The Shocking Servant Series

HoHum:

As we head into the Lenten season, the Easter season, wanted to do a sermon on Isaiah 53. I thought I had never preached on this passage so I went into my files and there at the top was a sermon by Davon Huss. I preached on Isaiah 53 during the Lenten season heading into Easter in 1996. The sermon notes are 5 pages long. 1 page equals approximately 10 minutes so I preached 50 minutes on that passage. I don’t think you want me to preach for 50 minutes so I have reworked the whole thing and have expanded this into 5 messages on Isaiah 53.

WBTU:

Isaiah is the most beautiful and colorful of the Old Testament prophets. He is called the Shakespeare of the Old Testament. Isaiah is the also the Old Testament Evangelist. Isaiah’s evangelistic message begins in chapter 40 where Isaiah prophesies about the ministry of John the Baptist. He then proceeds to show the sinful condition of his people and that in spite of their sin; God loves them. In chapter 42 he introduces the Messiah and His ministry, and goes on to elaborate upon the person of the Messiah and the part God’s people will have in him. Why preach on Isaiah 53? In chapter 53, the doors of heaven are opened and on display is the heart of God and the suffering servant of God, and the blessings which will follow those who will accept God’s love and forgiveness. Isaiah 53 is the Old Testament’s version of John 3:16. Many people call this the greatest chapter in the OT because it contains such a clear prophecy of the events surrounding the death of Jesus Christ. Writing 700 years before the events took place, Isaiah describes the death of Christ in such minute detail that it cannot be anything other than the direct work of God. On at least 9 different occasions the New Testament writers quote Isaiah 53 and apply it directly to Jesus Christ. The verses and phrases here are all verified in the NT

Starting today with the end of Isaiah 52, thought we were doing Isaiah 53? The Bible is inspired by God but the chapter divisions are not. These were added centuries later to help us find different passages. The chapters divisions of the bible were made in the 13th century AD. The verses were laid out in 1560 AD. The portion of Scripture that stars with Isaiah 52:13 and ends with Isaiah 53:12 is often called the “Fourth Servant Song,” meaning it is the fourth passage in Isaiah describing the coming “Servant of the Lord.” We know from history that the “Servant of the Lord” is a prophetic reference to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This “Fourth Servant Song” focuses on the death of the innocent Servant of the Lord who offers himself for the transgressions of the people. This song has five stanzas of 3 verses each. In this series we will discover what each stanza teaches us about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ray Pritchard gives the titles and here they are:

The Shocking Servant (Isaiah 52:13-15); The Misunderstood Messiah (Isaiah 53:1-3);

The Sinless Substitute (Isaiah 53:4-6); The Silent Savior (Isaiah 53:7-9);

The Victorious Lord (Isaiah 53:10-12)

As go through this study, may we see the Lord Jesus Christ more clearly so that we may grow in our devotion to him. The first stanza of the “Fourth Servant Song” speaks of Christ’s exaltation in spite of his degrading death on the cross. In putting the matter this way, the Holy Spirit intends to teach us that God’s ways are not our ways. What seemed like a terrible tragedy turns out to be a pathway of blessing for the whole world (Living for Jesus song).

Thesis: As we consider Jesus Christ in this passage (Isaiah 52:13-15) we see...

For instances:

I. His unrivaled success (Isaiah 52:13)

Christ will act “wisely” meaning that in every situation he will perfectly fulfill the Father’s will. Some translations use the word “prosper,” which means that Christ will do well in every situation. Isaiah looks to the end of the earthly trials of our Lord and declares that he will prosper because of his wisdom. Another translation says “my servant will be successful.” But what is this “wisdom” that will lead to success? It is the wisdom of God that led Christ to the bloody cross where the world crucified its Savior. That “wisdom” seemed like folly on Good Friday. Little did the world know, much less understand, what it was doing that day. “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:8, NIV. If they had know, if they had understood, but they didn’t! The world didn’t understand Jesus when he walked on the earth and the world still doesn’t understand him today. This should give us perseverance when we talk to unbelievers. Sometimes when lost people say foolish things that are rude and unkind, we may be tempted to retaliate with unkind words of our own. This is a bad idea. It’s like cursing a blind man because he can’t see the color green. But notice what this folly produced: “He will be raised” on Resurrection Sunday. “He will be lifted up” when he ascends to heaven. “He will be highly exalted” at God’s right hand.