looking at him from the outside, you’d never guess he was the One who created and holds the entire universe together. It goes on to say, there was nothing striking or impressive about his appearance, nothing that would make people stop and stare, yet, he, the suffering servant, our Jesus, was in truth the  very source of all beauty. No,  he was rejected, dismissed, and misunderstood. We read today that Jesus  carried sorrow so heavy that people couldn’t even look at him, they turned away from him.

He was beaten, wounded, crushed, and suffered in ways we can hardly wrap our minds around. And the most staggering part of all this is that he was completely innocent, the most righteous person who has ever lived.

What we need to take in today, and this is so powerful, Jesus went through all these things in so that that we would never have to. I think I should write that again! Jesus went through all these things in so that that we would never have to.  He suffered more than we could handle and was punished for sins he didn't commit. The last verse compares us to sheep, lost and stubborn, but our wrongdoing was placed upon him. He emptied himself of all his heavenly wealth so we could gain through his sacrifice.

No wonder we sing at this time of year the following:

What language shall I borrow
to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
for this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for Thee.

 

Let’s Pray

God, thank you for your kindness and compassion through your son Jesus. It is only through his wounds that we are healed. Renew us daily in the joy of our salvation.