I Believe in Suffering Servant

Introduction

Jesus’s Passion

Why was it necessary for Jesus to suffer under Pontius Pilate?

“Passion of the Christ.”

Key Point: Since Jesus suffered the wrath of God for our sins, through repentance and faith in him, we can be saved from God’s wrath and fully forgiven.

Substitutionary Suffering (Isaiah 52-53)

1 Corinthians 15:1–3 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

Jesus suffered and died for our sins. . . in our place.

One of the best passages of Scripture that depicts the suffering Jesus experienced for us can be found in Isaiah 52-53 of the suffering servant.

There are five things we need to notice from this passage tonight concerning the suffering of Jesus in our place.

1. The Promise (Isaiah 52:13)

Isaiah 52:13 ESV

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.

God promises that his suffering servant will prosper and have success.

“Act wisely” means to succeed, which points to the victory Jesus will eventually have after his suffering.

God promises that Jesus will be high and lifted up and exalted into a prominent position.

Even though Jesus will suffer immensely and be beaten to the point that his appearance is unrecognizable and that he does not even resemble a human, God promises that he will be lifted up and exalted over all kings.

2. His Mission (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Isaiah 53:4–6 ESV

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Son of God came to this earth to suffer and die for our sins.

“Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1:15).

He is the one who carries all of our grief and sadness.

But we looked at him as if he was suffering for his own sins and being attacked by God for his own wrongdoings.

Yet, verse five makes clear that Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.

Jesus suffered for our rebellion and idolatry and was treated as if he committed these sins.

Jesus suffered for all our sins. . . not only those we have committed but those we will commit. Jesus also suffered for our sin. . . referring to our human nature that has been corrupted and twisted by sin.

He paid it all. . . for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21. . . for our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. . . so that we, who knew no righteousness, could become righteous in him.

3. His Innocence (Isaiah 53:7, 9)

Isaiah 53:7 ESV

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:9 ESV

9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Jesus suffered as an innocent man. He had done nothing wrong and never had lies upon his lips.

He was not guilty nor worthy of the flogging, the rejection, and affliction he took. . . but willingly offered his life for us.

He never once defended himself but trusted in God who judges justly. He offered himself like a poor and lowly lamb that was led to the slaughter.

Only a spotless lamb was adequate to be a perfect sacrifice.

4. His Sacrifice (Isaiah 53:10)

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

It was the will of God for him to crush his one and only Son.

Why did God do this? He did this for us!

Romans 8:32 . . .Hear these wonderful words!

1 John 4:10. . . and this is love, not that we loved God but he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Jesus was not a victim, but he willingly offered his life for us (John 10:18).

He freely entered into the place of atonement as our great high priest and offered himself as the once and for all sacrifice for our sins.

If God was willing to sacrifice his one and only son for us. . . if Jesus was willing to give his own life for us. . . then shouldn’t we be willing to sacrifice everything to follow Jesus?

“Let us often ask ourselves whether our Christianity costs us anything? Does it need any sacrifice? has it the true stamp of heaven? Does it carry with it any cross? If not, we may well tremble and be afraid. A faith which costs nothing is worth nothing. It will do us no good in the life that now is. It will lead to no salvation in the life to come.” -JC Ryle

5. The Vindication (Isaiah 53:11-12)

Isaiah 53:11–12 ESV

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

verse 11 says that the servant, in the anguish of his soul will see his sacrifice and be satisfied.

Satisfaction refers to the word “propitiation,” which means that God’s holy wrath and judgment towards sin was appeased.

Jesus had accomplished the mission the Father had given him.

Since Jesus was innocent and righteous, his sacrifice will “make the many to be accounted as righteous.”

We are justified “declared righteous” by faith in Jesus Christ.

What Did Christ Suffer?

Bodily Suffering

Before Jesus went to the cross, he also suffered many things as a human being.

Jesus. . .

experienced hunger (Mark 11:12).

experienced thirst (John 4:7).

Felt weariness (John 4:6).

Needed to sleep (Mark 4:38).

Jesus suffered all the physical ailments that we face today.

We have a great high priest who can sympathize with our weakness.

During Jesus’s passion, he suffered the full extent of excruciating pain and anguish at the hands of the Romans who tortured him.

“The Roman methods of flogging would dispense maximum pain to the victim while keeping them from death or shock. The methods of the torture intended the victim to feel and experience every ounce of pain rendered.” -Al Mohler

Remember, Jesus did not have to do this. . . but he willingly offered his life and placed himself under this intense, horrific, and excruciating pain out his divine love for us.

Spiritual Suffering

Jesus not only faced physical suffering in our place, but he also took the wrath of God in our place for our sins.

“Not all the vials of judgments that have or shall be poured out upon the wicked world, nor the flaming furnace of a sinner’s conscience, nor the irreversible sentence pronounced against the rebellious devils, nor the groans of the condemned creatures, give such a demonstration of God’s hatred of sin as the wrath of God let loose upon his son.” -Stephen Charnock

Jesus’s spiritual suffering for us demonstrates God’s holy hatred towards sin.

Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). . . he became cursed of God.

Jesus bore the wrath of God so that we could be saved from God’s wrath (Romans 8:1).

“God himself, gave himself, to save us from himself.” -John Stott.

Respond to His Suffering

Believe in the Promise of God

If God was faithful to keep his promises in sending the Messiah to save us from our sins, then we know he can be faithful to keep all his promises to us in Christ.

Therefore, God is worthy of our trust. We must trust in him at all times.

Because of Jesus’s suffering, we must never doubt God’s love for us.

His promises are a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul.

Join in Christ’s Sufferings (Phil. 3:7-11)

Suffering for a Surpassing Worth (v. 7-9).

Philippians 3:7–9 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Paul saw knowing Jesus as greater worth than all other things. He suffered the loss of everything so that he could gain Christ.

We must count anything we gain in this world as loss in comparison to the surpassing value of a relationship with Jesus.

Paul says he counts all his blessings and pedigree as dung in comparison to Jesus.

Joining Christ in his sufferings means we no longer live for the things of the world.

Do you count all things as dung in comparison to knowing Jesus?

Share His Sufferings and Death for the Resurrection to Come (v. 10-11).

Philippians 3:10–11 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

We must join with Jesus and suffer with him outside the camp (Heb. 13:13-14).

By sharing in Christ’s sufferings, we will also share in his glory. (Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 4:13).

By sharing in Christ’s sufferings, we will also share in his comfort. (2 Cor. 1:5).

Illustration of Coffee Fruit, bitterness and sweetness.