Who Would Have Believed What We Heard?

"Who would have believed what we heard? Who saw the Lord's power in this? He grew up like a small plant before the Lord, like a root growing in a dry land. He had no special beauty or form to make us notice Him; there was nothing in His appearance to make us desire Him. He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering. People would not even look at him. He was hated, and we didn't even notice Him.

But He took our suffering on Him and felt our pain for us. We saw His suffering and thought God was punishing Him. But He was wounded for the wrong we did; He was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to Him, and we are healed because of His wounds. We all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way. But the Lord has put on Him the punishment for all the evil we have done.

He was beaten down and punished, but He didn't say a word. He was like a lamb being led to be killed. He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut; He never opened His mouth. Men took Him away roughly and unfairly. He died without children to continue His family. He was put to death; He was punished for the sins of my people. He was buried with wicked men, and He died with the rich. He had done nothing wrong, and He had never lied.

But it was the Lord who decided to crush Him and make Him suffer. The Lord made His life a penalty offering, but He will still see His descendants and live a long life. He will complete the things the Lord wants Him to do. After His soul suffers many things, He will see life and be satisfied. My good servant will make many people right with God; He will carry away their sins. For this reason I will make Him a great man among people, and He will share in all things with those who are strong. He willingly gave His life and was treated like a criminal. But He carried away the sins of many people and asked forgiveness for those who sinned."
(Isaiah 53 ~ The Inspirational Study Bible by Max Lucado)

This was written 800 YEARS before the birth of Jesus!

I stand in awe at the Word of our Lord.

Father, You amaze me! Totally!! Thank You for leading me to this version of a very familiar scripture - it paints the image of Jesus so clearly. When I think of how You put the stars in place, and held the seas in the hollow of Your hand, it blows me away. And here, 800 years before Jesus, You already had Your plan of salvation in place. Thank You, Lord. Thank You for loving us so much. Help us to never take Your greatness for granted.