Hope For Those Who Suffer

To start this lesson, again we start with the prophecies of Isaiah.He spoke of Jesus several hundreds (700)of years before he was born. This lesson overstretches boundaries. It deals with the old as well as the new. This indicates to us,that the gospel of Jesus Christ is timeless. It's for yesterday,today and forevermore.The same instructions given to Isaiah, are the same as those given to you today.The old and the new testament, both prepare us for salvation.People exert a lot of effort to try and separate the two. To no avail,I might add. One testament qualifies the other.


Passage Isaiah 53:1-3:

1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

These three verses tell all who have accepted,of a messiah yet to come. It describes the childhood of an average boy with humble beginnings. Jesus was born in a manger, in a stable. Jesus was born the son of a carpenter (Joseph) and a poor Israelite woman(Mary). Nothing about him, alarms those around him of his significance. His parents were aware, because his birth in itself was a miracle. Jesus was born through immaculate conception. Early in his life, Jesus had to be protected from the King Herrod. The King gave an order to kill all male babies. Had his family not picked up and moved. Jesus would have been killed too. Like to the Jews of that day.The description given of Jesus here,isn't what one would expect. They expected a galant sword wielding man, much like people they had already seen. Just more physically powerful than the others. They predicted the Messiah to be a warrior. I think scripture just went farther to prove, the fact that Jesus was a humble servant.There goes the word servant again.Even Jesus was one, don't you think we should be to? Accessible to everyone who seeks Gods kingdom.It goes on to foretell of his unwelcome experiences as a grown man spreading the word.Though he came with a message for all. He was rejected and persecuted by some. All the things we read about him, seems like something we've heard before. Probably because we have, or at least we should.



Passage Luke 1:47-50:

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation


Here we have some of the beginnings of Lukes account of the gospel. Here he is expressing to us the joy, with which Mary accepted her mission.She and Joseph had to have a strong belief in God.To accept something unheard of and absent of familiarity.They both made sacrifices, that the average person would have had issues with. Mary put her faith and trust in God, when it defied logic and reasoning. We have to trust God no matter what, like Mary did. She has committed herself to service. To give birth to the messiah. These verses are known as the "Song Of Mary" or "Servant Song". Her acknowledgement of her need for salvation.And the role she plays in accomplishing that. What greater honor than to ba a part of your own deliverance.Especially with her not being of stature in the community.Man would have expected this to be set aside for a dignitary. It shows us how Jesus appealed to everyone, not just those of means.That is and will be the case forever.For all generations to come.

Passage Luke 1:51-55:

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

This describes the the way in which Jesus would break up the status quo. He would impart to them the wishes of his father God. As opposed to following the wishes of the flesh.Which is what many had chose to do.Do whatever we wanted to. Flesh does not only pertain to sex, and the body.It applies to any wish, that's not of God.It speaks of a transformation where the high will be made low. And the low will be made high.That's the opposite of the ways of the world. Man is materialistic to say the least. On earth he who has the gold, makes the rules. In spite of what we're facing, the best is yet to come.Many times it seems as though the unrighteous are being rewarded. No matter where we are, or what we're going through.We see the Jews as an example of how God never abandons us. In spite of their rebellion, he never gave up on them. We must hold fast to our faith. To be in position for our final reward. Trust God and never doubt.The same promises given to Abraham, are given to us as well.