A Chance To Heal
Healing Series
“There are many solutions proposed, but more often than not, it seems to be more of an endeavor to place blame than any true attempt at bringing healing…”
“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Explanation:
We all remember Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts (8:26-40). What’s interesting about this is that it gives us a glimpse into the way that Christians have always understood Isaiah 53’s description of the suffering servant. The passage is so remarkably descriptive of the experience of Jesus that it has prompted many to unsuccessfully attempt to attribute the passage to a different historical figure. Nevertheless, we as Christians confidently see Jesus as the clear referent in this passage – as we see here such an in-depth description of the suffering of our Lord, and what this suffering means for us.
Connection:
One is hard-pressed to turn on the news today and not find someone speaking of "healing." In a world that has been ravaged for over a year by a global pandemic coupled with social tension and unrest, every guru seems to have a solution to the problems that plague us. If we would just put aside our beliefs and do X, Y, and Z, all of our problems will disappear. Demagogues always capitalize on the situation and seize upon the opportunity to sow hate and division on the basis of race, class, or political affiliation. There are many solutions proposed, but more often than not, it seems to be more of an endeavor to place blame than any true attempt at bringing healing.
Therein lies the problem. The diagnosis to our problem is not going to be discovered only in any kind of examination of our social structures and institutions. These things may very well have a part to play in the maladies that plague our current life, but they are merely symptoms of our fallen human condition - a condition described to us in detail by Moses in the book of Genesis. We are, in fact, fallen creatures. Though we are still made in God's image, our hearts are warped. As Paul says, underneath it all, there is none who does good, not even one (Rom 3:10-12). The brokenness we are witnessing around us is real, and should not be disparaged. Yet, it is at the end of the day merely a symptom of a world that has forgotten the Gospel, even if, at one time, it embraced it. The answer will not come ultimately through bills, reforms, vaccines, or active legislation. These things are all useful tools and God uses them to bless - but the only healing that ultimately matters, the healing of our nature, comes only through the bloody wounds of Isaiah's suffering servant.
Action:
1. Read Isaiah 53 -
It cannot be underestimated how powerful this chapter is. There is depth, beauty, and meaning in the lines of this section. Set aside an hour to read and meditate on the prophet's words. What kind of things come to mind when meditating on Jesus' suffering? How might this change the way we interact with the world?
2. Gather Together -
The author of Hebrews implores Christians not to forsake the time to join together in love and fellowship (10:25). Notice the use of the plural "our" over and over in the prophet's words. The healing given to us is one that is shared in community, working together all as members of the same body.
3. Share the News -
Like Philip, we can take the news of Isaiah's suffering servant out into the world. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few, Jesus says (Matt 9:37). Therefore, go out into the world and plant the seeds, trusting that God will bring forth fruit from soil that is nourished by his word and spirit.