Sermon Notes April 1, 2012
The Suffering Servant
Isaiah 52:13-53:9
It was Christmas of 1990. Our family was growing and three young children filled our home with joy, and lots of chaos! As with every family, Christmas was one of the most memorable and special times of the year.
This Christmas is one that I seem to remember more than others. It was just a couple of days before Christmas when Kim and I were discussing the sparse amount of presents that we had for the children. We weren’t trying to be indulgent, but were worried that they might be disappointed with only having one toy each to open. But what could we get at the last minute, and without spending more money than we had?
I went to the toy store, by this time filled with frantic parents, most of whom were like me wanting to make sure that every Christmas wish would be fulfilled. There, it caught my eye. I returned home with 2 boxes of the Matel Hot Wheels Loop de Loop racetrack. It was exactly the same as the one I had when I was a boy.
It wasn’t very expensive, but it brought pure delight to our sons. Ask them today if they remember getting a Hot Wheels Race Track and they will probably say yes.
We delight in giving our children gifts. Perhaps it’s a surprise on your way home from work, or a special birthday gift.
How much more our Heavenly Father delights in giving us gifts!
Matthew 7:11 "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
The greatest present that God ever gave, or ever will give, is the gift of his Son! 2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
The people of JUDAH needed a gift. In 700 BC they were living in a time of DANGER.
The ASSYRIANS had taken Israel captive 20 years earlier. Isaiah prophesied during that time, and he was still speaking to the nation. Judah barely escaped the Assyrian onslaught, as recorded in Isaiah 36-37. The safety of the nation remained perilous. They were in danger of falling again, except this time God would allow Judah to be taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
The second half of Isaiah’s prophesy is directed at Judah. God warns them of the impending captivity, but he also gives comfort that they would be restored. Most importantly, he tells them of the One who would eventually come and give them complete deliverance. That One is the coming Messiah.
God’s gift to Judah was the news that He would not abandon them. The Messiah would come to deliver them.
During Christmas, I preached a series that centered on Isaiah’s prophesy in Isa 9 and 11.
Now, during the season of Resurrection we will focus on the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.
The most familiar passage in the second half of Isaiah is Isaiah 53. It speaks of the suffering of Messiah. The section begins in Isa 52:13. And continues through chapter 53. It reveals TWO TRUTHS about the SERVANT (Messiah). First, He would SUFFER, but second, he would be exalted. John Martin describes this section in the Bible Knowledge Commentary, “The main point (in Isa. 52:13; 53:11-12) is that His suffering will lead to exaltation and glory” (John Martin, “Bible Knowledge Commentary”)
This sermon will examine His SUFFERING (Isa 52:13-53:9)
Next week, We will study His EXALTATION and GLORY (Isa 53:10-12)
I. Who is the Servant?
There are times that ISRAEL is referred to as God’s servant. Isaiah 41:8–9 “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, " "I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you."
However, many times in Isaiah’s prophesy, the term “servant” refers to the Messiah.
Isaiah 42:1–4 "“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. " "He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. " "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; " "he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”"
Isaiah 49:5–6 "And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— " "he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”"
Messiah would BRING BACK Judah AND would be alight to the Gentiles, “bringing salvation to the ends of the earth.”
So, when we read about “my servant” in Isa 52:13, God the Father is speaking of CHRIST.
We know this because The DESCRIPTION given in Isaiah 53 of the Servant’s suffering VIVIDLY DESCRIBES the sufferings of Christ
We also know that ths passage refers to Christ because almost EVERY VERSE in this section is quoted in the NT.
Isaiah 52:15 “For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand." Romans 15:21 "Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”"
Isaiah 53:1 "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" John 12:38 "This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”Romans 10:16 "But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”"
Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted." Matthew 8:17 "This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”"
Isaiah 53:7–8 "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. " "By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken." Acts 8:32–33 "The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. " "In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”"
Isaiah 53:9 "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." 1 Peter 2:22 "“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”"
Isaiah 53:12 "Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Luke 22:37 "It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”"
Now that we know who is being addressed, How is the Suffering of the Servant Described? This is the main exposition of the passage, and it reveals seven descriptions of Christ’s suffering.
A. His APPEARANCE Isaiah 52:14–15 "Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— " "so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand."
1. The CROSS:
a. Beaten.
b. Beard ripped
c. Crown of thorns
2. Matthew 27:39 "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads"
3. Hebrews 13:13 "Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore."
B. His HUMILITY Isaiah 53:2 "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. "
1. Humble in his LIFE
2. HUMBLE in his DEATH
3. Philippians 2:8 "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
C. His EMOTIONAL SORROW. Isaiah 53:3 "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
1. Jesus had NO DEFENDERS
2. Jesus had NO WITNESSES
a. Where were those who were healed?
b. Where were the thousands who were fed?
c. Where was Jairus?
d. Where were the ten lepers?
3. John 1:11 "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."
D. His BURDEN. Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted."
1. “Took up” = “to carry.
a. In his DEATH he willingly took up our infirmities
b. Physical or Spiritual?
(1) BOTH
(2) Spiritual, NOW. (Transgression, v. 5, iniquities v. 5, “gone astray” v. 6, “Turned to his own way” v. 6, “guilt offering” v. 10, “justify many” v. 11, “iniquities v. 12)
(3) Physical
(a) Christ healed SOME in his ministry
(b) Christ will give ALL who trust him a NEW BODY in His resurrection
2. Carried our sorrows
a. Jesus took up this burden.
E. His PHYSICAL SUFFERING for others. Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
1. PIERCED - the sword in his side
2. CRUSHED - the crucible of death
3. WOUNDS - physical suffering
4. Colossians 1:22 "But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—"
F. His UNJUST PUNISHMENT. Isaiah 53:6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
1. He suffered although he was INNOCENT.
2. He suffered in SILENCE
a. At what point would you have protested?
(1) the accusation of the soldiers?
(2) the mock trial?
(3) The beating?
(4) The crown of thorns?
(5) The nails?
(6) The agony on the cross
b. Matthew 26:53 "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"
(1) 72,000 of heaven’s warriors in full battle array
(2) standing at the threshold of heaven
(3) 12 legions - - - possibly the full host of the angels?
G. His LOSS. Isaiah 53:8 "By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken."
1. Betrayed by Judas
2. Denied by Peter
3. Rejected by His people
4. Forsaken by his Father
Why?
For you!
He is God’s Gift in your time of need
