Handel now turns his focus to how the Messiah comforts us by overcoming the root cause of all our ills. He tells how the Messiah overcomes—destroys!—the Power of Sin.

Handel told us: “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Handel then chooses passages from Isaiah that tell us that the Messiah is a Suffering-Servant:

He was despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3); He gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: he hid not his face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6).

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him. (Isaiah 53:4-5).

And with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5).

This is definitely a “video” of the suffering that befell Jesus during his life and on the Cross.

But it is also a metaphor for being a Suffering-Servant.

Isaiah foresaw that the Messiah would be a Suffering-Servant. (Isaiah 41:8-10; 42:1-25; 43:1-28; 44:1-28; 45:1-25; Isaiah 48:20-22; Isaiah 49:1-26; Isaiah 50:4-10; Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Note the progression between the Suffering-Servant fitting the experiences of Israel and the Suffering-Servant fitting the experiences of an individual—Jesus! (See Acts 8:26-39).

Everyone who follows the Way of Jesus knows what it means to be a Suffering-Servant. To be a person of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. To give your “back to the smiters” and your cheeks to them that pluck off the hair. To not hide your face from shame and spitting.

As Jesus warned us:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12).

Everyone who is Jewish knows what it means to be a Suffering-Servant. To be a person of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. To give their “back to the smiters” and their cheeks to them that pluck off the hair. To not hide their face from shame and spitting. To bear witness to those who suffered in countless pograms, culminating in the Holocaust.

But why do we also call the Messiah the Lamb of God?

Because, in addition to be a Suffering Servant, the Messiah “taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

We can all be Suffering Servants! But none of us, except Jesus, can take away the sin of the world. We can forgive people in the name of Jesus. But we ourselves cannot take away their sins.

In the Mosaic Law, a lamb was sacrificed to take away guilt from sins (Leviticus 4:32-35). This lamb was perfect, without any defect. (Leviticus 4:32). The lamb was prepared for sacrifice by inflicting painful, fatal wounds (Leviticus 4:33). The blood from the lamb was applied as an atonement for sin so that the person was forgiven. (Leviticus 4:34-35).

Handel chose lyrics that show how Jesus was sacrificed as the Lamb of God:

He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.

Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our sins was upon him. (Isaiah 53:4-5).

And with his stripes we are healed.(Isaiah 53:5).

In this Way of Jesus, the Messiah (Jesus, the Crucified One) intercedes for us with the Father. He takes “a bullet” that is meant for us because of our sins, saving us. He also gives us an example of how we should help others, no matter how much it costs us, even our own lives.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you believe Jesus is the Suffering-Servant described by Isaiah? How? Why?

Do you believe Jesus is the Lamb of God? How? Why?

Do you believe Israel is the Suffering-Servant described by Isaiah? How? Why?

Do you believe Israel is the Lamb of God described by Isaiah? How? Why?

Have you ever been a Suffering-Servant? How? Why?

READ MORE

For related ideas, please read my blogs “Handel’s Messiah: The Truth of Christmas and the Truth of Easter”; “Jesus Embodies Hesed—The Vision of Isaiah”; “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Fulfilling the Law of Moses and the Prophets”; “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Sowing the Ideals of the Law of Moses and the Prophets”; and “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Saving Lost Sheep, Lost Coins, and Lost Sons”.