Rejected Redeemer

Read Isaiah 53
 
Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 
He was despised and rejected by men.
 
This is an easy prophecy to understand. Many times form his birth to his resurrection, Jesus was despised, ridiculed and rejected. The ruling Jews and the crowds would often threaten him with stoning and physical danger. They sank to the lowest of opposition as they cried out, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22) Scripture even indicates how his mother and brothers sought to take him from his teachings (Mark 3:33-35). Many times, too, the disciples rejected his clear teachings of suffering, resurrection and eternal rule. Until Jesus’ ascension and the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost, the disciples rejected the true identity of their Rabbi. Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
 
familiar with suffering
 
Here is further emphasis Jesus’ mission would involve great pain, suffering, disappointment and grief. Not only was Jesus’ incarnation a brutal physical existence, we must know that all who follow Jesus can expect various forms of rejection and suffering.
   The gospel and those who proclaim the Good news will likely face even more intense persecution before Christ returns. So many Christians suffer throughout the world from terrible persecutions. There is no respite from this until the Christ returns.
 
 Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 
Yes, Jesus was despised on earth, and he is despised now. The hate speech against our Lord echoes through the generations because mankind is ashamed in our sin. Since Adam in shame hid from the Lord in the Garden, we cannot stand face-to-face before our holy God until we confess, “Forgive me, Father. I have sinned. Jesus is my Lord.” In shame, we denounce the One who calls us to righteousness. It is our way to elevate our lives above the Lord’s commands.
   Be of faith to know the Lord looks kindly to his own: 1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” In Christ’s shame on the cross, you are free from sin and shame.