Betrayal

Isaiah 53:1-3

How many of us have ever been betrayed? How did it make you feel? Have you forgiven this person, or are you still harboring resentment, hate, and vengeance towards them? Everyone in this room can probably tell a story of being betrayed. Hurt is usually a product of betrayal. I think about Joseph and how he must have felt when his brothers betrayed him. Could you imagine the pain he felt?

His brothers, out of jealousy, sold him into slavery. This act of betrayal brought immense pain and suffering into Joseph's life. Yet, through it all, he ultimately found a path toward forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph's journey teaches us that betrayal can lead us to a deeper understanding of God's plan and a chance to reflect grace, even when the wounds are fresh, and the betrayal feels insurmountable.

When we read the life of Jesus Christ and then read this chapter in the light of that life, every verse flames up into a new meaning, every sentence is a pinnacle heaven-pointing, and every figure is a flower grown in the eternal paradise.

We read the prophecy of Jesus Christ being betrayed and looked at with disgust. Isaiah gives a three-fold rejection of the Messiah. First, they rejected His Words. Second, they rejected His works. Lastly, they rejected His person.

Words:

Isaiah asks, “Who has believed our report?” This question is being asked of the believing Jews. Paul asks the same question in Romans 10:16 . Who believes the Words we speak? The funny thing about the truth is that it is only acceptable if it works for that individual.

Romans 10:16 NKJV

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

Many so-called Christians reject Christ’s words! Anytime we hold to our truth over what His Word tells us, we become no different than those who live by the world’s truths. Sin is sin, and what we might consider the least will lead you to hell as quickly as what we call the worst.

But what is the report of truth? There will be a child born who will bear the world's sins for all who call on His name. He is the Servant of the Lord. Isaiah 52:13-15

Isaiah 52:13–15 NKJV

Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.

What does it mean to believe? The Hebrew meaning is to accept as true; take to be true. Allow me to clarify what I mean by truth. This is not a relativist truth. Relativism truth is truth that is relative to you; therefore, it is true. That truth is a lie! Truth comes from God and God alone. This truth has always had a hard time in this world. Isaiah points out in earlier chapters that the deaf and blind failed to believe what God said. Hebrews 4:2

Hebrews 4:2 NKJV

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

It still happens today, and what is sad is that it occurs in His people, too. Romans 3:3 .

Romans 3:3 NKJV

For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

When they or we reject His words, we reject His works.

Works:

Arm of the Lord: the works that the Lord has and is performing. I hear people in the evangelical community disagreeing over works being performed. I believe in miracles! For any of us to believe and be saved is a miracle. This tremendous power of being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit is a miracle. A baby being born is a miracle. Jesus’ birth is a miracle. Allow me to take you on a journey of this extraordinary power.

1. Who else has the power to leave their dwelling and occupy another while still on His own? Who else can be God (Divine) and man (human)? Jesus Christ.

2. Who has the power to overcome the darkness of this world and set free all those who are captive? Jesus Christ.

3. Who can change a wretched sinner into a saint? Jesus Christ.

4. Who could feed Israel in the desert? The Almighty Jesus Christ. Numbers 11:23

Numbers 11:23 NKJV

And the Lord said to Moses, “Has the Lord’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”

This divine power has been revealed to us from the beginning and every step of the way.

The Hebrew meaning “revealed” is to announce, be exposed, reveal, or appeal. In Greek, it means disclose. Matthew 11:27 ; Luke 17:30

Matthew 11:27 NKJV

All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Luke 17:30 NKJV

Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

The “Arm of the LORD” is Christ Himself revealed through His mighty works. It represents this awesome power, yet in this context, it speaks of the infinitely mysterious frailty of the incarnate Son of God, whose seeming weakness in death was the most powerful thing in human history. If the Spirit does not reveal Isaiah 53 to a hearer, that person will never believe this message.

If rejection of Word and Works happens, what will follow is the rejection of Person.

Person:

Verses 2-3 are the biography of Christ in the wonder of His incarnation. We can believe He is 100% God and 100% man because His words and works are truth. Therefore, His person is truth! Isaiah links Chapter 11 to detail Christ the Messiah. Isaiah is prophesying the humanity of Christ, and we see it in the young life of Jesus Christ. Luke 2:52

Luke 2:52 NKJV

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

His form was not that of a model but of an ordinary person. We must remember what God told Samuel when he went to the house of Jesse. 1 Samuel 16:7

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

He was not born in a palace but in a manger in Bethlehem. Grew up in the despised town of Nazareth, John 1:43-46

John 1:43–46 NKJV

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

To those who were the elect, Jesus Christ was nothing more than a servant, enslaved person, and commoner who could not be the Messiah. Why? Because they were looking for a wealthy King. They did not like what He commanded of them, so they treated Him like a servant slave. They despised Him, put a low price on him (30 pieces of silver), and looked the other way when He went by. 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 (Luke 15:1-2 ), reputation (Luke 18:9-14 ), being served by others (Luke 22:24-27 ), and pampering yourself (Matthew 16:21-28 ). He is rejected today for the same reasons.

Luke 16:14 NKJV

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

Luke 15:1–2 NKJV

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 18:9–14 NKJV

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 22:24–27 NKJV

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Matthew 16:21–28 NKJV

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Application:

1. His birth shows us His Words are actual.

2. His birth shows us His Works are perfect.

3. His birth shows us His Person was our ransom.

4. We can live for Him since He died for us!