“Jesus in Focus”

Palm Sunday 2023

As we enter Holy Week, have you thought about what you will personally focus on over these coming days? As a fitting passage to focus on, I’d suggest the words of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

Isaiah’s words in this text prophesy about Jesus as the Lord’s “Suffering Servant.” The Spirit of God inspired Isaiah’s words 700 years before Christ, and we read His descriptions of Christ’s suffering now nearly 2,000 years after the events Isaiah described, yet Isaiah’s voice is as relevant for us as ever.

Isaiah tells us that Jesus’ suffering would not only be physical, but spiritual and  relational.  “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)

Another powerful aspect of this passage is how we are featured in it! Isaiah says that “we esteemed Him not” and “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” and “He was pierced for our transgressions.” These ancient words not only speak of the great suffering of God’s Chosen One, but they tell us why He went through such suffering: for you.

A helpful devotional practice as you approach Holy Week is to select a Bible verse to focus on as you remember Jesus’ final days and hours. Looking at Isaiah’s words I gravitated toward Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

Jesus fulfills these words in His trial at the hands of the Jewish high priests along with King Herod and Governor Pilate. Caiaphas, the high priest, relied on multiple false witnesses to bring charges against Jesus, but Jesus remained silent (Matthew 26:62-63).  Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” and Jesus quietly says, “You have said so.” (Luke 23:3).  Before Herod, who hopes to see Him put on a miraculous performance, Jesus makes no reply (Luke 23:9).

Jesus did speak a few times during His trial, but here’s what stands out to me: Jesus didn’t speak in His own defense. Jesus didn’t try to dodge what He was about to suffer. He didn’t blame anyone else – even when the whole sinful world was to blame. He didn’t change the subject or call out for witnesses to come to His defense – even though legions of angels were at His beck and call!

We see how different Jesus is from the ones He came to save. We begin honing our defensive techniques at an early age. “She started it!” “I’m telling mom!” “He made me do it!” But are things so different with adults?

We defend ourselves in our marriages, even when it harms the bond that God has established between husband and wife. We defend our workplace performance, even when we need to step it up or listen more to our supervisors. We fight tooth and nail to defend our individual opinions, both online and in-person. 

The focus of our defensiveness is ourselves. We want to come away looking like the better spouse, the better employee, or the better commentator. But Jesus didn’t take the defensive route. He wasn’t focused on Himself, but on you and your everlasting salvation.

Isaiah’s words about Jesus’ silence bring His love into focus. Out of love, Jesus took the false accusations. He bit His lip during the sham trial. He did this so He could finish what He started. Like the Lamb of God that He is, He took your sins, your guilt, and your shame, and even experienced hell in your place as He was forsaken by His Father-God on the cross.

When Jesus spoke, it was for you. When Jesus was silent, it was for you. When Jesus suffered like a despised Servant, it was for you. And when Jesus walked out of His tomb on Sunday morning, it was for you!

As you focus on Jesus this Holy Week, you might pick a verse from Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53 or from the accounts of Jesus’ suffering in the Gospel readings. Let this verse, with whatever detail it uses to describe Jesus, remind you that He did it all for you.

I look forward to sharing this Holy Week with you.  

Peace in Christ,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke