A MAN of SORROWS...
-by Marc White.

The prophesy in Isaiah 53:3 reads:

"He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him."

Rejected. Hated. Forsaken. Grief, the kind that accompanies
affliction and severe illness. Shame.

Man of sorrows, which, it seems, is pain inflicted both physically
and emotionally.

Why is this so? Jesus our Lord came to initiate the new order, the
kingdom of God. Good news to the afflicted, binding up the broken-
hearted, proclaiming (not “sharing”) liberty to captives, and freedom
to prisoners (Isaiah 61:1). Setting the captives free by His grace,
so we shout hallelujah!

But natural men love the old order, the status quo, the way things
are, the safe and familiar paths of the demonic world. Men of flesh
are threatened by the new order of God, since an eternal decision
is required that will cost them their familiar life. They often end up
despising and forsaking both its message and especially the Messenger.

So, assuming we’re walking with Him, both He and us at times
are people of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Jesus asked Saul
on the road to Damascus why he was persecuting HIM. And Jesus
commands us to leap for joy NOW when the persecution comes!
And it is promised to come. All who desire to live a holy life will
suffer for His name’s sake.

Meditating on Scriptures that describe the time on Calvary, we see
little joy at that time. But the joy given to the Author and Perfecter
of faith because of the cross came later on, we’re told. Hebrews
12:2 goes on to say: “who for the joy set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God.”

In the garden on that last night, words were uttered that stun me.
Earlier on in my Christian life I was always taught Jesus was “never
down.” Oh, He wept, but He was never in despair. But the words
reflect the truth of that night:

Matthew 26:37-38
And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and
began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, "My
soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep
watch with Me."

Even our brother Paul experienced this gut wrenching emotion of
excessive burden and despair:

2 Cor. 1:8
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction
which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively,
beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life…”

But a couple of verses later, Paul praises the truth of the Savior’s
deliverance:

2 Cor. 1:10
"who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us,
he on whom we have set our hope. and he will yet deliver us"

Many of us believers avoid sorrow at all costs. Some even think
that sorrow, or any kind of tribulation in this world, means we’re
out of God’s will. So, they claim, we just need to be positive, not negative.

But those who walk closely with Jesus know the way of sorrow, the
way of the cross, being acquainted with grief. But it’s temporary,
we will be delivered. Praise to Jesus! Joy always follows these
times to those who fix their eyes on Him, running the race with
endurance (Heb. 12:2).

After circumcising Jesus on the 8th day and waiting 40 days for
Mary to become ceremonially clean once again, the couple brought
the newborn Son of Man to the temple. It’s at this time old Simeon
gives his farewell blessing-prophesy in Luke 2:34-35:

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold,
this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and
for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own
soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."”

Mothers, what do you feel when you read this? The fall and rise of
many? A sign to be opposed? A sword piercing Mary’s soul? Is
this any way to begin a new life with your firstborn? But Mary knew,
at least in part, it would not be a cake walk. Hardly. I’m positive
the mercy of God was upon her as the Holy Spirit prepared her
heart for the deposit of this word from the old saint. God, the faithful
one in her life, would supply Her need now, and even later at Calvary.

Did Mary know the prophesy of Isaiah 53, the Man of sorrows?
Probably. Did the Holy Spirit bring it to her mind, and then perhaps
bring comfort? I’m speculating He did. Might it have come through
the psalmist? God knows. Someday I hope to ask her in heaven.

Psalm 30:5b
"Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning."

I remember vividly in Chicago growing up in the ‘60’s the first time
that I saw a tough-guy biker wearing the t-shirt that proclaimed “Born To Die.”

So, at this time when most celebrate His birth, we remember He
was born to die.

But much more than that.

He was born to be resurrected!

-Marc White.
-SOURCE: www.walkworthy.org