Isaiah 53:1–6

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, noth- ing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Reena’s first Christmas after her husband’s death felt like a failure. She had wanted to make it a jolly one for her two little children, so that they would not miss their father too much during that festive season. But she struggled to hide from them the grief and pain that she was carrying in her heart. The special meal she had tried to prepare had been a flop and had ended in tears. But her parents and friends comforted her and helped to ease her pain. They asked God to help them create a meaningful holiday that she and her children could enjoy.

Encouraged, Reena decided to celebrate Jesus, the “man of suffering” who was “familiar with pain” (ISAIAH 53:3)—He who had Himself experienced separation and loss.

This passage from the prophet Isaiah was given to God’s people to prepare them for the Babylonian captivity, to deepen their hope and faith in God. But the prophecy is also fulfilled through the birth, life and death of Jesus: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (VV. 4, 5). Jesus knew sorrow on this earth, but through His death He has brought us forgiveness and freedom. Through His wounds we find peace and healing—even when we face Christmas apart from loved ones.

How does the fact that Jesus was “acquainted with grief” bring you comfort and hope? How has God eased your pain and feelings of loss?

Jesus, Man and God, You left heaven to face betrayal, pain and death here on earth—all to save me. Strengthen my hope in You and ease the sadness I feel over grief and strife in the world.