UNDERSTAND 'Unheard of Grace', in the Empty Tomb
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Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
As we have been looking at the central heart of God’s message to us, passages like Ps 22, Ps 110, and this passage Isaiah 53 are the interpretive keys that open up the mystery of the gospel to us. I really hope you get the mystery of the Cross, that that unheard of mercy from God delivers forgiveness and release from sin, and tames death, and even as Jesus comes forth from death, gives you the leash. Like Philipp with that Ethiopian. Here is all the good news.
But actually getting the mystery, the aha, is how Isaiah said it would work - people wouldn’t be able to get this until Christ died and rose again. Until God exalted him and in that rising the Living God publically accepted Christ’s work for us, vindicated His plan and work. See people, not even the apostles, they couldn't’ conceive of so lowly a Messiah in the form of a servant - how could such a one as Jesus establish a everlasting kingdom and really change the world and bring a gold age of God on earth. Look at our text again. Isaiah 52:14-15
As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
At first the many wouldn’t see this - speaking of Jews who needed their kingdom truly restored, but soon many Jews did, many priests even - they really got how the Ruling Messiah and the Suffering Servant was alone how forgiveness and atonement could be worked for this world. We looked at that as MERCY.
But remember that mercy alone wasn’t the goal, these prophesies , the context was the messiah the servant of the Lord restoring and rebuilding Zion the New Jerusalem. Mercy is in some way us just not getting the punishment that we deserve. Wonderful first half of our salvation; but do you know what grace is? Grace is us getting what we don’t deserve. And if we can say that the Cross, Christ’s saving death is what we so need for mercy; it is his resurrection that we so need for grace and that new kingdom life. So, our task this morning is to understand the resulting fruit of Christ’s death, He rises with all of the healing grace - and we need to understand what his resurrection means.
Key Truth: In the Cross of Christ, you must ‘get’ unheard of mercy
Key Truth: In the Cross of Christ, you must ‘get’ unheard of mercy
the last half of Isaiah 53 proclaims the grace of Christ’s Resurrection that we not only need to understand but experience with Jesus.
We will begin with 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.
This is about what Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimetha, as well as those women who anointed Jesus did, as he was taken down from the Cross. He had just given His life - both in his human-nature all of that suffering, but his divine nature - as one complete person - he died for us. And so many were blinded from seeing the wonder of atonement. But then we read: Isaiah 53:9
His burial with the wicked, that too was part of him identifying with us and it was part of His healing us. Understand that in Him truly dying - he was suffering the consequences of sin for us. His body was separated from soul. He went to be with His Father and all those he had redeemed in heaven, in the-after-life, but his body was embalmed as our would be - and he is going to heal that. And so Isaiah also records - also with a rich man in his death.
And you need to understand that typically a crucifixion victim would not be given a decent burial. Sometimes granted to wealthier families. Death no longer a curse for us, see the care with which the gospel explain which tomb and with what clothes.
Why? because something so unheard of and unexpected, mind boggling as Christ's death being a Messiah atoning, this God-man is going to rise from the dead not just spiritually but bodily …and why but to do what the whole of Isaiah Servant of the Lord Prophesy said he would do - set up golden-age, bring atoned people into a kingdom - temple made of people…
So watch him now… his death was not just happenstance of what the opposition could do, it was God’s will for some greater plan. Look at it: Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; 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.
It is right and good that we feel that kind of crushing and grief on Friday. Kind of like last Sunday’s announcement of the affliction our brother John is in … we cry to think of it. There is a real sorrow for suffering of our Lord and even for his people but it leads somewhere in God’s will!
And you say wait a minute, I thought Jesus generation - even those disciples didn’t get it, they couldn’t see the mercy at the Cross, or grace at the tomb… arm of the Lord hadn’t revealed it yet. But this is s beautiful … it is after the guilt offering has been offered the results begin to flow. And in Mark’s gospel beautiful that it is first that Roman from the nations,the Centurion who gets it. But then beginning with Mary and the women, and the disciples on whom light dawns … Jesus sees his offspring.
What, Jesus has children? Who are they? Gal seed, Gen 15 . Believe he saw them in his mind eyes, on his heart while dying - John all you have given me, lose none, He thought of me above all… |
Oh who are they? They are those who will believe in Chris, they are God’s elect from every nation, they are those who by faith in His death will be quickened from the dead. First spiritually then one day even physically in the Great Resurrection of the BODY. This is what the prophesy says, that dying for us as Atonement, making peace by the blood of the Son’of God’s Cross, Jesus would procure a people for God.
