The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.

IsaIah 50:4-6

The passage above describes two significant things about Jesus as the Messiah in Isaiah’s writings. Scripture tells us here and in the New Testament that Jesus began His days in solitude, praying to the Father. Isaiah tells us that it is here that He communes with God and listens. If prayer was essential for Jesus, how about us?

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Mark 1:35

Second, Jesus was obedient as He prepared to face His final trial because of the strength and power that sustained Him. Isaiah describes the beating Jesus would face – The Gospels tell us of the beating Jesus suffered at the hands of the Romans.-

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

John 19:1-3

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:28-31

Jesus’ prayerfulness and obedience is an example for us, if we will follow.