Our insulted Savior
I. Have you ever been insulted?
A. We hear all the time about how people are insulted by the things other people say and do.
1. From the cowboy who took no insult without going for his gun.
2. To the modern day response – law suits, rioting and murder.
a) Law suits or fights or killings all in the name of not tolerating insult.
b) People feel the need to protect their honor, their position, their pride.
c) Some are even inclined to riot and kill people because someone insulted their leader.
3. We have all heard in recent weeks about how Muslims were rioting and killing people because some people drew cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammad.
B. And seeing that it was close to Easter I began to think about Jesus in that context.
1. How did He respond to insults and abuse?
2. Why did He respond that way?
3. The Bible has a lot to say about His suffering.
a) Is. 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted…
b) Ps.22:7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head,
c) Lu 23:11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
4. Jesus’ whole life was a pattern of insults by others.
a) He was said to be illegitimate
b) He was said to be under the influence of Satan.
c) He was accused of associating with low life politicians and prostitutes.
d) He was accused of inciting revolution.
e) He was said to be mentally imbalanced.
f) People were constantly trying to catch Him saying something wrong twisting His words.
5. Even while he was on the cross it continued Matt. 27:39-44.
a) People looked at Christ’s passion as a sign of weakness.
b) Their advice to him was
(1) He saved others himself he cannot save.
(2) Come down from the cross and save yourself
(3) Stick up for your rights
(4) Call down fire from heaven
c) The irony of it is that He did have the power to do those things and yet He remained there.
6. We wouldn’t be here today if Jesus Christ hadn’t been willing to endure the insults of others.
7. That is why Paul makes the statement he does in 1Cor. 1:22-24
a) It isn’t normal for people to focus on great leaders in this way.
b) They don’t want to show the weaknesses or failings of their leader.
c) They are always presented in a good light.
d) Jesus suffering on the other hand is prominent in the Gospels and in the writings of Paul.
8. Jesus endured the cross for our sake.
C. It is interesting that many people reject the notion of a suffering Savior.
1. The Jews – couldn’t understand a Messiah who must die they wanted a conquering Messiah not a suffering one.
2. John Piper points out that most Muslims are taught that Jesus wasn’t crucified.
a) One of their writers says “Muslims believe that Alla saved the Messiah from the ignominy of crucifiction”
b) Another says “We honor (Jesus) more than you (Christians) do… We refuse to believe that God would permit him to suffer death on the cross.”
D. We celebrate His resurrection today but I want to look at what happened before. I want to focus on His suffering for a moment today.
II. Lessons we can learn from our insulted savior.
A. Is. 53 describes the kind of insults Jesus suffered.
B. He did what he did without a thought of his position vs. 3-4.
1. Remember who He is.
2. Phil. 2 He didn’t think equality with God was something more important than the needs of His people.
3. He did all that and was rejected, despised.
C. He did what we are incapable of doing and wasn’t recognized or thanked for it. Vs. 5, 6
1. He didn’t suffer for His own sin but for ours.
2. He substituted Himself for us, He took our place.
3. The chastisement for our peace –
a) He endured the punishment we deserve so we could have peace with God.
b) He did what was necessary to make peace with God for us.
D. He made no attempt to defend Himself vs.7-9
1. Heb.12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2. He was executed as a criminal yet he had done no wrong vs. 8-9
a) It was necessary for Jesus to suffer insult and death because of our sin.
b) If Jesus hadn’t been willing to suffer we would have no one to turn to for forgiveness when we sin.
E. His suffering provided hope vs.10-11
1. He shall see His seed… – refers to the resurrection.
2. Christ’s one sacrifice is sufficient to deal with the issue of sin for all time.
F. He will ultimately be exalted vs.12
1. Phil. 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
III. As you think of the resurrection today and celebrate Easter remember what price was paid remember our insulted savior and thank God that He was willing to endure the insults for our sake.
A. Heb. 12:1-3Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
B. 1Pet.2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
It seems that every year at this time some new discovery comes out to call into question the veracity of the Word of God and particularly the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Suffering for our faith is inevitable
Jn.15:18
Matt.24:9
2Tim.3:12
We will have strength to endure.
Ps.16:9-11
Heb. 12:1-3
