Will You Let Jesus In?
Easter 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Will you let Jesus in?
It’s a simple question, but it carries with it a ton of weight.
In Isa 52-53, we get this picture of God’s suffering servant. He suffers even to the point of death on behalf of others. He is so astonishing that even kings stand in reverence of Him. Yet, many see the suffering of this servant and despise and reject Him. They are blinded, and do not realize that His suffering is for them. They will not let Him in.
Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
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.
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.
Jesus Christ is the promised servant - our salvation!
We’re splitting up Isaiah 52:13-53:12 over the next two weeks. Today we will explore three aspects of Isa’s servant prophecy that Jesus fulfills in 52:13-53:6. As we do, we will be led on a path towards Jesus Christ, and I pray God will use this to open our hearts to see our Lord with fresh love and awe for what He has done for us. I pray we will let Him in.
The Glorified Servant - 52:12-15
The Glorified Servant - 52:12-15
The servant will be glorified, after going through suffering. The song starts with a vision of the end.
The book of Isaiah is one of the largest prophetic books we have in the Bible. It is 66 chapters long. Isaiah himself was one of the longest remaining prophets in Judah’s history. His time as God’s messenger spanned the reign of three different kings in Judah. Not only that, but His prophecies seem to focus not just on Judah’s current circumstances, but as the book progresses we see he begins to address the people that will come after: during and after the exile.
Our passage is a song about God’s suffering servant. There are actually four servant songs between chapters 42-53 of Isaiah. Each one reveals something about who this servant from God is. This servant is God’s chosen instrument to bring salvation. This is the last of the four songs. It provides us with a unique view of the servant: suffering but with eternal perspective: once this servant has suffered, He will reign!
On a personal note: This is one of my most favourite messianic prophecies. A messianic prophecy is a prophecy about the coming Messiah, who we know is Jesus Christ. I love this passage because it reminds us of Jesus. The One who is a King but for a time gave up His crown to take the punishment for the sin of the world. Every time I read this I remember. I think about just how good our God is, and how not good I am. As we read this together, may you as well be reminded of just who our amazing Lord is.
Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
We start with a picture of the servant not actually as suffering, but as glorified! It is God who is speaking in v 13. We gain insight into the servant: He will act with wisdom, he will be high and lifted up, even exalted. This is a picture of the risen servant, post-suffering. Isa starts and ends his whole vision of the servant with the servants glorification. Remember, the uniqueness of this servant-song shows us the servants sufferings, but as they relate to His glorification.
Moving to v14, it seems things take a turn: “Many” are “astonished.” The many is all of us, Israel included. Humanity is astonished at the servant’s appearance. He is so marred almost beyond human likeness. I like the NLT translates this:
His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Why add this in, especially in a scene of glorification? Because through the sacrificing and disfigurement of the servant, a “sprinkling” would happen.
In the law, a sin offering was used to make atonement for the sin of someone. The priest would dip his finger in the blood of the animal slain for the sin of that person, as we read in Lev 4 6
and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary.
This shows us that the servant’s sacrifice is a sacrifice of atonement. In it’s most basic definition, atoning means making amends. The servant stands in the place of humanity, taking such brutal punishment. This astonishing act - even what the servant goes through, leads kings to “shut their mouths.” A reverential awe has fallen upon them. Again, in this first scene we see the servant’s glorification, even through suffering! Thus the servant, though experiencing humility and rejection and brutal punishment, is glorified to a place of honor even above kings. There is a mystery in this: this sprinkling brings about a change of heart in these rulers. they go from rejection to awe and reverence. In another servant song, we read this:
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
The first way in which we see Jesus as the promised servant of God is in glorification. Think about it: in Rom 8:34 we read:
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Moreover in Hebrews 1 3 we are told about Jesus:
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Christ is the radiance of the glory of God - He is God! Christ came to make purification for our sins. He died, and was raised to life. Now He is exalted. Scripture even make it clear that for Christ to be exalted as He is, He had to go through these things. We have all the reason to worship Him!
It is interesting to me that it says kings will experience this “awe” of the servant. It seems in the gospels and in history much of the time there has been scorn for Jesus. Yet we are told in Rev 1 7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
There is coming a day when every eye will see Christ. Even those who pierced Him, and all will give awe and reverence to the One who is exalted on high! This is Jesus, who died, rose again, ascended, and now sits in glory at the right hand of the Father. We wait with expectancy for His return - and what a glorious return that will be!
So Jesus is seen as the glorified servant - after experiencing suffering - for us. Now as we move into the next portion of this passage, we gain insight more into the identity of the servant.
