Passion Sunday - First Reading - Isaiah 50:4–7 - I gave my back to those who beat me.

1. Isaiah 50:4-7
I gave my back to those who beat me.
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2. The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
that I might know how to
speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ears that I may
hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who
beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my
beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.
The Lord GOD has my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to
shame.

3. This is the third servant song.
The servant is speaking to the
Lord.
He recognizes that God is using
him to deliver messages of
comfort to the weary.
The Spirit speaks to us but far too
often we chose not to listen.
The servant who is speaking had
chosen to listen and
acknowledges that his gift is
not his own but given to him by
God.
He didn’t rebel against God’s use of
him, no he accepted God’s
challenge and did God’s work. Just
like Jesus, he willingly submits to
insults and beatings.
When Jesus was in the garden He
asked His Father to let the cup of
his persecution and death pass
Him by.
That was not the Father’s will so just
like this servant Jesus obediently
accepted the Father’s will.