Behold The Suffering Servant

As we come to Isaiah 53, we have reached a pinnacle point in the book. If you remember, as I’m sure the other men who have been preaching through this book have pointed out, Isaiah is really divided into two portions.

The first 39 chapters of Isaiah can really be summed up as a book of judgment. There the great theme is the wrath of God that was to be poured out on unbelieving and unfaithful Zion.

The second portion of Isaiah, chapters 40-66, take a much different turn. They could be summarized as the book of comfort, salvation, and redemption. Isaiah is, by inspiration, looking at a time beyond the judgment and exile when Babylon would be defeated, Israel would be released, and return to the holy city Jerusalem to reinstate the worship of God.

Chapters 40-52 have been building up these themes of comfort, salvation, and redemption. From Isaiah 40, that great passage that reveals the Lord’s comfort for his people, and that those who wait for the Lord will be lifted up as on Eagles wings. Isaiah 41, where the Lords presence was reminded and promised to His people. Isaiah 42, where the Servant, who we have discovered can be none other than Christ, was revealed as one who would preach righteousness and establish justice. Isaiah 45, where it was predicted that Cyrus would lead the defeat of Babylon and allow the return of Israel to Zion.

These themes of comfort, the Lord’s presence, this great Servant, and the redeeming of the people, have been repeated again and again in previous 13 chapters of Isaiah. The next 13 chapters, in a large way, really move beyond the themes of redemption and salvation, and look at future hope and glory for God’s people. But here in the middle of this section, 13 chapters before and 13 chapters after, we come to what can be considered the culmination, the pinnacle, and perhaps the most recognizably glorious portion of Isaiah’s prophecy.

Isaiah has been said to be the 5th gospel because of how clearly it foretells and describes the work of Christ. Isaiah 53 is the richest portion of that. In Isaiah 53 we have arguably the clearest explanation of the meaning of Christ’s death in the entire Bible, written 700 years before it would occur. It is richer than any other text in concentration concerning its explanation of the cross. Some have said that if you lost your copy of the New Testament, and all you have was a basic understanding that Jesus Christ came and died, that Isaiah 53 would give a clear and adequate explanation of the Gospel of Christ concerning His death, burial, resurrection, and glorification.

And all those themes are there. In Isaiah 53 we find portraits of Christ’s Deity, his humanity, his rejection and humiliation, his substitutionary death, his burial, his resurrection, his ascension and exaltation, and his intercession for the saints.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, for all of scripture is precious and eternally profitable. Yet I cannot think of another passage of scripture in which the richness and glories of the Gospel of Christ are so concentrated and blatantly explained. This passage outdoes even the messianic psalms such as Psalm 22 in its clarity.

Yet, as we examine this scripture, we must remember it was written to a people who, even when their descendants would see this prophecy unfold 700 years later, would not believe. Many would, but still so many would not. As we read Isaiah 53, the picture we have is of God laying out this beautiful portrait of the suffering servant, but he does so to explain this. All this beautiful imagery, all of this wonderful language of justification, salvation, redemption, suffering, exaltation, glorification, all of this prophetic imagery will be missed by so, so many. And this is what they will miss.

And that is true. For the descendants of Israel still, by and large, reject the concept that this passage is speaking of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They put in his place Israel as a nation, or perhaps Isaiah himself, or, perhaps they believe this is indeed speaking of the Messiah, but it cannot be Jesus of Nazareth, they say.

Interestingly, even in this prophecy of Christ’s death is the clear prophecy of their rejection of Him. So as we look at this passage, we really see this image of the Cross from the perspective of someone who has rejected and neglected Christ, the Messiah. We see it from the perspective of one who has denied that this Suffering servant has come, and has fulfilled these words. Yet, their rejection and denial is overcome by realization and recognition that, yes, this is the Christ, he has come, it is true.

