Text: Isaiah 50:1-11, Isaiah 51:1-23, Isaiah 52:1-15, Matthew 27:26-31, John 16:33
I lingered at the auction from early morning until late afternoon, patiently waiting to place my bid on that old, knotty pine corner hutch. Though the piece would have little value to most, to me it was a priceless heirloom—a gift from my great-grandfather to my Granny years before I was born. A simple yet costly purchase that still spoke silently of a humble farmer’s extravagant love for his beloved bride.
I’d been looking forward to having that cherished part of my grandparents’ lives in our home. But as the auctioneer began his chant, it became apparent I wasn’t the only one with an affinity for my Granny’s hutch.
The bidding rapidly escalated and then swept past my “top-dollar” limit. My heart raced in unbelief, but I pressed forward, affirming with every nod my determination to claim that prize. But eventually, with tears of regret streaming down my face, I lowered my number and signaled “no” to the auctioneer’s insistent plea. I’d lost the battle; the only remaining piece of my Granny’s life would belong to another.
Devastated, I glanced up and met the eye of the auctioneer as he bellowed, “Sold!” He seemed to be looking at me—but no, he was looking beyond me. I turned, expecting to find the new owner of the coveted hutch, but instead, I met the tender gaze of my beloved grandfather. “The hutch is yours, girl,” he whispered, as he quietly handed me his bidding card. “I knew how much you wanted it.”
Tears flowed as I began to piece together all that had unfolded. Someone who had deeply loved me all my life had been fighting for me all along, working on my behalf, though I’d been totally unaware of it. Just as loss and utter defeat seemed to have won the last word, my defender was revealed.
The last week of Jesus’ life must have seemed similar to those who followed Him. With every fiber of their being they believed He was the Messiah. Their hearts found peace knowing the prophecies foretold that their Messiah would also be the conquering King.
Yet before their eyes, Jesus was being horrifically humiliated. He had been wrongfully condemned by several kangaroo courts and subjected repeatedly to public shaming. Maligned, brutally scourged, He was ultimately put to death by crucifixion.
Why?
Why was Jesus not defending Himself?
Why had the Rescuer not rescued Himself?
Why was our Messiah not putting an end to this dreadful atrocity?
Why was a brutal, hate-filled humanity allowed to lead the Promised One as a lamb to the slaughter?
To limited eyes that can only see what’s temporal, it seemed as if all was lost—that nothing remained but indescribable loss and utter defeat. But sin and death would not have the final word. Concealed from the disciples’ human eyes, a battle of magnificent proportions was being waged and won for all eternity. The Father was redeeming those enslaved by sin through the crushing of Jesus, our Messiah.
No one rescued Jesus from the suffering that purchased our redemption. No one came to His defense. No, He chose to suffer so that the price for our sin would be paid in full. Even now, He is conspiring for our good.
Hallelujah, our Defender has come!
Carrie Gaul is a biblical correspondent for Revive Our Hearts. She and her husband Dennis have two married children and are enjoying grandchildren. Carrie has a deep love for God’s Word and a passion to see women grow in ever-increasing intimacy with Jesus through the study and application of His Word.
Thank you Jesus for suffering for us! Thank you for paying the ultimate price
http://www.in-due-time.com
“Just as loss and utter defeat seemed to have won the last word, my defender was revealed.” These words are an amazing comfort to my soul today. <3 I'm constantly in awe of how God knows exactly what I need to hear. Grateful for SRT for speaking the truth of His word and sharing it with us.
http://www.littlelightonahill.com
I can’t imagine being the disciples, helplessly watching their Leader and Lord be mistreated beyond comprehension and willingly so.. they knew His power, they’d witnessed so much, and yet they stand by utterly helpless watching the nightmare unfold.. they didn’t fully understand the extent Jesus had to go to pay the price, to fully become the propitiation for all the sin of mankind.. I can only imagine the paralyzingly fear they felt, the anger too.. to watch someone you love be mistreated, that someone being sinless, full of love, care, incomprehensible compassion.. such hard moments.. but Sunday was coming.. redemption was within their reach…but until then, they battle ensued within them as to believe all He said was true.. circumstances made His promises seem null and void.. as with the disciples, we too cannot allow circumstances, no matter how bleak, to determine our faith.. faith is believing even when nothing makes sense.. claiming promises in the face of death.. He meant what He said and His word is true all the live long day! Praise be to God that dark days don’t define the reality of what is to come!! Heaven is ours even when we feel like life is hell on earth! Hallelujah!
“faith is believing even when nothing makes sense” <3 <3 <3
“to fully become the propitiation for all the sin of mankind”…what an amazing, humbling, awe-filling thought. We don’t see or hear that word propitiation much any more. Most of our modern bible translations replace it with something else that doesn’t have the full weight of the word propitiation (imho). The Amplified defines propitiation as the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature-our worldliness, our lifestyle. Wow! Just think, our Lord, Jesus, died that day to hold back God’s wrath directed at me, directed at you. That is a friend! That is our Friend. Bask in that truth today.
Thank you for sharing that definition! I love that.
“Claiming promises in the face of death–” such a good description. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reminding me that there is always someone fighting for my behalf.
Isn’t it a nice feeling that you are being held by our defender? something we often forget.
(dark dolphins, unite! eeeeeeeeeee!)
I loved today’s reading and so needed to hear these words~ “He awakens me each morning. He awakens my My ear to listen like those being instructed. The Lord God has opened My ear” (4,5) “The Lord God will help Me” (7) “who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of Yahweh, let him lean on his God” (10) “Put on the strength of the Lord’s power” (51:9) “joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee” (11) and…I may have to have this tattooed on my arm so I can remind myself every day “because the Lord is going before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard” ( 52:12) “Be courageous!” (John 16:33) hallelujah! And amen!
Isn’t true – that at times you feel like you are the few, the only? In Isaiah 51: 1,2 The faithful remnant may have felt alone because they were few. But God reminded them of their ancestors, the source of their spiritual heritage — Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was only one person, but much came from his faithfulness. If the faithful few would remain, even more could come from them. If we Christians, even a faithful few, remain faithful, think what God can do through us!
Oh the JOY of having a defender! He is fighting for me; even when all seems lost, even when hope has faded, even in the midst of tears. He fights for me! His arm is not shortened, he does not slumber, his power reigns!
❤️
Amen, Heather! Thank you for this encouraging word this morning!
– Stormye