Lent 99 1 - The Via Dolorosa: A Man of Sorrows

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)

I.   Jesus is a man of Sorrows (vv.1-4)

     A.  Hard to believe (v.1-2)

           1.  It is not easy to believe Jesus is who he is

                 a.  Who has believed our message!

                 b.  During Jesus time, folks had a hard time believing him.

                 c.  What God does for us in Jesus is hard for us to accept.

           2.  He is not what we expect

                 a.  We’d rather have him come in with guns blazing and trumpets blaring.

                 b.  A tender shoot — we wanted a solid oak, we got a seedling!?

           3.  He is not particularly attractive

                 a.  He looks too normal, too average

                 b.  John the Baptist didn’t recognize him (see John 1:33)

     B.  Despised and Rejected (v.3a)

           1.  In fact, Jesus was despised for who he was

                 a.  He claimed to be the Son of God

                 b.  The Pharisees said he was demon possessed, the soldiers spit in his face, the crowds preferred a murderer.

           2.  He was rejected for who he was

                 a.  The religious leaders wanted him dead.

                 b.  His friends deserted him at his hour of greatest need.

                 c.  We still say “On the night he was betrayed . . .”

           3.  He is still despised and rejected.

                 a.  Folks use his name as a dirty word.

                 b.  We also despise him when we make him into who he wasn’t

                 c.  We reject him, by going our own way

     C.  Familiar with Suffering (vv.3b-4)

           1.  Jesus is a man of sorrows.

                 a.  One of His titles: Man of Sorrows

                 b.  He knew grief and desolation

                 c.  A verse as small as a tear: Jesus wept

           2.  He really knows suffering

                 a.  Not just knows about—he’s been there

                 b.  Physical, emotional and psychological abuse.

           3.  He is one of us.

                 a.  We know suffering too.

                 b.  Lift your head and your hand to the one who’s been there too.

II.  Jesus is the Lamb (vv.5-9)

     A.  The Lamb of Sacrifice (v.5)

           1.  Our guilt caused his hurt

                 a.  It is for our offenses that he suffered.

                 b.  We are His abusers.

           2.  His sacrifice makes our salvation possible

                 a.  The punishment that brought us peace

                 b.  He takes our abuse upon himself and the punishment for it to redeem us.

                 c.  Who has believed our message. . .

     B.  The lamb who Carries our burdens (v.6)

           1.  We wander off into danger.

                 a.  We’re lost sheep, not smart enough to know which way to go.

                 b.  We have wandered off the narrow path

           2.  We choose to follow our puny agendas

                 a.  We are short-sited and foolish.

                 b.  We settle for moments, while God offers forever.

           3.  The Father lays on the Son the heavy burden of our defiance.

                 a.  We defy God’s way with reckless disregard for the consequences.

                 b.  God lays the consequences on Jesus.

     C.  The Silent lamb (vv.7-9)

           1.  He does not protest the punishment he bears.

                 a.  He doesn’t resist it at all.

                 b.  Jesus: I lay down my life for the sheep

           2.  He does not protest the unfairness of bearing our burden.

                 a.  It is not fair.

                 b.  It is His choice.

                 c.  He is silent, like a lamb at the slaughter

           3.  He was slaughtered though he was innocent

                 a.  He was innocent, and it didn’t matter to those who killed him!

                 b.  He didn’t pay for his own sins but ours

III. He is our Guilt offering (vv. 10-12)

     A.  The Lord Crushes him (v.10)

           1.  Sometimes we feel like God has it in for us.

                 a.  We ask How could God let this happen?

                 b.  As if we believe we should be exempt from what is common to us all.

           2.  The Father crushes the Son — for us!

                 a.  Here, the Father does deliberately crush his son.

                 b.  He does it for reconciliation with us

           3.  The Father made Him our sacrificial lamb

                 a.  Our sin was put on him and driven away.

                 b.  As the Angle of death passed over when he saw blood on the doorpost.

                 c.  Eternal death passes when the blood of Jesus is on the doorposts of our heart.

     B.  Yet he will Live! (v.11)

           1.  Though he dies, yet shall he live!

                 a.  Who has believed our message?

                 b.  This is unexpected too!

           2.  By knowing suffering, others will live!

                 a.  Not only does he live, he makes life possible for us!

                 b.  We don’t have to know that suffering, we only have to know Him!

                 c.  Do you know him? Find him today!

     C.  He Intercedes for us. (v.12)

           1.  “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

           2.  He still intercedes for us.

                 a.  Read 1 John 2:1-2

                 b.  For those who receive him and believe on him he gives the right to be God’s children!

The Bottom Line:

Hymn #127 Hallelujah, What a Savior! vv 1,2,4