A picture of our Savior Scripture reading: Isaiah 53 Introduction: IS 53 Acts 8 the Eunuch - reading a passage - confused about what it was talking about - He was reading Isaiah 53, and Philip took that scripture and preached Jesus to Him, and that’s what I’d like to do in this lesson! it was fitting the Eunuch did not know who Isaiah was talking about! Isaiah begins one of His prophetic messages about Jesus with the words “Who has believed our message?”. The story of Jesus was prophesied about in many different ways through out the old testament. It was simply an unfathomable message! Isaiah recognizes how incredible the message is when He asks this question, as He reveals God’s plan of salvation. Todays lesson I would like to look at this portrait of our Savior, Jesus. This chapter naturally divides itself into 4 sections all describing Jesus, who He is and what He did for us. - Jesus: The name I love to hear, there is none like Him. He is the greatest gift ever given - He TRULY can’t be improved upon, there is not a better person. Don’t give him to me any other way; We need to see Him and come face to face with who He was and what He did for us. I.
An unimpressive Savior (1-3) A. Parched Ground - Nazareth 1. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45-46) 2. From a poor area of the country. - A Waste land. a) A region of simple people - not where educated people lived or spent substantial time! b) His parents were poor (Luke 2:22-24) (1) No significance c) No political leaders (1) No one of any significance came from here. 3. Just a “tender shoot” out a parched ground a) a small twig- easily uprooted. B. He had no Majesty 1. He didn’t look like a king. Didn’t look regal 2. “Wasn’t head and shoulders above the rest” a) Saul was an obvious candidate for king! C. No special appearance 1. Jesus would be the type of person you wouldn’t take a second glance at! D. A Despised and Rejected man 1. People didn’t want a part of His life. a) Men hide their face - Rather not deal with Him at all 2. Not esteemed a) No respect or honor given to this poor man from Nazareth.
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They were ashamed of Him because He did not represent the things that were important to them, things like wealth (Luke 16:14), social prestige (14:7–14; 15:1–2), reputation (18:9–14), being served by others (22:24–27), and pampering yourself (Matt. 16:21–28). He is rejected today for the same reasons. A Suffering Savior (4-6) - It would seem to be enough humility, but it wouldn’t be the extent of the it! He would also be subjected to extreme suffering. - The reason for his suffering would be misunderstood. Most would think he suffered for some terrible crime or sin in his own life, maybe because He even lied about His diety. Nothing could be further from the truth. His suffering was redemptive. Only through that suffering could all the straying sheep be recovered. The our and his contrast in these verses is striking and moving. A. OUR EXPERIENCE / HIS EXPERIENCE Griefs Bore Sorrows Carried Transgression Pierced Through Iniquities Crushed Well-being Chastening Healed Scourging B. Graphic descriptions for what He’d endure 1. Bearing griefs and sorrows - what Jesus did with His life - (Matthew 8:14-17) a) He came to serve - and showed that at every point of His life. b) Yet - He was rejected! 2. Pierced Through a) (Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10) b) His hands and feet were pierced c) His side was pierced - evidence of His death. 3. Crushed/ broken a) His crushed body was looked upon. b) Over burdened - lifeless. 4. Chastened a) We’re improved - we were made better by the “discipline” placed on Jesus. 5. Scourged (A clear, obvious allusion to the severe lashing that Jesus endured that horrific night. - Each of these descriptions describe in detail the type of suffering He endured C. For straying Sheep 1. We were the ones with the issues. It was our iniquities. It was our griefs and sorrows... 2. We esteemed Him stricken a) The type of value placed on Jesus as He walked this earth
A picture of our Savior Scripture reading: Isaiah 53 (1)
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Covered by a plaque or disease - someone to be avoided at all cost! (2) The people whose need Jesus came to fill treated him like a contagious outcast, not worth remotely approaching! 3. Incredible: There is truly no balance or equality between man and Christ. Taking our contributions and measuring them up next to what Christ gave, we don’t even register on the scale. What an amazing contrast. The Submission of the Servant (53:7–9). A. The Lord’s response to suffering 1. Note again: How He was being treated. a) He was oppressed - what a wicked taskmaster does to a slave b) He was afflicted - humiliated - brought low, treated with contempt c) He was led to be slaughtered - not just imprisoned - walked to his impending death d) He was Sheared - stripped of His clothes - beaten and cut by the crown of thorns. 2. He allowed it to happen, He didn’t object. a) It was necessary to complete His mission. Through the ordeal “He did not open His mouth” There were no objections. He made Himself completely defenseless (like a sheep) (1) (NO ONE RESPONDS THIS WAY TO MISTREATMENT) Especially if they have the power to stop it! b) He was silent - and stated again for emphasis, He did not open His mouth. He received it meekly. (1) They did not take His life - He GAVE his life. (John 10:1718) (2) He didn’t fight - He didn’t call upon the host of angels He had at His beckon call, easily obliterating His enemies. The one whose word had all power kept quiet and allowed them to treat Him that way. (3) He knew what His mission was and He quietly allowed evil men to take him all the way to “crucifixion” B. The extent of his submission resulted in Him becoming a Crucified Savior (He allowed it all the way to death on a cross) (Phil 2:5-8) 1. Cut off from the Land of the living 2. This is what man did with the messiah who bore griefs and removed sorrow - they killed Him. They could not accept the good He had brought them; This crucifixion would continue to be a stumbling block to the Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23) C. Assigned a wicked grave, 1. They intended shame even where He was buried! 2. But Christ was sinless! 3. yet with a rich man in death
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Yet God would make sure this innocent sufferer would not be thrown in a pile with a bunch of decaying bodies. - Thankfully this is not the end to the picture of the Christ - God’s servant for in this grim chapter - ends on a note of victory.
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A Justifying Savior (10-12) A. Cut off “for the transgression of people” verse 8 1. Strong theme - suffering not for anything He had done - but for what others had done. 2. His selflessness would not go unheeded, His labor would not be in vain. This, simple, suffering, submissive Lord would accomplish great things for mankind B. Pleased the Lord 1. It pleased the Lord a) - not because He wanted to see Jesus suffer - As maybe only Abraham could understand, God LOVED His Son Jesus, and did not take pleasure in the pain and suffering on the cross, but it pleased Him in the sense that it was an acceptable offering for the transgression of the people. 2. When Jesus cried “It is finished” those words were completely true. He did what God called Him to do and He did it perfectly. a) God was satisfied - He could be both Just in His dealing with Sin, and the justifier of those who have faith in Christ Jesus. C. Rendered as a guilt offering 1. An offering to remove our guilt of sin 2. Many Justified, iniquities borne away a) Took away our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:22-24) b) “Bought with the blood” 1 peter 1:18-19 c) We can now appeal to God on the basis of Jesus Christ’s death burial and resurrection for a clean conscience. (1 Peter 3:21) d) This is the reason we can pray. D. This is what made Jesus so great! So impressive 1. Not his stature - not His affluence: Not even His wisdom (though He is wise), but the love which drove Him to this level of self sacrifice - dying for evil, wicked sinners, like me. Giving a gify that can truly melt even the hardest and coldest hearts. 2. Not just that he has all power... But that he sacrificed. 3. Phil 2:9-11 4. Jesus the great shepherd in this - would bring many souls to His Father Conclusion: Isaiah 53 - this is your Jesus, you can take Him or deny Him! You can follow Him and be like Him, and allow Him to save you, or you can live life your own way, and be lost.
A picture of our Savior Scripture reading: Isaiah 53
