The Lamb led to the Slaughter

 It is hard for most of us to relate to a little lamb being slaughtered unless we grew up in the country and saw it done. In the Old Testament times Jewish people were very familiar with this scene, since the law required many of the sacrifices to include shedding the blood of a lamb. It gave the people something to ponder. Their sins were the reason an innocent, harmless lamb had to die.

So when God inspired Isaiah to write down His Word, He led Isaiah to make this comparison. In fact, it was a prophecy which actually came to pass as Jesus went to the cross for all mankind. (Isaiah 53:7) Jesus was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. Jesus gave His life for us in silence, so we might have eternal life.

As Jesus told Pilate, He could have called for legions of angels to free Him from having to go to the cruel death on that rugged cross. No one could have killed Jesus if He didn't want to die. He quietly allowed His life to be taken from Him by crucifixion. However, the executioners didn't take the life of Jesus, He freely gave it for us.

What a loving Savior! Jesus did not utter a word in anger. He did not complain about His fake trial. When He was nailed to the cross, He asked the Father to forgive the soldiers who did the work. He did not say one word to stop the proceedings. He did the will of the Father out of love for the whole world. I pray that we all could be like Jesus and take whatever abuse the world throws at us without saying a word to condemn them, but in love to do what we can to see them come to Christ.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 54-56.