Today I found the Good Friday story in a surprising place. And, as is often the case, when we find something in an unexpected place it seems to have more impact. I’ve been preparing for our Good Friday service so I’ve been very focused on the events leading up to the Lord’s death, and I’ve been reading in Isaiah in my quiet time. Suddenly, the two came together. Here was a New Testament event recorded (prophetically) in the Old Testament – and I was struck by what I read.
Isaiah does more than give us a glimpse into Christ’s suffering – he reveals the heart of our Savior with these words in Isaiah 50:6: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.” He offered! Those words are the reality of His declaration in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
This reminds me of the words in John 18:4: “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, stepped forward.” He didn’t draw back in an attempt to avoid the suffering of Calvary, but He stepped forward – forward to the beating, forward to the humiliation, forward to the excruciating pain and agony of Calvary, forward to having His holiness marred by our sins, forward to the unbearable rending of His intimacy with the Father. He stepped forward and offered Himself.
I don’t know any other way to respond to this glimpse into the heart of Christ than to bow in worship and say a humble, but very inadequate “thank you.”
Have a blessed Easter!
Follow
Esther,
Such a striking contrast:
the unbearable rending of His intimacy with the Father.
For us the rending has resulted in:
an unfathomable depth of loving intimacy with our Father.
What a merciful exchange!
Thank you for the beautiful imagery!
I actually wrote a poem expressing that very tho’t a few years ago (during some dark days). It’s not great poetry, but it is glorious truth!
He spoke them to me, personal and clear
Words of great truth that I needed to hear.
“I’ll never leave you, never forsake you,
Don’t be afraid of what mere man can do?”
Wonder of wonders! How can it be?
God forsook His own Son to draw near to me!
How can I doubt Him, my God ever-near?
He’ll never forsake me, there’s nothing to fear.