THE MAN WHO WAS BORN TO DIE
Isaiah 53 "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. 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. He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
These words, penned nearly three thousand years ago by a Jewish prophet, have come to be called the gospel in the Old Testament. Isaiah’s inspired graphic description of the life, mission, purpose and conditions of the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ, could not have been written more clearly and accurately; even with the benefit of historical hindsight. This should not be surprising since God’s prophecy is truly history written in advance.
We can find in Isaiah’s concise account a clear outline of the destiny of the One who will be born to die a millennium later. The shame, suffering and scornful rejection that characterized His sacrificial offering of Himself for the sins of the world are brutally described; even the more minute aspects are clearly detailed.
But the primary lesson for us today in this prophetic description of the suffering Savior relates to the gospel. The good news we can now share with the whole world; especially during this season of celebration of His death, burial and resurrection.
It is no coincidence that this gospel in the Old Testament was the account the Ethiopian eunuch was reading in his chariot in the desert of Gaza when the Holy Spirit sent Phillip to help him understand his need for a Savior. It is safe to assume that it was also the basis for his persuasion to be saved and immersed and to become a true disciple of Jesus.
Of course, this is not the only account of the good news in the Old Testament. Old Testament saints who sought and found the answer to the question of immortality understood that the Messiah would be the Kinsman Redeemer and the Lamb of God Who would some day fulfill all the types, shadows, rituals and sacrifices given by Jehovah as a basis for the atonement for sin. (Ro. 4:1-8) But in no other single place do we have the clear and unmistakable detail we find here in the account of: "THE MAN WHO WAS BORN TO DIE."
In the first three verses of this passage we are told that THE MAN WHO WAS BORN TO DIE WAS BORN TO BE REJECTED THAT WE MIGHT BE ACCEPTED. Rejection is an underlying theme in all the detail of this prophecy. More than anything else, rejection marked the ministry of our Savior. Of course, it was to be expected that He would be rejected by the hypocritical religious leaders of His day. After all, His mission and message was antithetical to everything they believed and taught. If man is lost and undone and cannot of his own volition and effort bring about his own reconciliation to God, then his religion is vain. Our Saviour said as much on more than one occasion in His confrontations with the Pharisee sect. His response to their rejection of his mission and message was candid, blunt and to the point. "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men." (Matt. 15:9) Again and again the man who was born to die called contemporary carping critics who rejected him hypocrites and called their attention to the gospel in the Old Testament. " Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men." (John 5:39-41)
The reason for His rejection by the religious leaders of His day was clearly and succinctly stated by one of those who ultimately became His most militant and virulent rejector, opponent and persecutor, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Ro. 10:1-3) The simplest exegesis and understanding of this pivotal passage could only lead one to believe that the basis of the rejection of Jesus was simply, religion. The pharisees personify man’s innate religious propensity to pridefully pursue his own salvation through the rituals and works of his own hands. This is the consistent strand running through all man made religions. They are humanistic; anthropocentric rather than theocentric. They elevate man and his ability rather than glorify God and His holiness and righteousness. The One who was born to die absolutely negated every tenant of such religion. Is it any wonder He shook the very foundations of the religions of His day and generated such anger and rejection by His religious contemporaries?
Of course, nothing has really changed in this equation. It is sad, but so clearly true, that the major religions of the world are still clearly based on the same humanistic philosophies. But the saddest fact of all is that the vast majority involved in the major so-called Christian religions of our day have also clearly rejected man’s personal need for the terrible and traumatic sacrifice of Christ on the cross for sin. They have substituted rituals, liturgies, good works and religion for the Biblical imperative of salvation simply by grace through faith.
