“THE MAN OF SORROWS”
Isaiah 53.3
Lententide Midweek II: 15 March Anno Domini 2006
Fr Watson
The old-time “Bluegrass” legend, Ralph Stanley sung a song entitled: “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow.” But that misses the point. To only dwell on one’s own misfortune, elevating one’s own pain and travail to “Odysseus-like” martyrdom puts the focus on the wrong person. Even as you can’t save yourself by hard work, patient and loyal devotion to God’s Law, and tenacious effort; so too, you can’t earn heaven by your own suffering and sorrow no matter how stoic and “manly” you endure it.
Having bad things happen to you because you make bad choices, do bad things and associate with bad company does not mean you are suffering as a Christian. Saint Peter correctly informs you: “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.” [1 Pe. 4.15] There’s no merit in being a “man of constant sorrow” if it’s self-imposed or if one is a non-believer doing the suffering. Cain suffered when he was driven away by God after the murder, but it was rather Abel who truly suffered for, and on account of, Christ. Abel suffered the violence of unbelief, the trauma of attack, and the bloodshed of murder. Abel’s death pointed ahead to the true Shepherd Who would lay down His life for the flock; Who would encounter unbelief, attack, torture and execution.
Jacob’s life was one of Christian adversity, and yes, Christian sorrow. The lives of Joseph, Moses, Samson, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Jonah, and the prophet Isaiah himself were sorrowful from the world’s perspective. But every one of these men’s suffering for the “coming Promise” pointed ahead to The Promise Himself. The Apostles, who were martyred for the Faith, for proclaiming Him in Word and Sacrament, were all men of sorrow correctly understood. The “12” point all of you to the Redeemer. Their teaching, preaching and administering are most beautifully given to you in the words of the Four Evangelists. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings…if you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you…” [1 Pe. 4. 12, 14a] Saint Paul is probably the greatest example of a servant of the Christ suffering for His master, enduring countless earthly and physical sorrows. Paul could write: “…I know how to be abased…to be hungry…to suffer need…” [Phil. 4. 12] Paul too is a picture, or “type” of the genuine and only true “Man of Sorrows.”
Because Adam despised The Lord’s Word and rejected His good gifts; because you daily despise your God’s will when it doesn’t comport, complement and harmonize with your Old Adam will; because you reject your neighbor and don’t love him as yourself, The Son of God became your “Man of Sorrows.” Jesus, for you, was despised and rejected of men. He wasn’t so much abhorred by the Gentiles, the Romans (they didn’t really care about all that religious stuff as long as everybody obeyed the law and paid the taxes) as he was hated by His own people; His own lost Sheep. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” [St. Jn. 1.11] To suffer indignities at the hands of traditional adversaries or life-long implacable foes is bad enough, but to be “despised and rejected” by your own family and friends, and also in Christ’s situation, your own pastors, is a truly sorrowful suffering. King David knew such suffering, for He was likewise betrayed by closest friend and also by his own son. David wrote of Himself, but He also wrote and pointed to Jesus: “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” [Ps. 41. 9]
Don’t cast stones of anger towards Herod, Caiphas and Judas, but rather confess your own daily rejection of Jesus.
Have you suffered grief? Yes of course you have, and you will come face-to-face with much more grievous situations and tearful tragedies: today, tomorrow, and in the future until you are taken across the final Jordan into the real “Promised Land.” But for now, believe and be comforted for He is your replacement “Man of Sorrows.” He has borne all the punishment for your rejection and for your despising of the Holy Things. He has borne all of your sorrows in His own heart, soul, back and brow. He has carried all your grief away and put an end to it at the Cross, burying it in His own body in the tomb.
During this Lent, know, believe and cherish this sacrifice and love of Jesus. No, you don’t esteem Him as you should. Yes, many times you hide your face from Him and pretend like Peter you don’t know Him. But because of all He did for you in His life of obedience and His death of substitution (His Sorrows) He now give you His Word and His Body to make your griefs and sorrows bearable. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril or sword?” [Rom. 8. 18, 35]
Your “Man of Sorrows” by His love, duty and atonement, has made you Brothers and Sisters of Joy and Peace.
In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost