SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 52
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness– so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. [Isaiah 52:14-15]
In one sense, Israel is God’s suffering servant, disfigured through judgment and oppression; but in a deeper sense this is the Lord Himself, coming to rescue His people.
The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. [Isaiah 52:10]
Jesus (whose name means “God saves” or “God’s salvation”) is the One crushed and disfigured in the sight of all nations, now exalted and ruling over heaven and earth.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” [Mark 15:37-39]
When the Roman centurion sees Jesus disfigured and marred beyond human likeness, he sees and understands what he was not raised to know – in contrast to the Jews who crucified Him, they didn’t get it!
This is one of the reasons why I believe in Jesus – because He represents a God Who cares enough to suffer, a God who deals with sin and injustice and immorality and misery.
God cannot just forgive sin – as if it were not a big deal; nor can we break free from the power of sin, as if it were not a big deal.
The guilt and the grip of sin are real issues that need to be dealt with – and God does this through His messiah.
He affirms the wrongness of rape and abuse and violence and betrayal (etc.) by executing judgment against it on the cross; He affirms our inability to pay the penalty ourselves, or to break free from the power of sin, by doing it Himself.

A God that suffers, a God that reduces Himself to human dimensions to rescue His much-loved children?
A messiah that willingly suffers and endures crucifixion, though innocent.
“Surely this man was the Son of God!” [Mark 15:39]
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” [Isaiah 52:7]
Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. [Isaiah 52:9]

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for doing for me what I could not do for myself – dealing with my guilt and setting me free from the grip of sin. By grace alone, I am Yours and You are mine! “Surely You are the Son of God!”