EXTRAVAGANCE

Thoughts from Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 53 ~ a reverie for Good Friday.

Anguished agony
so abused
appalling in his appearance
beaten
bruised and bloodied
broken
butchered
he hardly looked like a man
ASTONISHING
it takes my breath away

A tender green plant
in a vast dry desert
without beauty
no majesty
no honor
Not a single thing about him
to attract us
not charmed
or fascinated by him

Instead

This man of deep sadness
and grief
intimate
familiar
close to
our sicknesses, weakness and pain
we viewed
with contempt
hated and disdained
we were disgusted
we hid our faces
we simply DID NOT CARE

Like stupid sheep
all of us
turned 180 degrees
did an about-face
walked away in our rebellion
and all of our perversion
was heaped upon him
crushing weight

GUILTY
wrongly accused
sentenced by cruel abuse of power
unjust judicial opinion
stripped and tortured
exposed and tormented
severed from the living
undressed of life and soul
cut off
blamed
condemned

GUILT OFFERING
silent
suffering
submissive sacrifice
slaughtered
perfect flawless holy
lamb of God

This was the plan
all along
He was pleased and delighted
God
the agent of his suffering
who crushed and broke his heart
FOR US

Accomplished
overcome with happiness
he paid what was due
every requirement was met
he answered and discharged every claim
against us IN FULL
Now he judges us
FREE
from guilt or blame or shame
his children
righteous
He lives now to
make prayers of petition
in favor of rebels

E X T R A V A G A N T
grace too costly
immoderate
extreme
exorbitant
that’s my
Jesus