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Jesus' Resolve
Jesus’ Resolve: Set Like Flint
“For the Lord GOD helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.” Isa 50:7
This verse is part of Isaiah’s “Servant Songs” that progressively points away from Israel (Isa. 42:19, 44:1) to the Suffering Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Isa. 42:1-7, 49:1-7, 52:13-53:12; Matt. 12:18-20, Acts 8:34-35).
Isaiah describes the obedient submission of the Messianic servant (Isa. 50:5). “I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting” (Isa. 50:8). During the unjust arrest, trial, beatings and crucifixion of Jesus, He was subjected to vicious cruelty and humiliating contempt by His religious enemies. The Romans scourged Him unmercifully, ripping open the skin of his back. He allowed the hypocritical religious leaders to contemptuously pull out the hairs of His beard, as Isaiah predicted, and to spit in His face (Mk. 14:65). He foresaw this gross, humiliating abuse (Mk. 10:34), yet He did not flinch from it. Jesus courageously persevered through it all.
Isaiah’s prophecy gives a rare glimpse of Jesus’ attitude. He deliberately set His “face like flint” to trust God during the ordeal, which ultimately was to save us. Flint is extremely hard. He hardened his mental resolve like a rock to let nothing defeat Him.
He knew in submitting to God’s will that His Father would bring Him safely through the ordeal. “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (Jn. 16:32). His trust in God’s greater purpose enabled Him to persevere, in order to save us, against all odds.
After enduring the agony of crucifixion, He triumphantly said, “’Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last” (Lk. 23:46). God honored His faithful determination and raised Him from the dead. Without Jesus’ faithful determination to persevere, the resurrection would have never happened. What a wonderful Savior we have who endured so much for us!
Let us resolve to “look to Jesus” (Heb. 12:2) and persevere to the end in doing the will of God. “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Heb. 10:36). At the cross, Jesus showed that suffering can be overcome through God.
Despite difficulties, look to Jesus and let nothing deter or discourage you.
“In God’s will, we find our greatest peace and highest happiness” (William Barclay).
By Frank Walton