We are going to ignore the chapter division and start in 52:13, for that is where the section on the Suffering Servant really begins. I need to tell you that this passage could easily be split up over 4-5 weeks of sermons. There is so much here. I want to look at it in one sermon, and we cannot possibly uncover every beautiful truth. But I want to look at the passage as it is written in 5 poetic stanzas.

we will see 13-15 as the Proposition,

1-3 as the onlookers presuppositions

4-6 as the their realization

7-9 as the transaction

10-12 as the culmination.

And although the images of salvation and deliverance in Isaiah are largely fulfilled in the release of Israel from Babylon, we see here that their themes have a much grander and deeper scope of importance for believers in all ages.

Before we dig in, I would like to give one illustration.

In acts 8, we have the account of Phillip the evangelist and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Phillip finds the man reading a passage of scripture, specifically Isaiah 53:7-8. Phillip asks the man, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man says, How can I unless someone explains it to me? He asks, “in this passage, is the prophet referring to Himself, or someone else?”

And Phillip says, no, this passage is only relevant to those Israelites who were brought back from Babylon around 540 BC and has no meaning for you or I today. No, that’s not what he says. Phillip took Isaiah 53, and beginning with that very passage he told the man the good news about Jesus.

Every hint of deliverance and salvation in Isaiah is fully realized in the substitutionary work of the suffering servant, Jesus Christ.

1. Proposition - 52:13-15

Verses 13-15 are the first Stanza in this poetic prophecy of the suffering servant. Isaiah really lays out the main thrust of the passage in miniature here. Its like the introduction to the Christ-sermon. Even in these introductory verses, we see this concept that this news has both elements of glory and also shame. It is glorious in its grand nature, but there is shame involved for those who hear it yet reject. It is glorious in its effect, yet there are shameful implications for the suffering servant himself. It is glorious in the ultimate exultation of the Servant, but shame for those who must shut their mouths in astonishment.

13 - The servant is predicted to act wisely. You may have it translated as “prosper.” Both are different aspects of the words, and in essence it means that the Servant will act wisely and see the success of his actions. He will know just what to do in the situation to bring about a good result.

He will be high, lifted up, and exalted. Interestingly, the last time in Isaiah that a combination of these words was used was in Isaiah 6, to describe the Lord who was high, and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Is this a coincidence? We cannot say for certain, but we can ask this question.

Who in all of scripture has ever had the ability to act with such wisdom, to deal so prudently and prosperously that even after unimaginable shame, the action resulted in unparalleled exaltation?

14 - this verse gives us a glimpse of the humiliation and suffering of the servant, and also is the first part of a comparison.

Just as the great astonishment, the great degradation, the great humiliating of this Servant, so will be the glorious outcome.

Sprinkle many nations

There is debate over the correct use of this word translated sprinkle. Some would take a less forceful meaning, and translate it as “startle.” The word in its basic sense means to spring forth on something. It is used in the context of the priests sprinkling blood upon the altar, it is used in the context of sprinkling water on lepers for purification. Its common use is a priestly use. I tend to think that’s the implication here.

Kings will shut their mouths

Whether it is sprinkle or startle, the effects of the work of the Servant will be great. Those who didn’t see before will see. Those who didn’t hear before, who rejected before, would understand.

And here you get this concept that the good news is only good for you if you see it, understand it, lay hold of it, treasure it. Good news that is ignored is no good news at all.

Thus Isaiah introduces the idea of the Suffering Servant. We move from his introduction, to the Presuppositions and assumptions that the onlookers have toward Him.

2. Presupposition - 1-3

Here the hearing and seeing of verse 15 is brought to bear in a rhetorical question? Who would believe this report? Who has realized that this is the arm of the Lord, the power of God at work? The implication in the rhetoric here is that very few would believe. Very few would see it as the work of God that it actually was.

Israel as a whole seems to be speaking here. The reason the rhetorical question is asked in this way is that they themselves are in shame at their unbelief. They themselves missed the fact that this was God’s hand at work, this Suffering Servant was the messiah.

