"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. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5)

Thinking back to Christmas, the sound of bells, joyful singing, and happy celebration come to mind. So it was for us, but what about that Child in the manger? Was it a happy time for Him? Of course, we don't know what was going through His mind. However, let's trace His story from His poor manger to His bitter cross. What does this journey reveal: joy or sadness?

The Son of God had to give up the joys and glories of heaven in order to become a lowly child here on earth. How sad. How sad that He had to be born in a stable and laid in a feeding trough. How sad that no one came to welcome the King of Glory, except a few, insignificant shepherds. How sad that during His infancy, His parents had to flee to Egypt, to escape the hateful wrath of King Herod. How sad that the people in His hometown rejected Him. How sad that His own people despised Him. How sad that many, who followed Him at first, ended up rejecting Him. How sad that His disciples ran away in confusion and fear. How sad that the religious leaders of His people wanted to kill Him. How sad that He had to endure a mock trial. How sad that the very people He came to save cried out for His crucifixion. How sad that Pontius Pilate washed justice from his hands and delivered Jesus to be crucified. How sad that God abandoned Him to the agonies of hell. How sad that the Lord of life had to die and His body be entombed in the earth He created. No wonder He cried out in Gethsemane, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death." (Matthew 26:38) Truly, as Isaiah prophesied, He was despised, rejected, and a Man of sorrows, for Whom grief was a very familiar companion.

Why would the Son of the Most High God willingly submit to such shame and pain at the hands of His own creatures? Isaiah answers, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. . . . He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities." From the manger to the cross–it was all for US. "Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Moreover, the Spirit tells us what was on Jesus' mind midst all the sorrows: "Who, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) From the beginning, Jesus knew that the temporary sorrow would be subdued by everlasting joy, for He would rise to see His sorrows bring peace and healing to the world. He knew that "many will come from the East and the West and sit at the feast of salvation." (TLH 415:1)

As we stand on Calvary and ponder the pathway of sorrow that brought Jesus to the wretched cross, we rejoice; but not as did His enemies. They rejoiced in His suffering, but we rejoice in a love so great that the glorious Son of God would willingly become a lowly Man of sorrows, so that we can have the eternal joy of forgiveness of sin and life with Him in heaven.

John Pfeiffer is retired from the pastoral and teaching ministry. He is a former president of Immanuel Lutheran College.