The Sacrificial Servant

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Thus Saith the Lord ;

Isaiah 52:13–15 NIV

13 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness— 15 so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Prayer:

Thus saith the Lord

Isaiah 53 NIV

;

Isaiah 53 NIV

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:

Opening Thoughts

Who Came To Mind?

As I read the passages, you undoubtedly thought of Jesus the Christ (Christ which means Messiah) as the passage was being read. However, this message from Isaiah was given around the year 711 BC – and Jesus did not die till 30 AD. That means that God told the nation of Israel via the prophets that Jesus would come, suffer, die, and save His people 741 years before it happened!

v The word of God is powerful – accurate – and I pity the fool who questions the authority of scripture!

741 Years Ago

v I want you to put 741 years into prospective. After doing some quick math I found out that 741 years ago from today was Thursday, January 12th, 1278. I decided to put this into google and the first hit I had was for the “old brick yard golf course” in Texas.[1] Surprisingly, there were no events planned on that day.

v From my research not much happened in the year 1278.

v I found that 680 Jews arrested (293 hanged) in England for counterfeiting coins.[2]

v There was the Battle of Marchfeld: in which Rudolf of Habsburg defeated Ottokar II. There were over 80,000 men in that battle which is the largest number of knights ever recorded in a single battle.[3]

v The good news is that the year 1278 brought the end of the “War of the Cow” which began years earlier which a peasant stole a cow during a jousting tournament. Sadly, this event lead to the destruction of 60 villages and the death of 15,000 people.[4]

Only God Knows Such Things

v Most of us do not know much of the past, and none of us can predict our futures apart from the Word of God. The point I am making is that only God’s word could predict with such detail what the Messiah or Suffering Servant would endure and how He would be rewarded.

v God told the Prophet Isaiah

Time of Isaiah

v The Mind of God is unsearchable. Look at this graphic on the time of the life of Isaiah. It’s important to see some of the events that were going on during his ministry.

Time of Isaiah to Jesus

v Here is a graphic showing the time of Isaiah to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Why?

v Why would God want the Nation Israel and the world to know about this severing servant who would come? God knew every event that had, and would take place, yet He wanted His people to know about the coming Messiah!

v Pay close attention to this sacred text as the word of God is preached.

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?[5]

v The term “our” is referring to the prophet Isaiah's message from the Lord.

Ø He is saying sarcastically “who has believed our message?”

Ø The prophet does not believe the people will listen to His oracle from God.

v Rejected God’s Word & The Prophets

Ø God had sent many prophets such as Isaiah to share parts of God’s divine plan with Israel - sadly most of the prophets were rejected! Why, because they did not want to hear the words of God.

Ø Paul even wrote about the Jews disregard for the Word of God when he said, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone – [6]

v Arm of The Lord

Ø This term – the arm of the Lord is very interesting.

Ø This is a visual of the Lord rolling up His sleeves for work.

Ø This can be seen in which says, “The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

Ø So to whom has the arm or might of the Lord been releveled too? Isaiah is saying that this oracle is about to reveal the Lord’s power!

v Warren Wiersbe Writes

Ø “When God made the universe, He used His fingers (); and when He delivered Israel from Egypt, it was by His strong hand (). But to save lost sinners, He had to bare His mighty arm! Yet people still refuse to believe this great demonstration of God’s power (; ).[7]”

v Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Þ Woe to you who hear this message and reject the Word of God. You condemn the sinners of old for rejecting the prophets, yet you yourself reject the very word of God! You pick and choose what you will follow and what you will ignore

Þ You say with your mouth – I believe it – but your actions show that God’s word means very little to you. Woe to the person who rejects God’s word.

Þ 1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.

Þ 2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— [8]

Þ 3 they do no wrong but follow his ways.

Þ 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. [9] amen

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.[10]

v This shoot or offspring is described by Isaiah as the King from David’s line when he wrote:

Ø 1A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. -

v But notice that this shoot will also be. יוֹנֵק yô·nēq (yo-neck) which means to be tender.

Ø Jesus is the tender yet mighty Branch or shoot from the line of David.

Ø Jesus came to earth the first time as a sacrificial lamb – the second time He will come as the Lion of Judah, ready to put down His enemies.

v Dry Ground

Ø This Sacrificial Servant came out of dry ground. He was in a land that refused to be watered by the word of the Lord. The Jews were offered a river of life - God’s word - but rejected it and thus choked on their manmade rules and hidden sins.