The Humble Servant - 53:1-3
The Humble Servant - 53:1-3
The servant’s humble origins, even to the point of being despised by contemporaries. He had much grief and sorrows - even our griefs and sorrows (emotional burdens from sins.)
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
As we move into this section, we meet a group who asks, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? To whom has the arm of the Lord been extended?” Who are these that speak? At first glance maybe you are thinking it is God, but it’s not God. It’s also not everyone who will shut their mouths, or who rejected Him in verse 14. So who is this?
This is those in Israel who believe, those who have not turned their backs on the servant. Throughout Isa, “we statements” always refer to Israel (NAC). These give testimony about the servant who they have seen. Their statement, “who has believed” expresses not unbelief but rather just how astonishing their testimony is. It will take trust and faith to accept the message about the servant. The arm of the Lord communicates God’s power - often in the saving of Him people. Thus, the arm of the Lord is the servant Himself - He is God’s instrument to powerfully save.
Then comes the identity of the servant: He grew up like a tender root, even in dry ground.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
Often the idea of a “shoot coming from a stump” was linked to kings (NAC) this imagery points us again to Jesus. Both Matthew and Luke demonstrate how Jesus came from Jesse’s line - the kingly line of Israel. Yet what do we read about Him? Not that He was born in wealth, was super nice to look at and overly attractive. Instead,
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
In 1 Sam 8 5 the people of Israel come to judge Samuel and say:
and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Israel wasn’t supposed to have a King, because God was their King. But they wanted to be like the nations around them. So God instructed Samuel to give them a king. God appointed Saul as the first King of Israel. He was handsome, taller than anyone else. Probably could have had at least half dozen numbers from different ladies whenever!
Even David, who came after Saul, was known as “ruddy and handsome” according to 1 Sam 16. These guys looked like kings! But the servant, he was nothing to look at. To the point that:
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
He was despised instead. Rejected by those around Him. He knew sorrow, and much of it. In fact the word imagery here shows us that people would even connect Him with suffering - as if it played a pivotal role in His life (NAC).
Think about it: If I say the name “Joan of Arc.” You’d immediately think of the woman eventually burned at the stake for her convictions. Or how about the name Anne Frank? We immediate remember her, her suffering during the Nazi occupation of holland, and her eventual death.
In the same way, people associated suffering with the servant’s life. Yet unlike Anne Frank or even Joan or Arc, those who saw His suffering despised Him. They turned away from Him and ranked Him at zero (Cornerstone.)
There is a humility here that characterizes the servant’s life. His origins, His appearance, and His status were humble. He even experienced deep suffering, to the point that people turned away from Him so that they might not be reminded. They counted Him as nothing. This is the one who is the Lord’s arm? This is how God’s salvation is revealed? Yes! In fact, this is how salvation comes. Through the humble, suffering servant.
The second identity piece we see here is that the servant is humble. Jesus Christ fulfills the prophecy about the servant to come because He is the humble servant. Christ came from humble beginnings. He wasn’t extra beautiful, or rich, or any of these things. He knew grief and struggle, to the point that it characterized His legacy. This is our Lord. He was not overly handsome, rich, or even popular. It seems he was the opposite. So if we are to follow Him, we also take this up. We take up humility. We understand that to be associated with Christ is to associate with His death, and glory in His ressurection. This is our good God!
The Suffering Servant - 53:4-6
The Suffering Servant - 53:4-6
This is the beginning of the servant’s suffering. Notice in particular the emphasis in vv 4-6 on how the servant has borne our griefs. Yet we turned away from him, thinking that it was His own sin for which He was punished, when really it was ours.
Rom 5:8 - While we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Of all the passages in Isa, this is one of my favorites. for me, Isaiah’s servant song climaxes right here. This is the gospel message right here.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
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.
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.
So the servant comes, and takes on our griefs and sorrows. He is pierced for our crimes, crushed for our sins.
I want to pause for a moment and camp on this understanding of grief and sorrow. Suffering tends to come one of three ways:
We did something to ourselves (like we hurt ourselves, or do something wrong that ends up hurting us physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.)
Someone does something else to us. Someone wrongs us, hurts us, etc.
Suffering happens because of a broken world. When people get sick, and we don’t know why. When that car accident happened and it doesn’t make sense, etc. Suffering, sorrow, grief are a part of the experience here. That is why we look forward with great hope to eternity.
Jesus knows all about our suffering. He is the suffering servant. As we have and will see, He suffered at the hands of others. But He was also well aquatinted with grief, sorrow, and pain. In fact the word translated “grief” is a word to describe sickness and suffering.
