By His Stripes-2

BY HIS STRIPES-II—Isaiah 52:13—53:1-12

OR: God’s Remedy For Sin

Attention:

A ‘savant’ is “a person affected with a developmental disorder(such as autism or intellectual disability) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music).”

Stephen Wiltshire is a ‘savant’ who at a young age was diagnosed with autism. He did not learn to speak until he was 9years old. He attended a school for special needs children, where he was encouraged to follow his passion—drawing. It was discovered that at an early age he began to draw highly detailed & accurate pictures of things he saw.

In 2009 he was given a 20 minute helicopter flight over Tokyo, Japan. After his flight, he completed a 33 foot long to scale, fully detailed, mural of the entire city!

It is a seeming paradox that a person who may be able to do what other people are totally incapable of, may have absolutely no ability to physically take care of themselves.

It is a ‘seeming’ paradox that the remedy for sin resides in One who was executed as a criminal, but Who’s death was actually the sacrificial payment for every man’s sin.

Need:

~700 years prior to the Cross of Christ Jesus, Isaiah prophesied of the substitutionary atonement which would one day come thru God’s Servant. Isaiah records details of the coming Servant’s willing sacrifice for the sake of all sinners.

The prophet Isaiah declared a future time when God’s unique Servant would provide the remedy for sin.

Jesus is God’s remedy for sin.

Why/How/When is Jesus God’s remedy for sin?

We receive certain truths when we receive Jesus as God’s remedy for personal sin.

‘RECEIVE’—More than mental acceptance, which only makes possibilities plausible. ‘Receiving’ has to do with acceptance by the heart, so that what is received, is taken to the point of actual reliance upon what or Who is received.

We have already found that By His stripes I receive His...

1. WILLING ENSLAVEMENT(52:13a_a)

2—By His stripes I receive His...

PRUDENCE(52:13a_b)

Explanation:(52:13a_b)

52:13—“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted & extolled & be very high.”

“Shall deal prudently”

“PRUDENT”—“Acting with or showing care & thought for the future.” Prudence requires knowledge, wisdom & insight among other things. In this case, it is bringing all things together...including God!

The future “Servant” of God is the One who will be “prudent” in all His dealings. He will be One of great godly integrity. So He will accomplish God’s will in a comprehensive way that none other can or will.

Because “Deal Prudently” is in the ‘imperfect tense’, it implies that God’s “Servant’s” work is ongoing. This is not a picture of a mortal man whose work has ended or will end on earth(Eccl. 9:10; Ps. 88:10-12), but is rather a continuing work which is actively maintained(causative) by means of Himself!

Likewise, God’s people are to minister to those who can potentially change their situations...people like you & me.

Eccl. 9:10—“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

Ps. 88:10-12—“Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise & praise You? Selah Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?”

The promise of this unique “Servant’s” “prudence” demands an intimate knowledge of God’s will. “Dealing prudently” also demands a willingness to fulfill God’s will/plan in God’s way.

No person can attain heaven or live meaningful lives by their own plan/means. It must be by God’s design, by God’s way!

Lk. 10:22(Mat. 11:27)—[Jesus said]—“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, & no one knows who the Son is except the Father, & who the Father is except the Son, & the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Jn. 5:17-24—“But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, & I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered & said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, & shows Him all things that He Himself does; & He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead & gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word & believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, & shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”