The Suffering And Glory Of The Servant

See my Servant (52: 13 – 15);

I’ve preached many a time on the theme that God knew the cost of creating us and still did

What cost well, the suffering of Jesus

Have you ever wondered did Jesus really have to die, well did he?

After God is God, surely he could well just change the rules a bit and who would know, who could judge, who well none but the I AM

God would know and for God that is unacceptable

I wonder: Did Jesus have to die on the cross? The obvious answer is No. God could have used any way but this is the way he chose. I imagine a Trinitarian conversation in the heavenlies where they agree to make sure it happens this way.

My next question is: Why did Jesus die in this way? I offer three thoughts:

1: To condemn sin: In Romans 8:3-4 Paul writes: “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” He links Jesus’ death to a sin offering (Lev. 4:1-5:13)) which was for unintentional sins. In the next chapter of Leviticus, we read about guilt offerings, where the sinner paid the person back in full plus one-fifth. Paul makes it clear that Jesus was a sin offering – everything is paid by him, all our sin is covered and condemned at the cross.

2: To ransom many: Mark’s only interpretation of Jesus’ death is as a ransom. In the Bible ransom doesn’t mean that you pay somebody to release the captive, otherwise Jesus’ death would be payment to the devil, which is absurd. Rather, it means we will not destroy your city if you set the captives free (e.g.: Pharaoh and the Israelites). Jesus’ death frees us from the devil’s grip.

3: To show God’s love and justice: These are the two arms of the cross: Love for humanity (ransoming us) and hatred of sin (a sin offering).

After this Jesus was buried. Jesus definitely died.

“See, my servant will act wisely he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.”

He was lifted up on a cross and then from the grave and is highly exalted

Today we need to ponder the cross marvel at this statement, this act that underpins all of creation this reaching down from heaven, this crying out from earth this meeting of love and the divine, glory and blood, death and life eternal.

I remember watching the Passion of the Christ how appalled I felt at the bloodstained broken figure on the cross, beaten and bruised repulsive and broken, defeated and yet

Totally victorious, by this brokenness, by this offering the whole of humanity was saved made right with God

By this blood sprinkled on the dirt of a Jerusalem garbage heap, we can be washed clean and forgiven , not just the whole world but the whole of humanity, its amazing.

Chapter 53 Verses 1 - 3;

Originally the statement in verse 1 “who has believed our report” was delivered by Isaiah Ben Amoz about 720 years before Jesus death and resurrection. Isaiah was preaching to the nation Judah who had gone astray from God following the ways of Assyria and foreign Gods. Isaiah was preaching about repentance turning back to God and a Messiah who would deliver the people from their sin, that if they accepted this Saviour they would be forgiven

So here we are today and the world seems to me far from God the majority seeking not his ways certainly not praying “your kingdom come” more only my will be done as the norm is to lead ever more self centred lives following the I ME not the I AM

Romans 10:16-17 (The Message)But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims, ”A sight to take your breath away! Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God! But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.