He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
– Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)
Today’s commentary
by Dave Whitehead, Author of Making Sense of the Bible
In the days that Jesus lived, there is a strong probability that you and I would not treat Jesus any better if we saw him. John the Baptist became uncertain of him. The woman at the well did not know whom she was talking to. Even his family did not accept his claims at first. The story of the Suffering Servant is one that men reject, despise and not esteem. Yet this rejection has been and continues to be a part of God’s great plan of redemption. Christ took our rejection upon himself to open to door for our acceptance into God’s favor. His familiarity with pain is now the doorway to our familiarity with renewal.