See the servant is not removed from His people. He is not unacquainted with the trials of this life. Rather, He bears our burdens. Both through taking the punishment for our sin, and by carrying the load. This means that the servant - humble in nature and well accustomed to grief - knows what you go through. This is Jesus, our Lord. He bears our burdens and carries our sorrows.
It is also in and through Him that we find peace! In this Servant, who vicariously took on the guilt of humanity we find peace in being made right with God.
I love the way the NLT reads for verse 4:
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
How could this be?
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.
This is the response of lost humanity! We are so blind that we turn away from Him. Each of us thinks our own sinful way is best! Mocking, we spit upon this servant and think we are righteous to say that God’s punishment on Him is just. “He is a sinner and condemned to death.,” we say. Yet even as we do God transfers our guilt upon the servant.
To say that God laid upon Him our chastisement again pulls us back to the Law of the scapegoat.
And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
I find it interesting. The goat is sent away, while another one is sacrificed. The servant is both despised and rejected, and sacrificed on our behalf. Jesus truly is our ultimate sacrifice. He is the One who makes atonement for sins! Once for all, Christ is the servant who has brought us peace through His sacrifice.
Humanity is prideful, lost, and blind. And yet:
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Friends, Christ Jesus came, leaving heaven and taking on the form of humanity. He was humble and experienced much grief and sorrow. He chose to come with express purpose: That God might lay upon Him the punishment for crimes not His own. He came so that people like you and me, full of pride yet hopelessly lost could find peace with God.
What love of God is this, that while we should be actively sinning against God and slapping Him in the face, He would do this:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
What love has Christ shown us that while we spit upon Him and called down our condemnation of Him in our blindness, He would go to the cross for us. He would experience pain and suffering and great torment spiritually and physically so that:
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
The crazy contrast in these verses is the love of God - the suffering of the servant on our behalf - vs. the blindness and pride of fallen humanity. So when you think about Christ has done, what He went through for you - even when you hated Him, how can you not be shaken to your core?
I will never believe in annihalationism - the belief that those who reject God simply cease to exist. Scripture makes it clear that this is not a reality. Instead we read this in Revelation 20:
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
This is hell. It is very real. God could have simply given us over to that. We are created, not creator. God makes the rules, and friends you and I have broken them. What does the Bible say about that?
For the wages of sin is death,…
Not only physical death, but spiritual. Burning forever in hell. Good thing the verse doesn’t stop there:
…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How, how can this be? God is righteous, and just. We praise and thank Him for this. But that means that the price for sin must be paid. None of us are perfect. None of us can atone. So Christ came - the suffering servant. The sinless Lamb of God. He sprinkled us with His lifeblood. He gave Himself for us. Even as humanity watched and laughed and condemned Him, He bore our griefs. He carried the weight of the sorrow we had brought upon ourselves. He did this even when we despised Him.
This brings us to a cross roads: Isa says that
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.
See, the response of many is to laugh at Christ. They cannot admit in their pride and blindness their need for a Saviour. Yet all of us are desperately in need of the God who loved us enough to die for us. What is our response? Christ died for you, but will you turn away. Will you continue to go astray, or will you acknowledge that God is moving in your heart even now to confess Christ as your Lord, repent of your sin and give your life to Him?
We are presented with this choice: Accept the free gift of salvation found in the suffering servant of Jesus Christ. Or, reject it and face the judgement we find in Revelation 20. There are only two options: Life or, death? What will your choice be?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus Christ is the promised servant - our salvation!
In Isa 52:13-53:6, we are given the first three identifiers that the picture of the suffering servant is pointing to Jesus Christ. The One who suffered on our behalf. He lived humbly, and was well acquainted with sorrow and grief. He went to the cross and died for us. Why? So that we could have peace with God. But make no mistake: having done these things He now sits at the right hand of the Father. He reigns. And He’s coming back again.
If you know Jesus as Lord today, then you have accepted the free gift of salvation. You have accepted God’s grace and claimed Christ’s atonement as your plea before the righteous and just God. You are saved, you are set free. You live in reverence and awe before Christ. You live with hope of eternity.
If you do not know Christ as your Saviour and Lord, then you still sit with the crowds in Isa: You have turned to your own way. You need Christ, because the two options in front of you are His grace or hell. What will you choose. Peace with God? Or eternal enmity?
This first portion of Isaiah’s fourth servant song shows us Jesus. Exalted and lifted up, but in order to be there He went through the deepest of suffering for us. He experienced total rejection for us. He knows the sorrows and griefs we carry because He carries them with us.
Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet the response of many is to turn away. To be blinded by what they see instead of seeing what God has done. They are disgusted by the suffering servant, but fail to see the conquering King.
Will you let Him in? Will you accept Him as your own? Jesus has borne it all for you! Will you let Him in?
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
