Isaiah 53:1— 12 “The Unbelievable Gospel”
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isaiah lived 700 years before Christ and for him to be talking about the coming “Messiah” could understandably be DIFFICULT to believe.
I. AN UNBELIEVABLE GOSPEL Because of The “PERSON.” For God so loved the world
(a) His “Unbelievable Coming “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: . . . ” (Isa. 53:2) – “The Virgin Birth.”
(b) His “Unbelievable Conduct The “Messiah” did UNBELIEVABLE “Miracles.”
(c) His “Unbelievable Character“ The “Messiah” lived an UNBELIEVABLE life – 1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
(d) His “Unbelievable Countenance The “Messiah” did not have a
“Desirable” APPEARANCE – 2 he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
II. AN UNBELIEVABLE GOSPEL. Because of The “PRICE – “Jesus” the son of God – Was given to a Sin-Cursed world to bring them to God.
SIN’S DEBT DEMANDED
A “Supreme Sacrifice.” – The “Son of God.”
A “Sinless Sacrifice.” Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
A "Sympathetic Sacrifice.” Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
A "Surrendered Sacrifice.” Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
THE SOVEREIGN ONE BECAME THE SLIGHTED ONE Rejected by:-
(a) The Jews – John 1 v. 11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not”
(b) The Greeks – 1 Corinthians 1 v. 23 “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.
(c) The World - John 1 v. 10 “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not”
THE SLIGHTED ONE BECAME THE SUFFERING ONE – v. 4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows”
1. A Cure for human sickness i.e. moral sickness –
2. A Comfort for human sorrow i.e. “carried our sorrows” 3 “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”
3. A Cleansing for human sinfulness v. 5 “wounded for our transgressions”
4. A Correction for human straying v. 6 “all we like sheep” Luke 19 v. 10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
THE SUFFERING ONE BECAME THE SILENT ONE V. 7 “yet he opened not his mouth”
THE SILENT ONE BECAME THE SAVING ONE v. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
III. AN UNBELIEVABLE GOSPEL. Because of: The “PURPOSE” (a) Calvary satisfied the Father v. 10 “it pleased the LORD to bruise him”
(b) Calvary saves the sinner – see his seed and prolong his days
(c) Calvary sanctifies the son 11 “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied”
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
IV. AN UNBELIEVABLE GOSPEL. Because of: The “PREREQUISITES”
WHAT MAKES THIS GOSPEL BELIEVABLE? v. 10 when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
a. It Requires Fear
It takes the HOLY SPIRIT to MAKE the Gospel of Jesus Christ BELIEVABLE! John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
b. It Requires Fact
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
c. It Requires Faith
10 when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
Faith in God sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
A little girl had been attending Sunday school session where each student had made a little plaque with the words “Have Faith in God” as the motto. She shouted, “Stop the bus! I’ve lost my ‘Faith in God.’”
