Isaiah 53
Artwork: Sheila Hamil
Before the year 680 BC, Isaiah prophesied about someone called God’s servant, who would act wisely, yet suffer for the sins of his people.
He would be led off to die, humbly and meekly like a lamb about to be slaughtered.
He would not fight to save himself, nor defend himself.
He would die a death alongside sinners, and pray while he was dying, for those who were abusing him.
Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, both have the death of Jesus weaving and moving through them like a thread.
Psalm 22 was written a thousand years before Jesus died and it speaks of a way of death that was unknown at that time. (crucfixion)
“ . . .a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones;
People stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them
And cast lots for my clothing.”
Draw your own picture of Jesus on the cross and under it, write out these words from John 3.16. Now learn them if you can:-
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
38 Isaiah 53
(spoken to the tune ‘Cry baby bunting’)
He grew up like a tender shoot,
a root out of dry ground.
He had no outward beauty,
nothing to keep us bound.
He was despised, rejected,
and hated such a lot,
and no-one had respect for him,
and we . . . esteemed him not.
But he carried all our sorrows,
our fears, our doubts, our pain.
And then we just ignored him,
and left him in the rain.
Pierced through for all our wickedness,
crushed down with all our sin.
The punishment that brought us peace,
was won because of him.
And we like sheep have gone astray,
we’ve each gone our own way.
Our every sin was laid on him
for someone had to pay.
He was led away to slaughter,
meek and humble like a lamb;
and he never said a single word,
so innocent . . . yet damned.
And though he’d done no violence,
no deceit was on his breath.
He died beside the wicked,
and with the rich in death.
He was numbered with the sinners,
for he bore the sins of men,
and he prayed for his abusers,
“Forgive them Lord . . . Amen”
© words Sheila Hamil 2012
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