A Man of Sorrows

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:3-5)

I am writing this article the week before Easter weekend and so of course there is much talk of our Lord’s Crucifixion but as always there is very little talk of His Resurrection. I thought last week’s sermon at the church I go to was quite good and it made me think about sorrow. The minister was referencing Matthew 26:36-46 and Jesus says in verse 38, “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” Our Lord was sorrowful knowing the task He had ahead of Him but I believe He was also sorrowful knowing what was ahead for us, as He would have been feeling all that was ahead for us in the future. Although He prayed to the Father in verse 39 that this cup could pass from Him He also was obedient to His Father’s will, “nevertheless not as I will; but as thou wilt”. This was the sorrowful part of what Jesus did for us. What a Saviour we have. There is a Hymn called “Man of Sorrows, What a Name” written by Philip Bliss in 1875. It is on Youtube if you want to listen to it.

The minister also mentioned the part that is missed so often. Through His death also came victory. He arose from the dead and is victorious! 1Corinthians 15:54-56, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” We have eternal life through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

It is interesting that when they go to Gethsemane Jesus asks Peter and the sons of Zebedee to stay there and watch with Him, but when Jesus goes to pray to the Father they fall asleep, “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.… And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?”(Matt. 26:37-38,40) This happens two more times before Jesus says for them to take their rest. We must be careful that Jesus does not find us sleeping when He returns, as we are to be His watchmen. Mark 13:32-34, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.”

I have been thinking about this sermon the past week. I couldn’t help but think about how the world is full of sorrow. There is much sadness and heartbreak everywhere today, it seems. The sorrow in the world is for practical reasons but it is also a spiritual sorrow, as we have lost our way. Our Lord felt this I’m sure and carried it with Him to the Cross. 1Timothy 6:9-11, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” I believe that we feel this spiritual sorrow today. Those who are watching and waiting patiently for our Lord’s return will be victorious when He arrives! James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Through the sorrows and grief that our Lord endured on the Cross He was the victor over death. His death and resurrection was victory for all of us who come to the Cross. Hallelujah!

He first came to save us through His death and resurrection. His second coming will be to save us from this corrupt and sinful world to live with Him in the Kingdom on Earth. This time He is coming victorious and we will be victorious too at His coming. What a day that will be!

Isaiah 25:7-9, “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”