Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity January 20, 2012.
Readings
from Scripture for Day 3
Isaiah
53:3-11 The man of sorrows accustomed to suffering
3 He was despised and rejected by
men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from
whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we
esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him
was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like
a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers
is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was
taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off
out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief;
when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring,
he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in
his hand; 11 he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted
righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.
Psalms
22:12-24 He did not despise the affliction of the of the afflicted
12 Many bulls encompass me, strong
bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like
a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my
bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it is melted within
my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves
to my jaws; thou dost lay me in the dust of death. 16 Yea, dogs are
round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced
my hands and feet -- 17 I can count all my bones -- they stare and gloat
over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they
cast lots. 19 But thou, O LORD, be not far off! O thou my help, hasten
to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of
the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion, my afflicted soul from
the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of thy name to my brethren;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee: 23 You who fear the
LORD, praise him! all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe
of him, all you sons of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from
him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
1
Peter 2:21-25 Christ suffered for us
21 For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you
should follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin; no guile was found
on his lips. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when
he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25
For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd
and Guardian of your souls.
Luke
24:25-27 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things?
25 And he said to them, "O foolish
men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the
Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning
with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures
the things concerning himself.
> Return to Prayer and Reflection
for Day 3: Changed
by the Suffering Servant
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