Vs. 2 - He, the Servant, grew up before the Lord like a young plant - a root out of dry ground. The idea behind these images is that of a sucker branch. Remember, this retelling is from the perspective of those who were in unbelief. Those of you who garden know what a sucker branch is. On a tree, its a small shoot that grows out where a tree has been damaged or pruned. If left alone, it will do great harm to the tree’s health. On a tomato plant, suckers are those extra little sprouts where the plant forks into two arms. They don’t grow any fruit, they just take up moisture and sunlight and are harmful for the production of the plant.

this was how unbelieving Israel would view their messiah. He would be an annoyance. Something that was unwanted. Something that was of no good, of no significance, of no beauty.

Vs. 3, the image gets darker.

Not only did they view him as nothing special, but he became repulsive in their imagination. Despised, Rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Men hid their faces from him. This is not just in his crucifixion, this is in his whole existence. He was one who unbelieving Israel was embarrassed to look at. To the point of not even esteeming him.

Esteemed him not. What does that actually mean? They just didn’t pay attention to him? Well in one sense, yes. They didn’t pay attention to him - they didn’t hold him in high regard. But in another sense, the idea is that they didn’t even consider him as a factor. They considered him essentially as non-existent.

This is an indictment upon unbelieving Israel, but also upon all unbelief in the Messiah. It is not simply that most have a false view of Christ, it is that most reject him altogether insomuch as he may as well not exist.

This is the mental viewpoint of those who rejected, and still reject, Christ as Messiah. They saw an unattractive person, one who didn’t do things their way, who didn’t line up with their presuppositions, who didn’t fit their ideals. They added up what they saw, and it added up to nothing in their view.

But this is not the case for everyone. Although everyone rejects the Messiah by human nature, some come to a deep realization of their error.

3. Realization - 4-6

The realization comes suddenly, and is stark. The word “surely” is a word of exclamation, to mark a change in emphasis. The viewpoint of the unbelieving, rejecting onlooker has now been drastically and altogether shifted to God’s perspective. A change in attitude from defiant and stiffnecked, to mournful and penitent. From earthly and temporal, to heavenly and eternal.

Vs.4 - What is the realization? The realization is that the Suffering Servant’s plight is not his own, but is rather ours. The grief and sorrows are not his, but rather have been taken by Him. The realization turns from the onlooker, formerly having seen the suffering and agony and grief of this man as a result of his own sin - of his own issues. To put it another way, at first the belief was that God was punishing Jesus for his own sin, but the realization is that the punishment poured out was because of their sin.

We esteemed him stricken by God

But he was pierced for our transgressions

he was crushed for our iniquities.

Here in verse 5 we have the vivid language of both the kind of suffering the messiah would undergo, and also the kind of evil he was taking on.

pierced and crushed/bruised. This obviously foretells the piercing of our Lord both by the nails on the cross, the crown of thorns, and the spear in his side. And this element of being crushed or bruised gives the idea of being crushed under the weight of a burden.

What was that burden?

Vs 16 - the iniquity of us all.

transgressions

Breaking of the law, sins of direct disobedience

iniquity

perversions, twisting, wrangling with the truth to fit our own agenda.

And we have Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law, never bending it or twisting it, but gloriously keeping it. Yet now he is under the burden of the sin and perversions of those who actually deserve that burden.

All we like sheep - gone astray. Turning to our own way.

When you remove God from the picture, everyone doing what seems best in their own eyes can actually appear as admirable, or as our duty. A responsibility, to make our own decisions and forge our own life.

In reality, everyone doing what is right in their own eyes is nothing short of rebellion.

Expiation/Atonement

Making amends or reparation for wrongdoing. The satisfaction of God’s Holy Wrath. In the New Testament, the word is propitiation - Jesus was the propitiation, satisfaction for our sins. not for his, for ours.

4. Transaction - 7-9

There is a contrast here. In verse 6, those in rebellion and unbelief are compared to sheep who have gone their own way. It is in their nature to wander and find a path. But here, the Servant is contrasted with the wandering sheep as a Lamb.

I have some limited experience with sheep. As a young man I worked on a farm that had both goats and sheep. Goats are one thing, but there is something interesting about sheep. Once they know you, and know your voice, they tend to trust you and come to you. They trust you because they get food from you. They trust you because you shear them and clean them and their heavy wool. They trust you because you lead them to shelter from the cold and rain.

