Beyond Days of Future Past
We humans don’t like suffering. Instead of accepting it as part of life, we often make up stories or systems to explain it. That’s what’s going on behind the scenes in Acts 3. The temple establishment, implicated in the death of Jesus, continues to proclaim an interpretation in which those favored by God are treated well and suffering is proof that those not favored, like the lame beggar, must be unworthy. We shouldn’t be too hard on the temple priests and their followers; we have many in our own time promoting the ‘health and wealth’ gospel, saying that if you just believe in your own righteousness you will prosper and you will be worthy. Jesus offers another way.
So in chapter 3 of Acts, Luke makes several references to the prophets, offering a prophetic perspective that suffering can lead to God and to our own rescue. The prophets can not only point to Jesus and his historical mission but also to the way of Jesus and our every day mission in following him. Here is my rearranged “translation” (in Japanese renga) of passages from Isaiah – both those of the suffering servant and those who hope to follow him. The words of the prophet speaking for/as God are in quotes.
Song of the Servant
Then God spoke through me.
“I am right here to help you.
Do not be afraid.
Who has performed and done this,
calling the generations?
“Here is my servant.
My spirit is upon him.
He is my delight.
He will bring forth justice to
nations with a quiet voice.
“I give breath to all
and give my spirit to all
who walk on the earth.
Listen to new things I say
while rescuing all of you.
“I have given you
as a light to the nations.
You are covenant.
Bring those who sit in darkness.
Let the prisoners go free.
“You are my servant,”
God said to me, “Through whom I
will show my glory.
I will make you a light to
nations, salvation for all.”
God is my help when
I lie in a place of pain
and walk in darkness.
My God hears his servant’s voice.
I trust that God is near me.
“My saving justice
I shall make a light for all.
My salvation comes.
Even the coasts and islands
will know my saving justice.”
He was despised, and
we held him of no account,
from whom others hide,
a man of suffering who
knew human infirmity.
Yet we accounted
him stricken. Struck down by God
for our transgressions.
By his wounds we are healed.
His punishment made us whole.
We all strayed like sheep,
and we turned to our own way.
Our sin weighed on him.
He did not open his mouth,
like a lamb to the slaughter.
There was no justice;
he was cut off from the land
of living humans.
He had done no violence.
There was no deceit in him.
He was God’s servant
and poured out himself to death.
He is with the great.
Through him God’s will does prosper,
and many will find reward.
“Come to the water
though my ways are not yet yours,
and your ways not mine.
My way of living will come
to your spirit in good time.
“You will be led forth
in peace and go out with joy.
The mountains and hills
will break into song before you,
and the trees will clap their hands.”
Blessings…John
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