As we conclude our Character Tour of the Old Testament, we're looking to the example of Jesus, who shows us what it means to serve God. This is important, because of the command Christ has given to us:
"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." - John 20:21 (NIV)
As we consider the example of Christ, we look to Isaiah 53, which has been called the "holy of holies" of this book because of its Messianic nature. The prophet, while speaking to the people of Judah a message of hope wherein he sought to describe the victory they would eventually know through their suffering as a people, at the same time speaks of One who was to come, whose remarkable life would bring about salvation and forgiveness for all mankind through His willingness to take on the role of a servant.
We know, of course, that the One Isaiah ultimately spoke of here was none other than the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
John Stott, in his book, The Cross of Christ, explains that 8 of these 12 verses in Isaiah 53 is applied to Jesus by New Testament writers. Verse 1 (John 12:38). Verse 4 (Matthew 8:17). Verses 5 and 6; 9 and 11 (1 Peter 2:22-25). Then verses 7 and 8 (Acts 8:30-35). Thus, verses 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 – 8 verses out of the chapter’s 12 – are all specifically referred to Jesus in the New Testament.
Let's look here at what we're told about Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God's suffering servant and see what we can learn about servanthood.
1. His experience of rejection - vs. 1-3
The prophet says God would do something hard to believe. He would work through One the people wouldn't expect God to work through.
As a result, the Messiah would be rejected by His own people.
"He came to his own people, and even they rejected him." - John 1:11 (NLT)
A. He would be rejected because of His appearance - v. 2
Jesus wasn't an earthly prince or king, He wasn't a man of means or political power. Instead, he was a lowly carpenter from Nazareth.
" 'Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?' And they took offense at Him." - Mark 6:3 (NASB)
B. He would be rejected because of His associations - v. 3
Jesus associated with common people, with tax collectors and sinners.
"Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with such scum?' When Jesus heard this, he said, 'Healthy people don’t need a doctor - sick people do.' Then he added, 'Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices." For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.' " - Matthew 9:10-11 (NLT)
For these reasons, He experienced rejection. But aren't we glad He was willing to suffer rejection? For we are the sinners He came to call to repentance. The point is, Jesus didn't live for man's approval, but for the Father's approval; and the Father approved of Him showing mercy to others in the effort to see them saved.
We, too, we must reach out to the last, the least, and the lost; to the down and out and the up and out, in the effort to lead them to the
saving grace of our Lord, even if in doing so, we face rejection.
"The fear of rejection is the main reason most people don’t share their faith with other people. You’re afraid of what they will think. God has given us good news, yet we’re afraid to share it. We worry that our friends will reject us or people will think we’re fanatics or 'Jesus freaks.' " - Rick Warren
How do we overcome our fear of rejection? But taking on the role of a true servant. We do not live to please others, but only to please God.
"If you please God, it doesn't matter who you displease; but if you displease God, it doesn't matter who you please." - Anonymous
"Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant."
- Galatians 1:10 (NLT)
2. His work of redemption - vs. 4-9
Isaiah declared that through the Messiah's suffering, He would redeem a sinful mankind. In doing so, He would suffer . . .
A. Vicariously - vs. 4-6 B. Willingly - v. 7 C. Undeservedly - v. 8
Yes, Jesus suffered undeservedly, yet willingly, for you and for me.
The suffering that Jesus endured on the cross in our place is often called His passion. Perhaps you've seen a dramatic portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus. We call them passion plays. You will recall how a few years ago, Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ" set box office records, as people were fascinated with the depiction of our Lord's suffering.
Why do we refer to our Lord's suffering at Calvary as His passion?
Because He, Himself, declared that paying the price for the sins of the world was His reason for coming into this world.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:45 (NIV)
If we're going to be sent into the world the way Jesus was sent by the Father, then we need to take on the role of a servant, which means we not only live to please God; but we live to share God's passion.
In his book, Satan's 10 Most Believable Lies, David Breese says one lie is "Don't Go To the Cross." In Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus told His disciples He MUST go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and be raised on the 3rd day. Peter said, "Lord, this can never be." Jesus saw it was Satan speaking, rebuked him and, of course, completed His journey to the cross. Such was His passion to provide salvation for a lost world. Now He calls on His followers to share His passion to see a lost world saved.
"We may be sure that Satan will come to every one of us. He will say, 'Don’t be a fool. Don’t give yourself to so ridiculous a course as the denial of yourself in order to accomplish some abstract spiritual purpose.' " - David Breese
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot
"I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." - Philippians 3:10-11; 12b (NIV)
Paul says when God saved him, He took hold of him with a purpose in mind: he was saved to serve God; and he was determined to take hold of that purpose for his life. So Paul lived only to please God and share His passion for the salvation of a lost world. We must, too.
3. His victorious resurrection - vs. 10-12
Isaiah says despite the suffering the Messiah would endure for the sins of the world, He would ultimately emerge victorious - "He will see the light of life and be satisfied" - a reference to his resurrection. The promise of the resurrection enabled our Lord to endure his suffering.
"For the joy set before him he endured the cross . . ."- Hebrews 12:2
Now, Jesus calls us to live to only please God and share His passion; and assures us that in doing so, we discover true life - resurrection life!
“You must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me closely. If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live."
- Mark 8:34-35 (Living Bible)
Christ's promise is if we will live only to please God and to share His passion for a lost world, we'll discover what it means to live life to the full, to live a life that counts, both in time and for eternity! This is what Paul was speaking of in Philippians 3:10-11 when he spoke of "attaining to the resurrection from (among) the dead." This world is full of dead folks, pursuing dead ends. But God calls us to experience life and life to the full (John 10:10) by serving Him!
"I have never met a soul who has set out to satisfy the Lord and has not been satisfied himself." - Watchman Nee
Conclusion: Through the cross, Christ has provided two things: 1) A salvation to receive for all who are lost; and 2) An example to follow for all who are saved. Where do you fit, today?
Because my Savior suffered upon dark Calvary, a flood of richest blessings has been poured out to me. Because for sin He suffered forgiveness now is mine; because He bore the darkness the light for me does shine. He passed through death's dark waters eternal life to bring; and now for the believer dread death has lost its sting. He lives! His resurrection assurance now does give; Because He lives - He said it - with Him, we too shall live. But til that day arrives when I reach my heavenly home, I'll seek to live my life each day for Him and Him alone; and share the Good News with others at every opportunity, so as many folks as possible will go to heaven with me. And as I serve my Lord this way, His promise is to me, that I will know life to the full and live abundantly.