But the ultimate in rejection is not necessarily rejection by strangers and enemies, but by those you love with a pure, selfless and sacrificial love. Only those who have at some time experienced rejection by their own relatives and peers can begin to understand such disappointment and hurt. This crushing rejection happened to the man who was born to die for our sins. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:10-11) But the ultimate rejection suffered by the One who was born to die for our sins is described in these words, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: . ." Our Savior cried out from the depths of personal loneliness, despair and suffering these poignant words of passion, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
The man who was born to die in order for us to live eternally, suffered such rejection in order for those who would believe to be accepted as eternal sons of God. John encapsulated the full impact of this tremendous and triumphant transaction when he said, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:..." (I John 3:1) Through His rejection we are ultimately graciously and lovingly accepted in the beloved of God, " "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; . . " (Eph. 1:6-7)
The basis of this acceptance is an unconditional, no strings attached, agape love; based solely upon His sacrifice for our sins. D. L Moody told the of a man who responded to an invitation he gave based upon John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. . ." "But," the man said to Moody, "You don’t understand. I am a drunkard!" Moody replied, "Jesus did not say whosoever is not a drunkard." Then the man said, "But, I abandoned my wife and children." Moody responded, "Jesus didn’t say whosoever does not neglect his family." Then the man said, "You don’t really know the awful things I have done. I even stole some money and went to jail for it." Again Moody lovingly responded and through the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit was able to see the man saved by the marvelous grace of God and become a child of God; accepted in the beloved!
In verse three of Isaiah’s gospel we find HE WAS BORN TO BE DESPISED BY MAN THAT WE MIGHT BE VALUED AND HONORED BY GOD. We are told that the man who was born to die was not without honor, save in His own home town. We know the story. He had to miraculously slip through the vicious mob that was planning to do him great harm. They evidently despised Him. Anyone who has become a child of God may have occasion to suffer some small rejection by those of their own household or home town, so to speak from time to time. But not normally on this grand scale.
He was despised that we might be greatly honored by God. And, after all, what true believer would not prefer to please God than man and be honored by God rather than by man? It is so tremendous that we are so highly honored that we already have a grandstand seat reserved for us in heaven! "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," (I Pet. 1:4-5) That we are so precious to Him as individuals that he preserves our tears of troubles, trials and tribulations? "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?" Psalm 56:8) That we are so valued by Him that our names are written in the palm of His hand? " Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me." (Isaiah 49:16) Is it not grand that He knows all about us, even the number of hairs on our head, and yet He still loves us? " But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matt. 10:30)
There is a story told of man who rang his doctor’s office. After the various delays and transfers his attempts to get through to the doctor were unsuccessful. Finally, in desperation, he said to the receptionist, "Could I speak to the secretary, she is the one who really knows all about my case" The one who was born to die not only knows all about our case, so to speak, but even though he knows all about our faults and frailties, we are so valuable to Him He is never too busy to consult about our condition and give us help and healing.
We who are so honored and valued by this One who was born to die for our sins should always remember that he received a crown of thorns and suffering that we might receive crowns of joy and gladness. It might be profitable for us from time to time to consider those crowns (I Cor. 9:25, I Pet. 5:4, II Tim. 4:8, James 1:12, Rev. 3:11) and then remember these are made possible by His sorrow and suffering. That ultimately our ruling and reigning with the Lamb of God will focus upon glorifying Him because of the great love He has for us.
There was once a young violinist who studied under a great master teacher. He worked hard through a number of years until his native talent and skills were honed to an ultimate degree. Finally the long awaited night of his first major recital and concert came. The performance was magnificent. At the end the audience called again and again for an encore and it seemed their enthusiastic standing applause would never stop. But the young violinist later said that all the accolades of the audience meant nothing compared to the slight and almost imperceptible nod of approval he finally received from his teacher who was standing off stage in the wings. But how could this compare with the simple words, "Well done," spoken by the Master of this universe?
