3 April 2026

3 April 2026 - Good Friday

Transcript

Reading:  

Isaiah 52:13—53:12

Reflect:   

Written hundreds of years before Jesus was even part of Mother Mary’s life, let alone his death being thought of, Isaiah somehow saw all of this suffering. I know we have heard it already this evening, but as I was getting ready for tonight, I thought the best reflection after reading John’s Passion would be to reread most of Isaiah’s vision.

See, my servant shall prosper,
             he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
 Even as many were amazed at him--
             so marred was his look beyond human semblance
             and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man--
 so shall he startle many nations,
             because of him kings shall stand speechless;
 for those who have not been told shall see,
             those who have not heard shall ponder it.
 
 Who would believe what we have heard?
             To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?...
 
 there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him,
             nor appearance that would attract us to him.
 He was spurned and avoided by people,
             a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity,
 one of those from whom people hide their faces,
             spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
 
 Yet it was our infirmities that he bore,
             our sufferings that he endured,
 while we thought of him as stricken,
             as one smitten by God and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our offenses,
             crushed for our sins;
 upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
             by his stripes we were healed…
 Though he was harshly treated, he submitted
             and opened not his mouth;
 like a lamb led to the slaughter
             or a sheep before the shearers,
             he was silent and opened not his mouth.
 Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away,
             and who would have thought any more of his destiny?...
 through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
             and their guilt he shall bear.
 Therefore[…] I will give him his portion among the great,
             and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
 because he surrendered himself to death
             and was counted among the wicked;
 and he shall take away the sins of many,
             and win pardon for their offenses.
 
 

What more needs be said?

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