Suffering Servants | Luke 9:21–23
The Way Maker • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
In our text we see the suffering of the Lord (v. 21-22)
And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
In our text, Jesus tells his disciples that the sun of man must suffer many things, this points to the truth of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53
In Isaiah 53, we see what the Messiah, the chosen one would suffer:
Here’s a list of the sufferings of the "Suffering Servant" from Isaiah 53:1-12
1. Physical Disfigurement and Rejection
Description: The servant has "no form or majesty" and is "despised and rejected," his appearance marred beyond recognition (Isaiah 53:2–3 “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.” ), and Before his crucifixion, Jesus was brutally scourged and beaten by Roman soldiers, being flogged, crowned with thorns, and mocked, leaving him physically disfigured.
2. Emotional Anguish
Description: A "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief," the servant is shunned, with people hiding their faces from him (Isaiah 53:3 “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.” ).
Jesus’ Fulfillment: Jesus experienced deep emotional distress, notably in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he sweat blood and prayed in agony (Luke 22:44). He was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and forsaken by his disciples (Mark 14:50).
3. Silent Endurance
Description: “Like a lamb led to the slaughter,” the servant remains silent before his oppressors (Isaiah 53:7 “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.” ).
Jesus’ Fulfillment: During his trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, Jesus often stayed silent rather than defending himself. For example, “He gave no answer” to the accusations (Matthew 27:12-14). His quiet submission mirrors the servant’s demeanor, culminating in his death on the cross.
4. Death and Burial
Description: The servant “poured out his soul to death” and was assigned a grave with the wicked and the rich (Isaiah 53:9 “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.” , Isaiah 53:12 “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.” ).
Jesus’ Fulfillment: Jesus died on the cross between two criminals (“the wicked,” Luke 23:33) and was buried in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man (“the rich,” Matthew 27:57-60). His death was a literal outpouring of life, fulfilling the servant’s fate.
5. Bearing Others’ Burdens
Description: The servant’s suffering is redemptive; he bears the sins of many and intercedes for transgressors (Isaiah 53:5 “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.” ).
Jesus’ Fulfillment: Jesus’ death is our atoning sacrifice. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24), and his intercession is reflected in his prayer from the cross, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
And this easter we celebrate this truth, but this is not the end of Jesus’ call. Because in verse 23 we see:
The Call to Join His Suffering (v. 23)
The Call to Join His Suffering (v. 23)
You see Jesus does not stop at sharing his suffering, no, he states that his children will join him in that suffering.
We too must "suffer man things" by taking up our cross.
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
We too must "Silently endure" by denying ourselves.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We too must "Bear other's Burdens" by following Him.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
He is the suffering servant, and we must join with Thomas and the other disciples of Jesus who said
So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
The Easter Story is a promise of life, but is also a call to die. Tonight will you come and die with him so that you may one day live with him?
