Man of Sorrows

The Bible says of Jesus that, “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” (Isaiah 53:3)

This is not how most people picture Jesus. They picture Him smiling and overwhelmed by peace. They picture Him gladly being with people and teaching them with great care. We picture Him walking among people with a gentle smile and with great peace. Yes, He was this, but He was also a Man of Sorrows.

What does the Word of God mean when it says, He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Certainly, leading up the cross and the cruel torturous treatment He received and the nailing of Him to a cross to die, even though He was innocent represents this man of sorrows, but there is another kind of sorrow He bore and those who are Godly also know about.

Jesus overlooking Jerusalem says, ““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37). “Jeus wept while the crowd cheered.” Jesus is burdened by His love for the people. He desires all people to be saved, but He leaves the choice with us. He does not force us or violate our free will. He is sorrowful if people foolishly choose to not receive Him and therefore a destined to spend eternity in hell. Truly, He bore our sorrows. Jesus also knew that in A.D. 70 Jerusalem would be violated and destroyed by the Romans. Jesus didn’t desire the people to experience God’s judgement, but it was coming.

When we love we will hurt when people do not choose the best, but choose the way of destruction and corruption. If we don’t bear the sorrow for the lost, we will be angry at them and self-righteous. Gary Thomas in his book Authentic Faith says, “without a balanced emphasis on mourning, I have a tendency to become critical instead of compassionate, angry instead of gentle, and condemning instead of welcoming.” How do we look at people who have made a big mess out of their lives? Oh, that we would bear the father’s heart for the lost. God loved the world so much He sent His Son to bear the sorrows of our sin on a cross for those who receive Him. The Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, bore the sin of His own creation in order to redeem them from spiritual and eternal death.

There is another kind of mourning that we must do that Jesus didn’t have to. We need to mourn sin. In regards to inner and outward sin James the Apostle says, “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:8-10) This shouldn’t be all of the Christian life, but it certainly should be a part of it. Gary Thomas also says, “The clear indication is that if we don’t mourn our sins, we can’t be holy.” Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4)

“John Climacus writes, “I find myself amazed by the way in which inward joy and gladness mingle with what we call mourning and grief, like honey in a comb. There must be a lesson here, and it surely is that (mourning) is properly a gift from God, so that there is real pleasure in the soul, since God secretly brings consolation to those who in their hearts are repentant.” Being repentant is not beating yourself up it is sorrow for sin that enslaves and offends God’s holiness and makes us less human.

“In the wisdom literature, mourning isn’t seen as something to run from but something to learn from: “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter because a sad face is good for the heart, the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 7;2-4)

In the shortest sentence in the Bible it says, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) He wept with those who felt of pain of the loss of Lazarus. He wept with Him even though he called Him back from the dead. Jesus bears our sorrows with us.

How do we respond to Jesus. It is not a one-way relationship for our good and God’s glory. The Bible says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God” (John 1:12, KJV) He gave power to become a child of God. He gives grace to those who receive it, that they can choose Him and be saved. The power is His and it is the power to be born again. You by God’s grace can choose to receive. God will change you and empower you to become children of God, if you receive Him.

See how much God loves you. Will you respond in love or we spurn His love. Joshua in the Old Testament said to the people, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 25:15). The choice is urgent you may not have another chance.

Let not Jesus bear the sorrow of your sins on the cross and in life, in vain for you. Receive Him today.