Untitled Sermon (3)

So, all that Aaron has said is true, but I am super thankful the story doesn’t end there. I am thankful that God didnt look at all of us who have gone astray and say Im finished.

We see in , along with many other passages that God had a plan.

In Isaiah we see a picture or story of a suffering servant. Let’s look at some of the verses that describe this suffering servant. This the last of four poems discussing the servant. Isaiah is telling a story to Israel. But what is this story about? Who is the suffering servant?

The suffering servant is Jesus. Yes......Jesus. Some 700 years prior to the life of Christ, we have a descriptive passage about Him. The details in this prophecy are amazing. There are over 20 plus EXACT descriptions of the life of Christ in this passage. We don’t have time to cover all of these but lets take a look at a few comparisons of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah and Jesus.

Lets look at the first one

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 53

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,

And like a root out of parched ground;

He has no stately form or majesty

That we should look upon Him,

...........

What is the comparison here?

The comparison is simple here. As we are getting closer to Christmas, we remember the miraculous story of the birth of Jesus. His life was introduced immediately into scandal. He was born in a manger where the animals eat and his parents were the embarrassment of the town. For the majority that didn't believe, Jesus was born into an illegitimate family. There was no mistaking the beginning of Jesus’ life for that of majesty. You can see that in ..There is more here with the shoot and parched ground as well but we will keep our focus on His birth here.

Here is the next comparison.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 53

He was despised and forsaken of men,

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

And like one from whom men hide their face

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

What is the comparison here?

Certainly there were times and places where Jesus would be liked and well recieved. Most of the time that was because of what He could do and what they could get out of Him. When he didn’t do what they wanted they would grow angry and frustrated. But so many people rejected Jesus. Certainly he was rejected as they screamed crucify Him. But it was His own people right? It was the Jewish elect that denied Him and still do today. There was a time where Jesus was in his Hometown and the people were wanting to do miracles and signs and they were questioning Him. He opened the scriptures and preached to them instead. The people were so angry and look at what Scripture says they tried to do.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

28 And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;

29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.

Next we see in 53:7

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 53

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He did not open His mouth;

What is the comparison here?

, , , , , and even

All say this truth in his death and trial that He said nothing. He had the greatest reply and defense, yet He did not use it. He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped and he was willing to take the cross for you and me. He could have changed all of the circumstances around him with the sound of one word, yet He did not. He was faithful to the path set before Him and was willing to say they will father not mine.

The last comparison we will look at will be in verse 5

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 53

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed.

What is the comparison here?

Yes, this was the cross. He was pierced for you and for me. The word here is also crushed. Jesus endured what none of us could ever imagine. We have no clue what that would be like. The authors in scripture paint a certain picture, Roman history also helps paint a picture, but even an eye witness would not understand exactly what Jesus went through on and to the cross.

Knowing these comparisons, was one of the most earth shattering verses I ever walked through. It strikes awe into me every time I read this verse.

So these are a few pictures of my family. Emma is a month old and Tripp is two years old.