Worthy Brief - 5/27/2024
Friend, learn sacrificial love!
Isaiah 53:2-6 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 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 pivotal passage of scripture, Isaiah 52 and continuing into Isaiah 53, profiles a suffering servant whom the nation of Israel would not recognize. The spiritual leaders of Yeshua's (Jesus) day were blinded to the messianic passages which pointed to the messiah's role as a humble servant and bearer of sins.
Expecting a conquering king who would vanquish the Romans and set up a restored Davidic kingdom, they completely missed and ultimately rejected the lowly servant that God sent, an unpretentious carpenter's Son from a not-so-respectable town who was virtually unknown until He was about thirty. Yeshua of Nazareth did perfectly fulfill God's messianic qualifications even though He arrived in Jerusalem riding on a donkey and not a majestic horse. [Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:7] One wonders what might have happened if he had been recognized and received, since He did come proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
Since it was absolutely necessary that the Son of God would die for sins to restore the spiritual plight of the entire world which was separated from God, before He could restore the Kingdom to Israel, Yeshua came preaching repentance and righteousness. He drew large crowds, demonstrating His uniqueness among all of Israel's prophets by performing many amazing miracles and signs by the power of the Spirit, and delivering unprecedented, authoritative teaching which surpassed everything that had ever been heard before. Yet while His ministry was growing, so was His opposition, and His awareness that He was destined for suffering and death. This suffering also surpassed anything we can begin to imagine as the iniquity of the entire world was laid upon Him and He bore it willingly. Yeshua exemplified and revealed the profound connection between serving and suffering by becoming a suffering servant to all mankind. Later testifying that there was no greater love than that a man lay down his life for his friend, He made it clear that love, the deepest love, involves sacrifice.
We say that we want to be like Him. If so, we will be learning and practicing a lifestyle of sacrifice, not caring who sees or knows what we are going through for His sake, because we really just want to make Him happy, because we love Him and are infinitely grateful and full of admiration for Him. It's true for most of us that we naturally seek the spotlight, and are hungry for attention. But if we're truly honest we must admit that the praise of men is a hopelessly futile addiction that we need deliverance from. God's praise is the best praise, and His pleasure in us, the only really lasting kind.
Friend, Yeshua pleased His Father by suffering for us. We can afford a little discomfort to make Him happy. Don't you think?
Shabbat Shalom and have a blessed weekend!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Missouri)
(Baltimore, Maryland)
Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!
Editor's Note: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
Ukraine Appeals For Peace After Deadly Russian Strike On Supermarket (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has released a desperate video urging world leaders to attend a "peace summit" next month in Switzerland. He spoke after a deadly Russian attack on a supermarket in Kharkiv on Saturday killed at least 14 people and injured scores more.
Hundreds Killed In Papua New Guinea’s Landslide
Rescue efforts continued Sunday as the death toll of Papua New Guinea’s massive landslide in a remote village rose to 670, U.N. officials said.
India Mourns Infants And Others Killed In Fires At Hospital and Amusement Park
Much of India plunged into mourning Sunday with authorities confirming that seven newborn babies lost their lives after their New Delhi neonatal clinic was engulfed in flames.
Injured Turbulence Survivors Face Uncertain Future
Survivors of arguably the worst aircraft turbulence in recent years are recovering in a Bangkok hospital, with some facing life-changing realities.
Scores Killed and Injured as Russia Hits Supermarket
Residents in Ukraine’s second-largest city struggled Sunday with the realities of war after Russia’s military bombed a supermarket, leaving at least 12 people killed and 43 injured.
Ukraine Evacuating Children As Russian Forces Approach Kharkiv (Worthy News Radio)
Pope Francis met Ukrainian children while inside the war-torn nation authorities announced the mandatory evacuation of orphans and minors without parents from the hard-hit area around Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. It came as the Vatican pushed for peace talks with Ukraine, pushing for more Western weapons as it struggles to halt a new Russian military offensive.
Four Killed, Over Dozen Injured As Mallorca Restaurant Collapses
A restaurant on the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca promoted its newly renovated rooftop terrace the day before it caved in late Thursday, killing at least four people.
14 Killed, 3 Injured In Vietnam’s Apartment Building
An apartment building fire on a narrow alley in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, has killed at least 14 people and injured six others, several sources said Friday.
100 Killed As Massive Landslide Hits Papua New Guinea
Villagers in a remote village in Papua New Guinea struggled Friday to recover bodies after a massive landslide killed more than 100 people, residents said.
Left-Wing Fears Outcome of European Elections
Leading left-wing parties across Europe, who face being punished by voters in upcoming European Parliament elections, have ruled out alliances with the far right and pledged to “relentlessly combat hatred, racism, and xenophobia.”
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Attacks Rafah After World Court Ruling (Worthy News In-Depth)
Israel attacked suspected Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, on Saturday, a day after the top United Nations court ordered it to halt military operations in the southern city.
Israel Faces Dilemma After Release Video Of Hostages
Israel’s government faced mounting pressure Friday to strike a deal with Hamas after an Israeli group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza released a disturbing video recording of the capture of five female Israeli soldiers.
Inside the United States
Texas Troopers Apprehend Human Smugglers, Gang Members
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers continue to apprehend human smugglers and gang members and find dozens of people being held in stash houses at the border.
Majority of House Democrats Support Noncitizens Voting
U.S. House Democrats overwhelmingly voted to support noncitizens voting in U.S. elections.
Christian News
Christian Students Stage “Walk-In” at UCLA in Solidarity With Israel
The Passages US-based Christian ministry last week celebrated Israel’s 76th Independence Day by organizing a solidarity “walk-in” at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to show support for the Jewish state and Jewish students facing anti-semitic hostility in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.
Pakistan Pastor On Death Row Facing Health Concerns After 12 Years Detention
There was concern Friday about the declining health of Pakistani Pastor Zafar Bhatti, who has been held in prison for 12 years and faces execution by hanging for alleged blasphemy against Islam.
Released Iranian Convert Facing New Charges
Iranian Christian Esmaeil Narimanpour, who was released on bail after more than four months in detention, faces new charges linked to his decision to leave Islam and follow Christ openly, Worthy News learned Friday.
Founder Eritrea’s Gospel Church Dies In Detention
Reverend Ghirmay Araya, one of the founders of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea who spent nearly three years behind bars for activities linked to his faith in Christ, has died, supporters told Worthy News late Thursday. He was 83.