Ø Jeremiah the prophet wrote

§ “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. [11]

Ø John recorded in how the sacrificial Servant Himself offered water to His people;

§ 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[12]

Þ Is your heart like the dry ground of Jesus’ day?

Þ Are you thirsty for the words of God?

Þ Do you hunger to read from His word?

Þ If not, you are dry and in danger of Hell’s fire. For if you do not hunger for God, your appetite is being fed with the poison of sinful indulgences.

Þ You deceive yourself, while filling up your time with the passing pleasures of sin and yet truly believe the lie that you are a follower of Christ.

Þ Blessed are the Hungry the Lord said, for they shall be filled!

Þ If you are not hungry or thirsty for the Lord - Repent and desire the One who will give you the Water of Life!

v He Did Not Attract Us

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him

Ø Jesus’ physical appearance was ordinary.

§ He did not walk or talk like royalty

§ He was not wealthy

§ He was normal – and the world does not like normal!

v Warren Wiersbe Writes

Ø They were ashamed of Him because He did not represent the things that were important to them, things like wealth (), social prestige (14:7–14; 15:1–2), reputation (18:9–14), being served by others (22:24–27), and pampering yourself (). He is rejected today for the same reasons.[13]

v Even today – in Christian media, Jesus is portrayed as a handsome man, with piercing brown eyes, flowing hair, and a charismatic smile. Yet the Word of God makes it clear that He had no beauty or majesty that attracted us to Him.

Þ What does Jesus look like to you?

Þ Is your idea of Him brought to you by Hollywood and the arts, or does it come from the Word of God?

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. [14]

v A note in the Faithlife Study Bible says

Ø “The phrase suggests quick dismissal, not a strong willful and emotional rejection. The Servant is considered worthless, not worthy of attention.”[15]

Þ Does Jesus get your attention throughout the week? Or do you quickly dismiss Him? Clearly many people in Jesus’ day could care less about Him.

v Michael Card tries to capture in His music the struggles this Sacrificial Servant faced. Michael Card wrote in his song, Lord You Walked, in Lonely Places,

Ø When they told you of the Baptist / Of what Herod’s men had done \

You fled into the wilderness / You fled to be alone.

And you grieved the world’s cruelty / You knew in flesh and bone

The heartache of “mistreated” / The sorrow of “alone”

Lord you walked in lonely places / Oh you felt our emptiness

Lord you walked in lonely places / To know the pain of man

In Gethsemane you struggled / Just to make it through the night

And you called on those who loved you / But weren’t ready for the fight

And you pleaded as they slumbered on / You knew in breath and blood

The heartache of “abandoned” And the suffering of “one”

Lord you walked in lonely places / Oh you felt our emptiness

Lord you walked in lonely places / To know the pain of man

And in my darkest hours I call upon your name, oh Lord

And you come into the solitude Of what I can not face alone[16]

We held him in low esteem

v Alec Motyer writes

Ø “They appraised what they saw and it added up to nothing”

v Walvoord writes

Ø “the nation did not esteem Him; they did not think He was important.”

v Emmanuel - God with us had come to earth - yet the earth rejected Him because He did not fit their image of God.

Surely, he took up our pain, and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.[17]

v Sacrificial Servant chose to bring comfort and healing to sick and demon possessed as we see in ;

Ø 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”[18]

v The sinful people who inflicted pain on the Servant thought that God was punishing the servant for some wickedness He had done.

v Those watching the Servant die considered Him punished by God - they were wrong - He was being punished for their sin!

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.[19]

v The Sacrificial Servant allowed His hands and feet to be ripped apart by the nails. The pain He must have felt!

v Thank God that He endure the pain!

v Many people take this out of context and teach that we are physically healed today because of Jesus’ wounds. The context here is Spiritual - because of Jesus’ wounds - our dead souls are healed

v This is what Peter had in mind when he wrote,

Ø 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” a but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. [20] -

v He also wrote;

Ø 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.[21] –

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him, the iniquity of us all.[22]

v We are the ones who have gone astray! Not God!

v We live in a cursed, perverted and corrupt world because each of us have turned to our own way!

v When you reject the Shepherd – you will follow your own way – and the footsteps of the lost lead to death.

v Thankfully, God laid the punishment we deserved on The Sacrificial Servant!

v The Sacrificial Servant would later say:

Ø 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.[23]-

v Praise God! We the sheep deserved the slaughter, but the Servant took it for our sakes.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [24]

v The Sacrificial Servant went to His execution like a lamb before the alter. He knew the word and will of God, so He submitted, even in the face of injustice.

v Matthew writes;

Ø 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. [25]-

v Peter added;

Ø 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.[26] –

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. [27]

v This is referring to the Servant’s trail. Because of the Jews (and the entire worlds) sin, the Servant was cut off from life – He was killed!

v The actual grammar behind the words “cut off” are literally “hacked off!”

v However, there would be no riots in the streets or protest. The Servant would die, and most people would careless. After all, according to verse 4 the people thought this Servant deserved this punishment!

