“But Who Thought in His Time. . . ?”

“But Who Thought in His Time. . . ?”

All the prophecies that were previously written concerning Jesus were also fulfilled in Him right down to the smallest detail. For example, when He was betrayed and apprehended in the garden of Gethsemane, He said to His disciples that this had to happen so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Matt. 26:54. And to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus He said, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” Luke 24:26. When the two disciples understood this their hearts burned within them! Our hearts should also be set aflame by what we read in Isaiah 53, for example. There we read about Jesus as our forerunner, the One whom we are called to follow! Among other things, we read that he had no form or comeliness. He was like a sheep that is silent before its shearers. There was no guile in His mouth. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him. His soul was made an offering for sin. The pleasure of the Lord prospered in His hand. He made intercession for the transgressors.

Then we read so very significantly in verse 8: “But who thought in His time. . . ?” Who thought in His time that this was the Saviour of the world? Who thought that this was the way to eternal glory? Who thought that this was a great and desirable calling? “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” 1 Pet. 2:21. It is sad when you have to confess afterwards that you did not understand it, that you did not think about it, that you did not make use of it. The opportunity was there, but I did not realize it; or: I realized it, but did not avail myself of the opportunity. This and that happened; I should have humbled myself under God’s mighty hand, but I let the opportunity pass me by. The lords of this world crucified the Lord of glory. Of course, the disciples on the way to Emmaus did not do this, but it is certain that they did not realize that when they read Isaiah 53, that they were reading about the Lord of glory. However, when they did realize it, their hearts were set aflame. They became enthusiastic and happy. They were apprehended, because now they understood the marvellous connection between the sufferings and the glory. Now they understood the connection between humbling themselves under God’s mighty hand and being exalted in His time. Now they had the opportunity to understand and experience in their time that all things serve us for our best if we love God, instead of having to say afterwards, “Who would have thought of that?” Now they could sing, “Jesus has been revealed to me! Comfort untold! Now I behold the life He lived so faithfully!” New Songs #129.

Paul writes in Ph. 3:12 that he had not yet attained it, but that he pressed on, because he was apprehended of Jesus Christ. He was apprehended of Him who was like a sheep before its shearers, in whose mouth was no guile, and who (quietly and in the hidden) brought an offering for sin. We must first be apprehended of it if we want to lay hold of that which we have not yet laid hold of. Apprehended of Jesus Christ! Apprehended of the fact that in Isaiah 53 we read about our Saviour and forerunner, and the Lord of Glory! Yes, God will enlighten our understanding to a much deeper degree than before, so that we can understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:25.