So Christ, who trusted perfectly the leading of the Father, went as a lamb that was following his shepherd. He went to the slaughter as if he was going to the feed trough, because He knew whatever the shepherd was doing was good for him.

This was a voluntary death. As we saw a couple weeks ago when we looked at Christ in the garden, praying to the Father about the cup of his wrath that he was to consume. He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Vs. 9 - His grave. What an amazing feat that even the burial place of this messiah was accurately prophesied. A rich man’s grave? What about Joseph of Arimathea? The garden tomb. Was that just any grave? No, it was indeed a rich mans grave.

Most criminals, especially those crucified, were not given a grave at all. In stead, they were allowed to hang for some time as an example, and then they were thrown into the valley of Hinnom - a burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. They were not given a grave at all, but disposed of. Yet this man, although he died the death of the wicked. Was buried in a rich man’s tomb. This is not just any death.

His innocence here is also reaffirmed. He had done no violence, he had no deceit. He had no wickedness of his own.

5. Culmination - 10-12

The final stanza of this Christ-Song in Isaiah, gives us the final and full picture. Why did this man have to suffer so? Why did he undergo this great travail unto death? Why did he willingly give up his life?

It was the will of the Lord to crush Him.

This begs the question. Who is responsible for the death of Christ?

The Romans put him to death by their means of execution. They devised the method of crucifixion and torment for the punishment of evil. So it must be on their hands? In a sense, but not fully.

The Jews accused him and had him tried of blasphemy, of claiming equality with God. They turned him over and desired his crucifixion. So it must be on their hands? Well surely, in a sense, but not fully.

What about you and I? Those whose sin Christ paid for on that cross? What about our guilt and shame that he bore, what about our punishment that he expiated? Surely, it must be on our hands! And yet again I say, yes, it is our guilt. But we are not ultimately the reason.

The Lord was pleased in the death of the son because He is the master architect of the suffering servant’s accomplishments. For the suffering of the servant was not simply a way to pay for guilt of people who rebelled against God, but in it is a way of greater glory. For in the payment for sins, a way of redemption is made. In redemption, it is a coming back to God. In this coming back to God of the redeemed, there is a body of believers that is assembled. In this assembly, this church if you will, is a glorious bride for Christ adorned in the righteousness that he purchased for them on the cross.

So while yes, the death of Christ was for our sin, and while the Jews gave him up to be executed, and while the Romans did the very work of crucifixion, the suffering was the plan and desire of God Himself for greater glory.

When his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days. The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

How can a dead man see his offspring? How can a dead man see the results of his death? How can anything prosper in the hands of a dead man? One who was so clearly cut off from the land of the living?

Resurrection - the suffering servants story did not end at his death. His death had infinite purpose, but beyond the cross was a tomb only to be occupied for a few days. And the resurrected Christ victoriously defeated sin on the cross, and defeated death for his saints as he rose triumphantly.

The prospering of the will of the Lord is the many that are made righteous by the substitutionary atonement that Christ accomplished.

many

Many would be made righteous

Many would be heirs with him of the spoils of victory.

He bore the sin of many, yet the many are referred to as the strong. Those made strong, not by their own efforts, but in the Gospel of The Suffering Servant. Those made whole, not by mere physical healing, but by the expiation of their sin - the satisfaction of God’s wrath on their account.

Matthew 16:21 ESV

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Matthew 27:54 ESV

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:6 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Beloved, this is the ultimate picture of salvation, of redemption, of deliverance. The application of this message is simply this - Behold the suffering servant! If you are his child, if you have trusted Him, Behold him and worship Him in his glory! Look on in amazement and wonder at the master plan of God’s redemption that has unfolded for our salvation.

If you do not trust Him today, I urge you. Behold the suffering servant! Consider if anything so strange and glorious could be just the human imagination. Consider the God of the universe as he declares the Gospel of Christ before your ears, and as he draws you, come to Him in faith believing the message of the Cross.