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. [28]

v The servant, was to be buried with the two other criminals after He gave up His life. In other words He was assigned a grave with the wicked. However, to fulfill the word of the Lord, we read that a rich man named Joseph had the Servant buried in his tomb.

v So the Servant was assigned a grave with the wicked, but was laid in a rich man’s tomb.

v Once again, Isaiah is making it clear that the Servant would not be cut off from the land of the living for doing anything wrong. For no violence or deceit was in His mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. [29]

v This was God’s will or plan. God in His infinite wisdom knew that the Servant was the payment for all sin. Therefore, it was God’s plan and desire to crush the Servant as a payment for His lost sheep.

Ø God plan and mans freewill is a paradox found throughout Scripture as seen in this passage.

Ø Peter said in

§ 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

v Marshall writes;

Ø “Here we have the paradox of divine predestination and human freewill in its strongest form. Even in putting Jesus to death, the Jews were simply fulfilling what God had already determined must take place and indeed had foretold in the prophetic writings”

v Longenecker agrees by stating,

Ø “God’s purpose and foreknowledge stand as the necessary factors behind whatever happens; yet whatever happens occurs through the instrumentality of wicked men expressing their own human freedom. It is a paradox without ready solution.”

v Another amazing thought is that Jesus sacrifice was set in stone at the beginning of time.

Ø John writes;

§ All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

v Another interesting question from this passage is who is Jesus' offspring referring to?

Ø It is all of those who would place their faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews says;

§ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. -

v This also implies the resurrection because the Servant gives up His life - but then lives again to see His offspring – you and me.

After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.[30]

v The light of life is speaking of the Servant’s resurrection.

v The servant was satisfied that He carried out the will of God after all He said;

Ø 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”[31] –

v He was so satisfied that He could yell victoriously “It is finished!”

v Jesus died to bear the sin of the world.

Ø John wrote

§ 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.[32] –

Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. [33]

v The word great should be translated many - He will have a portion among the many - refers to the many who He has saved.

v The prophet gives a visual of the victorious Servant who has conquered and share His spoils with His people. We share in the Servant’s spiritual spoils because we have been given the gift of eternal life.

v Paul writes;

Ø For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.[34]-

v Thank God for the gift!

v Now the Servant intercedes for us!

Ø Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.[35] -

Ø 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. [36] -

Closing

v As we close this passage, I want you to turn to Acts chapter 8 verse 30.

v 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

v 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

v 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

v 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

v 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

v 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

v 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

v 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

v 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. [37]

Challenge

v So what should you do now with this theology you have learned?

Ø 1st realize the power of God’s word through prophecy.

§ We can hardly remember what happened in the year 1278, and we have no clue what will happen in the year 2760 – yet God does.

§ God’s word has been verified and it can be trusted!

§ So, are you relying on God’s word, are you thirsty for it, are you living it?

Ø 2nd Worship the Servant who saved you!

§ Jesus said, “if you love Me you will keep my commandments,” and “my commandments are not burdensome.”

§ True worship is lived out through obedience.

Ø 3rd Share the Gospel of the Servant with the lost sheep

§ Just like the eunuch, many are lost and do not understand all that Jesus has done for them.

§ My brothers and sisters preach the Gospel!

§ Share the Gospel!

· With your coworkers… your classmates… your family.

§ Live the Gospel.

§ If you do these things – you will be like the Servant – for after you draw your last breath – you will awaken in the light – and be satisfied!

[1] Events. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.oldbrickyardgolf.com/eventscalendar/1278/01/

[2] Historical Events in 1278. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1278

[3] Historical Events in 1278. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1278

[4] Guerre de la Vache (War of the Cow). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.eupedia.com/belgium/guerre_de_la_vache.shtml

[5] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[6] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 136). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[8] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[9] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[10] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[11] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[12] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[13] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 137). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[14] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[15] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[16] Card, M. (2012). On Mark: The Beginning Of The Gospel [CD].

[17] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[18] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[19] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[20] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[21] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[22] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[23] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[24] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[25] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[26] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[27] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[28] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[29] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[30] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[31] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[32] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[33] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[34] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[35] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[36] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[37] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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