What allows prophets and messiahs to suffer and die for the truth? The Suffering Servant in Isaiah is portrayed as listening intently and constantly to God rather than humans. The Lord instructs him constantly, and he takes it to heart. His ministry is one of encouragement - he gives strength and courage to the faltering with a word, for the Lord gave him the tongue of a teacher. His words come from his heart and from the Spirit of God. Because of this, he sets his face like flint before his persecutors and endures it all. This is, of course, a perfect description of Jesus the Suffering Servant. One of the most painful things the Lord endured was the betrayal at the hands of one of His apostles.

Jesus revealed at the Last Supper that one would soon betray Him. The assembled apostles were so lacking in self-knowledge that each one of them wondered if he were the one. It must have been a bittersweet Passover meal. But Jesus had set his face like flint, and God instructed Him so He had the courage and stamina to face the impending ordeal. We all need to develop the spiritual sensitivity to listen to the voice of the Lord and the promptings of the Spirit - it is not to be found in noise and activity but in quiet, prayer, and reflection.