Do you SEE what you have HEARD

Rom 15:21 "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."

Dear CBC Family,

As I am prepping for the weekend study, I am revisiting Isaiah 52-53 since Paul quotes from this text in Romans 15. The passage quoted is about Jesus as God’s suffering servant. It is hard for Christians to think of Jesus as He is shown here. We are not comfortable with any picture of Jesus other than one that portrays Him as one who walked around doing good to the down and out. You would think everyone would love a guy who did nice things for people. Unfortunately, the truth is that mankind has always had a problem with the Son of God. That problem begins when Jesus claims to be MORE than a philanthropist (lover of men).

Even though Jesus was a “good deed doer” the Bible tells us that “he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Is 53:3) Perhaps, we need to understand why He was seen this way? What we need is a new vision, and understanding, of who He is and what He came to actually do. The book of Revelation portrays Him as the executer of God’s justice, the bearer of wrath on sinful men. That is a stumbling block for many!

Isaiah is predicting the time of Jesus’ suffering and says that we “hid our faces from Him” because “His body and face were beaten beyond recognition as a human being.” Generally speaking, “He was despised and completely rejected” by the people He did the most good for.  It is this reality that is very hard for us to understand. How did this come about in Israel and what does that have to do with God’s plan from all eternity for the rest of mankind? Why did God not give the Jews “eyes to see or hearts to understand down to this very day” and yet give to other nations (according to Is 52:15 “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.") what He did not give to Israel? Free will certainly isn’t the answer because God says He did not give the Jews the ability to “see or understand”. Why God still finds fault is answered in Romans 9 but, again, that doesn’t answer why He gave to foreigners what He did not give to the Jews.

Join us this weekend as God reveals His plan from all eternity to place you, the believer, into His covenant people in Christ. This is a tremendous study into the declared plans of the Sovereign God! You won’t want to miss it.

If you are in the membership class, please remember that part 2 is this Sunday right after the service. Please bring your workbook that was given to you at the first class. Lunch is provided.

Blessings,

Pastor Scott