In verse four and five of this prophecy we can see HE WAS BORN TO BE PUNISHED THAT WE MIGHT GO UNPUNISHED. One of the most mysterious, yet marvelously true aspects of the gospel is how could Jesus, the God and Creator of this universe, come to earth and clothe Himself in the flesh of man, walk sinlessly among men, and then willingly and lovingly accept the punishment of the sin of the whole world; when all along He had at his finger tips all the awesome power inherent in being the Creator of the universe? When just one whispered word or telepathic thought could have brought to bear His potential power of an infinite number of angels who await His bidding to do His will? And yet, he willing accepted the humiliating punishment of the cross that we might not suffer the punishment of eternal separation from God in hell. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9)
The following excerpt from my devotional book, "Gleanings In The Gospels," speaks of the marvel of the this:
"Can a Christian face double jeopardy? During the American War Between The States it was a common practice in both the North and South to allow those who had been called into compulsory service in the armies to hire a substitute. Of course, this resulted in many a man of means avoiding his duty of patriotic service, while the man of no means bore the brunt of the brutal conflict. The masses rejected this unjust method of raising an army and it became the basis of divisions and riots in the later years of the war and the practice had to be changed.
But the record of that war shows that one young man of some wealth negotiated with a friend who was not as financially fortunate, what was considered a fair price for his friend to take his place in the Union Army. The amount was paid and the friend went away and trained for his task of killing the enemy. He ultimately encountered that enemy at a place called Gettysburg . He was among the thousands that fell on that fateful day of battle and was buried in that beautiful valley in the cemetery that was dedicated with Lincoln’s inspiring address.
A few months later the young man who had hired his friend as a substitute received a second summons to serve his country. Of course, he refused to go. When he ultimately appeared before the court, the lawyer for the defense pleaded his case based upon the simple proposition that, "No man can die twice." His client had already legally made the supreme sacrifice in the person of his substitute. The lawyer’s plea prevailed. To send the young man to war again would amount to double jeopardy!
So it is for those who have trusted Christ for eternal salvation. God has sent His Son as our substitute. He was made to be sin for us, Paul said, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Peter said Christ once suffered for sin, the sinless one for the sinner, that He might bring us to God. Paul in his Hebrew letter said that Christ died as a substitute and tasted death for every man who would believe and receive this truth. Even Isaiah in the Old Testament predicted that God the Father would place the iniquity of all of us upon His Son as He died as our vicarious sacrifice on the cross. He said that when the Father saw the travail or tearing of His soul He would be satisfied with the payment of our sin debt.
If you have been saved by the grace of God and received Jesus Christ as your eternal sin sacrifice, you should never allow Satan to intimidate you by inferring that when you sin you are somehow again placed in jeopardy of losing your eternal soul. In fact Paul said, in Hebrews Chapter six, that would amount to double jeopardy. And if such a situation could occur, you could never be saved because it would require Jesus Christ to come and die the second time as your substitute. Praise the Lord, there can be no double jeopardy for those who have trusted in Him!"
In verse six of this awesome account it is clear THE MAN WHO WAS BORN TO DIE WAS BOUND TO THE CROSS BY OUR SIN IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE ULTIMATELY FREED FROM SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. All the Old Testament sacrifices spoke of His one supreme offering. He was the fulfillment of the Passover lamb. He literally became the lamb of God who took away our sins. One important. characteristic of all these sacrifices was the binding of the sacrifice; rendering it helpless. We see this clearly portrayed and played out in the story of Abraham’s offering of his son Issac.
Jesus told us that those who would know the real truth of all this would be made free indeed. It is significant that His binding to the cross procured for us a three-fold salvation. A salvation with a past, present and future implications. We have been saved from the penalty of sin. We are being saved from the power of sin. We will ultimately be saved from the very presence of sin. Let us rejoice in this liberty and use it not as an occasion for license but to give ourselves in willing sacrificial service to our precious Savior, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service." (Ro. 12:1)
In verse eight it is emphasized that THE MAN WHO WAS BORN TO DIE WAS OPPRESSED AND TREATED UNJUSTLY THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE MERCY RATHER THAN JUSTICE. We who are saved by His grace understand we have sinned and come short of the glory of God and we know that the wages of our sin is eternal death. We know that there is not a just man upon earth who does good and does not sin. We deem the value of our righteousness to be as filthy rags before the God of this universe. All this and much more being so about our sinful being, we know that the last thing we need is to experience the justice of God. We also know that the last thing we deserve is the grace and mercy of God.
