The Messiah’s Purpose, Suffering, And Mission Series

Isaiah, Part 20

The Messiah’s Purpose, Suffering, and Mission

Isaiah 49:1-7 and Isaiah 50:4-11

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you are here today

- Last week, we expounded on God’s understanding of the problem idolators have

-- We were encouraged to lean into Him because of what is coming (judgment)

-- Judgement as a product of His righteousness; not because He’s angry with us

-- He desired us to be like Him, to be with Him; created us for this reason

-- He demonstrated being ready and able to save Israel from destruction

-- US: He is ready to save us from our sinful ways (through Jesus’ resurrection)

- Today, LOTS TO UNPACK: the charge (responsibilities) of God’s Messiah

-- Want us to see something right off – but is often missed by casual readers

-- This is not only Isaiah – rather – this is the Messiah, Jesus, speaking to him

-- Know this … Isaiah is having an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ

- This is a prophetic look that shows the role of Messiah (ref to as “The Lord”)

-- He is shown as a servant (literal: slave) of God … which is key to understand

- Share some foundational wisdom to lead-up to this passage:

• God loves the world – every person has been created for a purpose

• That includes murderers, adulterers, oppressors, liars, thieves, immoral, etc.

• This scripture gives us a firm underpinning of this truth: wisdom to gain

• The Messiah’s purpose, suffering, and mission are what we see before us

- Read Isaiah 49:1-7 / PRAY

- God gives His Messiah a specific function through 7 simple assertions

-- We’ll break these up between points 1 & 2 to help our understanding of them

Point 1 – The Purpose of the Messiah

1. The Savior was called to do God’s will (v1)

- He was called specifically (by name) to obey God’s will; See: ref: “distant lands”

-- KNOW: What is the will of God? For His creation to be redeemed, to be His!

- But, because of our sin, b/c of our self-reliance, we could not redeem ourselves

-- Why? Because we’ve turned to the lies of the enemy (Garden: will you die?)

-- TRUTH in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Jesus was to show God’s will!

2. The Savior was called to proclaim the Word of God (v2)

- From His first opportunity (seen at age 12 at temple) He taught with power

-- He used words of judgment, authority, and power to convey God’s truth

-- Luke 4:32, “… people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.”

-- How? By being empowered with God’s Spirit: wisdom, ability, understanding

-- KEY: We must also know that in Him is wisdom to be gained; to seek it!

3. The Savior was called to be God’s servant (v3)

- His example to God’s people was to show them HOW to live FOR God

-- RE: God’s people were chosen to do God’s will – to testify to His goodness

-- They were called as the chosen ones who could carry the message of hope!

- Why? Because of the promise He made by His name (Gen. 12, Ex. 20, etc.)

-- BIG: And it is through these people that God would bring His Messiah

4. The Savior was called to live a life of trusting in God (v4)

- The Messiah will be our example; He demonstrates that trusting God is possible

-- APP: He comes to set right what we did in our sin – to make a way for us

-- RE: Romans 5:19, “Because one-person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”

- TR: The four items are the foundational purpose which sets up …

Point 2 – The Suffering of the Messiah

5. The Messiah was called to redeem Israel to God (re-read v5)

- Here is the revelation of who we are hearing from: God’s servant (Messiah)

-- BIG: God was NOT born! But this ‘person’ was formed in his mother’s womb

-- “One who formed me …” is very clear; one person talking other did the forming

-- We know that Jesus was born, by Mary, and formed by power of Holy Spirit

- Luke 1:35, “The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

-- He is without the sin of man on Him, having come only from God’s interaction