“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isa. 53: 2).
1. Just as the Father watched and protected the growth of Jesus so He watches over our development; (a) protects tenderly, (b) guides growth (c) fulfills the Father’s purpose.
2. The inward is more important than the outward. “No beauty that we should desire Him.”
“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (v. 3).
3. God uses pressure and pruning to prepare us for His service just as Jesus was prepared for His work on the cross; (a) outward pressures, “despised and rejected,” (b) inward pressures, “sorrows and grief.”
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (v. 4).
4. To be a servant of others, we must “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). Jesus carried our “grief and sorrows.”
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (v. 5).
5. The death of Jesus was a substitute for sins. “For our transgressions, for our iniquity . . . upon Him” (a) more than example, (b) more than a martyr, (c) more than a travesty of justice.
6. To be a Christian is to be whole, “healed.”
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (v. 6).
7. The essence of sin; (a) turn from God, (b) self dominated.
8. We like sheep need the most care, “to his own way; (a) can’t feed self, (b) can’t protect self, (c) get lost, (d) can’t heal self.
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (v. 7).
9. The mouth usually reflects our inner person. “He opened not his mouth.”
10. Our complaints and criticism usually only add to our misery, not take it away.
11. It’s easy to be quiet when you have purpose in life. Jesus knew He was suffering for sin.
“And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth” (v. 9).
12. When Christ died, I (the wicked) died with Him.
13. Christ was buried in a rich man’s tomb, “with the rich in his death.”
14. Christ had to be perfect (without sin) to die for sinners. “He had done no violence.”
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him . . . Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin” (v. 10).
15. Propitiation, God’s wrath against sin was satisfied. “He is the propitiation for our sins” (I John 2:2).
16. More than the body of Jesus suffered, His whole person was inflicted. “My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me” (Matt. 27:46).
“By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities . . . He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and made intercession for the transgressors” (vv. 11-12).
17. Justify. We were declared righteous (perfect) before God. “Being justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1).
18. Who killed Jesus? (a) Judas, (b) Pilate, (c) soldiers, (d) the Jews, (e) satan, (f) the Father, (g) me, (Gal. 2:20), (h) “He gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).
19. Jesus died between thieves. “Numbered with the transgressors.”
20. High priestly intercession, Jesus presented His blood to the Father for me.
Coming Lessons in This Series
Lesson 5: John 3
Lesson 6: I Cor. 13
Lesson 7: John 14:1-6
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
www.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-elmer-towns
Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
