Suffering Silently

"7 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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
 8 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.
 9 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." (Isa. 53:7-9 NIV)

Part of the sadness of "social separation" is the cancellation of our community Lenten services. Our "loaf and ladle" service (bread and soup suppers together as four churches) was a sweet time of fellowship and our time of worship even more so. As community pastors we have been teaching through sections of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 and tonight Pastor James would have brought his unique thoughts to bear on the text. 

In his absence and in the absence of Pastor Mark and Steve, I thought I would carry us through. 

There is a contrast from verse 6 to 7. We, like sheep, go astray and we want our own way. It's called "sin." But Jesus, our Passover Lamb, had no sin and yet he suffered for us. And he suffered for us to give us an example of suffering. He took it. He understood that suffering was part of the plan. 

Here is where many Christians unwittingly become Buddhists. My life's goal is to not suffer, to get rid of things that bring suffering, to detach from life in such a way that I will not be affected negatively by this world and the desire for the things of this world. 

How different that is from Jesus who for the joy set before him endured the cross with its suffering and shame. How different that is from Jesus who learned obedience from what he suffered (Heb. 5:8) and became our perfect sacrifice. 

Peter tells us that, "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 'He himself bore our sins' in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by his wounds you have been healed.' For 'you were like sheep going astray,' but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Pet. 2:23-25 NIV)

Notice how many times Peter refers to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah in this short passage. Suffering has a purpose for all of us. It perfects us. It calls us to trust in a just Father. It calls us to a patient witness before our enemies - a witness that ended up bringing many an executioner to faith in Jesus. 

On this night of remembering our Lord and Savior, may the cry of our own heart be, "Not my will by Thine," and our song, "O to Be Like Him" - our beautiful, suffering, Savior.