Contemplative Bible Reading

Isaiah 53:8 (New Living Translation)

Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.

This verse is from what some people call the Song of the Suffering Servant. I believe this describes Jesus Christ. Note the phrase in the middle of the verse:

he died without descendants

To the Jews in the Old Testament and also in the time of Jesus, having a family, having descendants was important – far more important than it is to us today. Descendants kept the land that God gave His people in the tribe. Descendants cared for you and distant relatives. Descendants maintained life.

The suffering servant dies without descendants.

That was horrible, almost beyond imagination to the people who read this verse. That was part of the suffering that our Savior endured for us – for me.