Man of Sorrows | Anchored in Hope Devotions

Many Christians likely remember the song Man of Sorrows. The lyrics go like this:

Man of sorrows what a name

for the Son of God, who came

ruined sinners to reclaim:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

This phrase Man of Sorrows is seen in the prophecy of Jesus’ death on the cross in Isaiah 53:3-6 which reads:

“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 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. 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.”

This amazing passage about the death of Christ should stir a mixture of grief, gratitude, and giving of thanks to our Savior!

We should feel grief that it was our sin that put him on that tree.

1 Peter 2:24 “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.”

We should feel gratitude that Jesus loved us so much that he was willing to suffer at the hands of His creation in order that he might pay the just punishment for the sin we committed.

Colossians 2:13-14 “13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

And finally, we should give thanks to our King who makes intercession for us to the Father as he is our sympathetic High Priest!

Romans 8:31-35 “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

Let us dedicate this week to remember the greatest love story ever told!

- Ramiro D. Franco