Jehovah's Servant (2)

What was shorfly to fill His hand, the iron nail or the iron rod? the nails which would bind Him to a Cross or the iron rod by which He would break the nations as a potter's vessel? This is a wholesome and fundamental question touching the purpose of His coming to earth.

Rarely have the tables been turned so quickly. The Lord rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed ass amidst a rejoicing people, and in a few hours He walks Out of Jerusalem condemned, bearing His Cross to the place of execution, the place of the skull, surrounded by a jeering mob more like wild animals than men, men that gaped upon Him, as the psalmist said, "As a ravening and a roaring lion".

Is it any wonder that Isaiah should portray such a reversal of public opinion with the words, "Like as many were astonied at. Thee"? This word "astonied" may be rendered "appalled", "stunned", "stupefied", "amazed", "astonished". Men expected the Lord to ascend the throne, or at least they expected Him, as He often had done before, to escape from His enemies and persecutors. But now He seeks no escape; He submits and yields Himself to the gross indignities of His own people and of the Gentiles. Men went numb at the thought of it. His closest followers, filled with consternation, had fled and left Him. Judas too was stupified! The clink of suver no longer sounded as music in his covetous ear. His disciples could but mourn and weep (Mark 16:10).

But though many were appalled at what happened to the Lord, He Himself knew what Isaiah had written, what David had written, and many others besides, whom the Spirit of Truth had unerringly guided to testify of the sufferings of the Christ, and also of the glories which should follow His sufferings. Thank God for such a Sufferer! and we shall thank God too when we see His glories.

J. Mi//er

Extracted ~ Needed Truth 1952

unknown | Feb 1993
Voices From The Past