Rejoice, He is Alive

Who has believed what we have heard?^[a]
And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?
² He grew up before Him like a young plant
and like a root out of dry ground.
He didn’t have an impressive form
or majesty that we should look at Him,
no appearance that we should desire Him.
³ He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like someone people turned away from;^[b]
He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.

⁴ Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses,
and He carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded Him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But He was pierced because of our transgressions,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on Him,
and we are healed by His wounds.
⁶ We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished Him
for^[c] the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet He did not open His mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
He did not open His mouth.
⁸ He was taken away because of oppression and judgment;
and who considered His fate?^[d]
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
He was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
⁹ They^[e] made His grave with the wicked
and with a rich man at His death,
although He had done no violence
and had not spoken deceitfully.

¹⁰ Yet the Lord was pleased to crush Him severely.^[f]
When^[g] You make Him a restitution offering,
He will see His seed, He will prolong His days,
and by His hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
¹¹ He will see it^[h] out of His anguish,
and He will be satisfied with His knowledge.
My righteous Servant will justify many,
and He will carry their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give Him^[i] the many as a portion,
and He will receive^[j] the mighty as spoil,
because He submitted Himself to death,
and was counted among the rebels;
yet He bore the sin of many
and interceded for the rebels.

I guess since Spring is springing in (haha :P I'm so funny) when Easter comes we all think of flowers when it's Easter. At least I do. This Monday I was having a stressful day and while driving to the library we passed this church. Outside of it was a cross and tons of gorgeous tulips. There I looked at it and thought to myself, "Why am I mad? Why am I stressed out? REJOICE. Jesus has paid the punishment that YOU deserved. And he has rose again victoriously."

Please remember as these days go by to rejoice. Have a joyful heart. Love others. Praise the One who paid your debt.

"I can face tomorrow because he lives."

bouncing in to say bye,

                                   bernie