When we think about Easter, we may envision bunnies, candy eggs, baskets full of toys and treats, children hunting for hidden eggs, family time, and dinner after church. These traditions are fun but we need to stop and remember why we celebrate Easter. The Easter message is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world to carry the message of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Perfect love couldn’t be killed on a cross or held in a grave. The gospel message is to be celebrated every day. Prayer, bible study, and sharing the Good News should be daily occurrences in a Christian’s life. Let’s look at this poem that is based on Isaiah 53.
Behold, My Servant prospers. He’ll be high and lifted up. Greatly exalted and praised, But made low by His Father’s cup. Just as men were astonished, His appearance marred and maimed. More than all the sons of men, For He was beaten and shamed. He shall sprinkle on nations, His offering given to all. Kings are silent before Him. Amazed, on their knees they fall. They will hear from Him new truths. They will see with faithful eyes. Considering everything, His redemption, recognize. Who has believed this report? To whom has the Lord made known? For He will thrive and become As a tender plant that’s grown. Taking root out of dry ground, The will of the Lord was grim. No beauty or comeliness, We took no notice of Him. He is despised, rejected, By men both then and today; A Man of many sorrows And grieved in every way. From Him we hid our faces. Ignored and never esteemed, Yet He has born our suffering And our sin He has redeemed. He bore all our grief and sorrow We thought God had struck Him down. Smitten, hurt, and afflicted, We misunderstood His crown. Wounded for our transgressions And bruised for our sin, revealed. Our peace was laid upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed. We, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned to our own way. The Lord has laid upon Him All our sins, and He must pay. He was oppressed and beaten, Yet He did not say a word. Led as a lamb to slaughter, As a sheep, silence incurred. He was taken from prison. Judgment was cruel and unfair. Who now will speak of His life? He was cut off in despair. From the land of the living The Lord was taken away. For the sins of His people He was stricken, debts to pay. Made His grave with the wicked, But with the rich at His death, Because He was innocent, With no deceit on His breath. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise, To put Him through extreme grief. Made His soul an offering For salvation, our belief. He’ll see His seed, His children, And all His days will be long. His work will be prosperous And His people will be strong. He’ll see the work of His soul, And He will be satisfied. Knowing Him, His righteousness, He’ll bear our sins and abide. Therefore, I will give My Son A portion with all the great, And He’ll divide the spoil With the strong and celebrate. Because He poured out His soul And allowed death to befall, Numbered with the transgressors, He bore the sin of us all. He fulfilled intercession For sinners, to justify. Christ, the Sin-Bearing Servant, He’s exalted now on high. Isaiah 53