My Face Like Flint

Readings (Year B):

Isaiah 50:5-9a
Psalm 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
James 2:14-18
Mark 8:27-35

A Lamb Led to Slaughter

What does a messianic liberator look like? Would the Messiah, the Son of David, redeem Israel from the hand of her foes with military might and glorious strength? Would he, like David, overthrow the Goliaths of Rome and Greece with the courage of a lion and rule as righteous king over all?  

Many in Israel idealized a conquering deliverer in the image of the warrior-king David. The true Messiah and Son of God, however, conquers through suffering, humiliation, and sacrificial death.  Indeed, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” and “Root of David” is a Lamb led to slaughter (Revelation 5:5-6). 

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are his ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8). After acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, Peter vehemently rejects his passion and death, aligning himself with the adversary (“Satan”). 

The way of the cross descends in order to ascend: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

The Lord God is My Help

The Suffering Servant in Isaiah, a portrait of the Messiah, submits to the thrashing of his enemies but clings to faith in God. Innocent, yet put to shame, the “lamb led to slaughter” sets his face “like flint,” resolved to bear the sin of the world and accomplish his Father’s will. 

I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who tore out my beard;
My face I did not hide
from insults and spitting.
The Lord God is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
Therefore I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Isaiah 50:6-7

Traditional Chinese Translation

《我的臉像火石》
我把我的背讓給打擊者；
將我的臉，像打火石，置於吐唾沫的人面前。