I think the old story of the black man’s in the Southern part of the U. S, many years ago, clearly illustrates this. He had killed a white man. He was caught and brought to trial. On the opening day of the trial his defense attorney noticed that he was sitting in the dock, shaking with fright. He turned to him to reassure him and said, "Don’t be afraid. I know the judge and every white man in that jury. I can assure you that in spite of your fears and what you may think, they are honest and fair men. You will receive justice at the hands of this court! The black man looked across at his lawyer, still shaking, and said, "That’s what I am afraid of. What I need is mercy, not justice!" Is not that the case of all of us when we contemplate the judgment bar of God? But praise be unto God, He bore our sins that we might have his righteousness!
Verses ten and eleven conclude that THE MAN WHO WAS BORN TO DIE SUFFERED OUR HELL THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO GO THERE. If there is any one concept that fully presents the full impact and price paid by the Father and Son on that day, it is this fact. The following excerpt from my book, "Gleanings In The Gospel," will perhaps give us just an inkling of the enormity of that eternal transaction of love:
"As the early morning sun peeped over the hill, silhouetting the drawbridge spanning the river in the valley below, a father and his young son made their way down the hillside. For months he had promised the lad he would take him to work with him one day. As he watched the young boy scampering up and down with his little lunch box in hand, he could sense his overwhelming excitement. A smile played across his face as he thought of the planned highlight of their day; a picnic lunch on the river bank. Perhaps he could set a line and, if they were lucky, they might catch a good fish. The little fellow could proudly show his Mom as he gave her a glowing report of their day together.
His was no ordinary job. He operated a railroad drawbridge. He had the grave responsibility of raising and lowering the bridge on exact schedule; allowing the rail and river traffic to pass safely to and fro. His task allowed little or no margin of error. He soon settled into his daily routine, glancing occasionally at his young son happily exploring the wonders of nature along the bank of the river below.
It was nearly time for their lunch and the bridge had just been raised to allow a barge tow to pass up river. As he prepared to push the levers that would lower it again in time to allow a special express holiday train to pass over safely, he heard his son’s first terrified cry. Glancing down quickly, his heart skipped a beat and it seemed his legs turned to jelly. "Oh no," he thought. "I told him to stay away from there!" The little lad’s leg was caught in large cluster of levers and gears in the midst of the moving machinery that raised and lowered the bridge. The cries of his son for help rose to a heart-rending crescendo. From high up he watched his only beloved son struggle and thrash frantically about and his heart sank with the sudden realization that his little boy could not free himself.
What could he do now? No time to signal the train. No time to rush down and try to free his son. He must lower the bridge now or the train with its hundreds of passengers would plunge headlong into the cold river depths below. There could be no survivors. But if he hit the lever his son would be cruelly crushed. In a flash of precognition he visualized his son suffering a slow and agonizing death, all the time crying out for his help.
With a convulsive sob and a great cry of terrible agony, he leapt back to the control board and his hand fell heavily upon the lever. The train rushed safely across the bridge. As the holiday train sped on its merry way, the partying passengers never knew the agony of a father who sacrificed his only son that they might live!"
Did the above incident really occur? I don’t know. It’s my version of a story that goes so far back in my memory I am not sure I did not make it up to begin with. But one thing I do know. My Father did so much more for me and for all those who would trust in Him, as He heard from heaven the agonizing cries and watched the cruel crushing of His only begotten Son in an agonizing death on the cross of Calvary that I might be free from sin’s eternal condemnation and be freely given the gift of everlasting life in Him. Thanks be unto God for His upspeakable gift!"
