Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life.

He gave us a living hope because Jesus Christ rose from death.

Now we hope for the blessings God has for his children.

These blessings are kept for you in heaven.

They cannot be destroyed or be spoiled or lose their beauty.

God’s power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes.

That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time.

But he took our suffering on him     and felt our pain for us. We saw his suffering. We thought God was punishing him. But he was wounded for the wrong things we did. He was crushed for the evil things we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him. And we are healed because of his wounds. We all have wandered away like sheep. Each of us has gone his own way. But the Lord has put on him the punishment for all the evil we have done. He was beaten down and punished. But he didn’t say a word. He was like a lamb being led to be killed. He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut. He never opened his mouth.

Men took him away roughly and unfairly. He died without children to continue his family. He was put to death. He was punished for the sins of my people. He was buried with wicked men. He died with the rich. He had done nothing wrong. He had never lied. But it was the Lord who decided to crush him and make him suffer. So the Lord made his life a penalty offering. But he will see his descendants and live a long life. He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do. He will suffer many things in his soul. But then he will see life and be satisfied. My good servant will make many people right with God. He carried away their sins.

If you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then that pleases God. That is what you were called to do. Christ suffered for you. He gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did. “He did no sin. He never lied.”  Isaiah 53:9

People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God take care of him. God is the One who judges rightly. Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And we are healed because of his wounds. You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus answered, “Friend, do the thing you came to do.” Then the men came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him. When that happened, one of Jesus’ followers reached for his sword and pulled it out. The follower struck the servant of the high priest with the sword and cut off his ear. Jesus said to the man, “Put your sword back in its place. All who use swords will be killed with swords. Surely you know I could ask my Father, and he would give me more than 12 armies of angels. But this thing must happen this way so that it will be as the Scriptures say.” Then Jesus said to the crowd, “You came to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal. Every day I sat in the Temple teaching. You did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened so that it will be as the prophets wrote.” Then all of Jesus’ followers left him and ran away.