See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him.  For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.  Isaiah 52:13, 14, 15

Lent. Time to ponder what happened on that hill outside Jerusalem when the sky darkened and the earth shook as Jesus Christ, God among us, felt the full weight of all the sins of mankind on his bowed and distressed head. So heavy was the load that it marred him, bent him terribly. This is, in my mind, the most distressful moment in the history of our universe.  It could not have been darker or more frightening. God in the flesh died!  Who could have predicted that?

Those sins that Jesus carried in his torn body made us unfit to walk with God.  It was on the Easter morning, in a matter of hours, that Jesus sprung from the grave and lives forever as our most precious savior and intercessor before God Almighty.

It is true, his appearance was disfigured, more so than any other human being, and his form was marred so that he could hardly be recognized as a man.  Horrid.

But that terror of loss was replaced by a song of triumph – the song we sing today. Our sin-bearer who has risen is now in glory, pleading for our welfare incessantly! Who can keep from singing?  From being a marred body, his immortal body exalts in perfection.