The Promised One: Advent Day 11

Read & Journal

Read Isaiah 53 in its entirety. Ask yourself:

• What have I just read? How would I explain this passage to a friend?

• What do these verses teach me about God? About his character?

• How does this passage point to Jesus? What does it reveal about his mission or purpose?

• What did you learn about redemption/salvation in this passage?

• What do these verses teach you about yourself?

• Jesus laid down his sinless life so that you might be counted as righteous (v. 11). Write a prayer of response to him today, thanking him for his sacrifice.

Ponder

Despised. Rejected. Weighed down.

Pierced. Crushed. Beaten.

Isaiah 53 is the fourth time the prophet mentioned a servant, but in these verses, it becomes very clear that this servant is a person. He is despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. He is pierced for our rebellion and crushed for our sins, whipped so that we could be healed.

Christmas is rightfully a time of celebration, of happiness and joy. But as believers, we cannot celebrate Jesus’ incarnation without recognizing his purpose in coming—and meditating on the great price he has paid to set us free from our sin and oppression. In this passage, we find the heart of the Messiah—not the warrior king the people expected, but the suffering servant we actually needed. The truth of the gospel is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).

As you count down the days until Christmas, don’t forget the reason for your joy. Jesus came to save us from our sin, and he suffered and died to accomplish that. The punishment you rightfully deserved, he took upon himself. He has set you free, and, more than that, he has declared you righteous. Rest in what he has done today.

Thanks be to God.