The Suffering Savior Becomes The Rewarded Redeemer Series

ISAIAH 53: 10-12

"THE SUFFERING SAVIOR BECOMES THE REWARDED REDEEMER."

Isaiah 53 is the doctrinal explanation of the crucifixion. As we look at such suffering we ask, why would God forsake the Son of His love? Why would He turn His back on the very One to whom He said, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." The answer has appeared in each of the stanzas of verses we have considered. The Lord Jesus suffered and died vicariously; that is, He took our place and bore our sins. He was our substitute.

Christ’s crucifixation though brought about more than anguish to His soul. It openned the doorway to Heaven, where the Innocent One who suffered and died for us returned victorious over sin, death, and hell. And now, He who was humiliated, is raised on high in glory and majesty and is ready to share His victory and its glorious blessings with all who will follow Him (CIT).

I. DEATH BRINGS LIFE, 53:10.

II. SATISFIED THROUGH SUFFERING, 53:11.

[THE MANY MADE RIGHTEOUS]

III. EXALTATION OF THE SERVANT, 53:12.

The last prophetic verse (v. 9) foretold of Messiah’s death and tomb. From verse 10 we gain understanding that His work continues after death. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting (Him) to grief (sickness); If He would render His soul (as) a guilt offering. He will see (His) offspring, He will prolong (His) days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

[As images of burn rubble and frantic people flash on the TV screen, a reporter says, "A terrorist organization has claimed, responsibly for last night’s bombing that left 23 dead and scores injured." It was not a random act of violence but one that was calculated to frighten people and advance the agenda qt those who

In stark contrast, one of histories most brutal acts was intended to bring peace and healing, not fear. In addition, God claimed responsibility in the prophecy of Isaiah, seven centuries before it happened. The prophet foretold God claiming responsibility for the Messiah’s death, but not for man’s brutality. God claimed responsibility for the death of His Son, allowing anyone to claim His gift of forgiveness.]

Here we have the explanation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was God who crushed Him. Isaiah 53 is the unfolding of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son ... What boundless love God had for the world to Give His Son for it. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:32, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all..."

Yes, it was the Lord’s will to crush Him. His death was not in the hands of wicked men but God’s. This does not absolve from responsibility those who put Him to death, but they were not in control of the situation. They could do only what the Lord permitted them to do. And God brought the greatest good out of the greatest wickedness of man.

We might ask; "Why would God be pleased to crush Him?" He was without sin. The Lord Jesus could say without contradiction "I always do those things that please Him" (the Father) (Jn. 8:29). Never once did He not surrender to the Father’s will through out His earthly ministry. Yet it is still written, "The Lord was pleased to crush Him." The pleasure of the Lord in this act comes from the accomplishing a good far greater that the terrible suffering the Servant endured. The Father did not take pleasure in crushing His Son but in the full and sufficient sacrifice and cleansing for sin. Through Christ’s death penalty the judgment for sin was accomplished. God took pleasure not in doing it but because of the end result that it would accomplish. Had the debts of our behavior gone unpaid they would stand forever between us and a just God.

Ephesians 5:2 says He "gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Christ is represented as offering Himself to God as an expiatory sacrifice (Rom. 3:25;8:3, 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10, Heb. 9:14).

Notice the conditional if. It indicates that this offering is the necessary condition if God’s redemptive purpose is to be realized. It also signifies that the offering was a voluntary one. The will of God becomes the servant’s will, not by compulsion but by the unconditional surrender of obedience [after death] as in Gethsemane. The servant goes forward to sacrifice confident that this is the only road to God’s victory, confident that this act was God’s will for Him. (The guilt or trespass offering was the offering where by one made good an offense that had been committed).