Why resurrection Sunday not just a legal judicial affair. It is that - he rose for our justification. Right.. Romans 4:24-25
but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
But listen carefully, it is not just your status that changes when you get the miracle of the Cross and Christ resurrection and believe into Christ in that way. He rose so after the sacrifice is made: Isaiah 53:11b
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
“by his knowledge. - by knowing him seeing him as the Lamb, trusting Him as the Servant of the Lord bring resurrection power benefits,and healing - be accounted righteous… that’s not only justify i never sinned, but accepted relationally - love you the way you are … yes be changed but in my circle now.
The law, your morality, your religious performance can’t justify you, but Christ can, and rising up He comes back to life, He prolongs His days, so you can know not just the Jesus of history, as an idea in your head. But the glorified Living ONE..with resurrection life - who comes to his people , by Word and Spirit and dwells with us!
Do you get it Jesus said in John 17 I sanctify myself- so that they also may be holy - he is coming Crucified but now risen- so that can happen as we know and are one with him. Picture it the slain Lamb, his lungs fill with air again, with God’s bretahe, and bodily as his heart begins to beat again, Jesus - lets out a roar , He is the Lion of Judah ready to fnish His work! And here is the amazing thing: Jesus strides out of that tomb - and He doesn't rush to the throne in heaven, important reigning work to do that will enable us and give us gifts… Q. but what does he do first?
Do you feel it with Mary - Raboni - do feel it with the 10 in the upper-room - almost get he sense with those fidgety nervous confused disciple, that Jesus enjoyed those first reunion moments! Watch me eat I’m not not a ghost really me . Think of the Risen Jesus with those 2 on the Emmaus Road in Lk 24. So glum and down trodden, is that you this morning? Jesus makes it look like just going to trudge on like other humans in this world! But surprise I will come and eat with you… .... He pops back in, through locked doors, and how is he made known- breaking of the bread? Do you get it … and he breathes on his apostles - that resurrection breath of God. They are being restored to be the New Adam - the new humanity! Isn’t it wonderful- He wants to be with us and communicate the wonders of resurrection life..
Do you get this in Good Friday and Easter the heart of God’s message to us. It’s not about an angry God Judge, and Jesus somehow twists His arm to have to love us- so that abused on the Cross. No, why did God the Father plan this for us? Why did Son eagerly step forward in your place and mine? Why did the Son patiently endure it all for you and my? Why does the Spirit jealously yearn and draw us to see this Son sacrificed for us but now lifted up? Its because of love from the very beginning. You have feel that like Isaiah 54:4-8.
You do have to feel this - God doesn’t love you because Christ died for you. He doesn’t love you because of how hard you tried, repented or kept his law, He sent Christ to you, and He made Him known because He loved you!!! Feel it as God Himself explains the Messiah’s work in the next chapter Isaiah 54:7-8
For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.
Do you believe that miracle that God made Jesus’ life a sin-offering for you, He offered His Son to take the chastisement of your sin with all its shame, guilt, punishment, sickness, and death; But having taken that chastisement into Himself, having paid the penalty, having entered death and all the hell wrapped up with it, he grabbed it by the throat - and emerges on the other side Triumphant for you and me over sin and death and hell. See Him striding out of the tomb to you and me. Yes, he prolonged Jesus days. Yes, He is the Living One, who live forever for and with us. Look at Isaiah 53:11a again
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Off of the altar of the Cross in which we became the final sacrifice, out of the grave in which He defeats the Last Enemy Death, Jesus comes forth. Jesus sees LIGHT. New life Resurrection , and he goes to those who are not only forgive, but now He will share that light - and He is satisfied! Now the Living One shares His resurrection life, - now the will of the Lord, now the kingdom will prosper.
And that bring us to the most powerful picture at the end of our text: Isaiah 53:12a
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.
You know what that is a picture of - warrior king , Jesus defeated by suffering love and thwarted Satan’s plans for your life and mine - to get us living a part from God and heading for destruction- hell just like Satan is careening away from goodness into utter despair and destruction. But Jesus Cross defeats not just Satan and his plans, but even the demonic realm, that oppresses you and our Iand, and this world still. Col 2:14
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Col 2:15
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
And God doesn’t just say, OK good job Son,now enjoy glory had with me before. But something new in the experience of the Son. Jesus as the God-Man, as divine but also now human king and head of the human race, His church. The Father now says: I am going to exalt you,-give you the Holy Spirit in a new way - come up and start to rule in a new way - and here are incredible gifts:. This is what it means that Jesus rises and then divides the spoil with his people!
Psalm 68:18
You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
Do you get it from Good Friday, the many are you and I rebels who now get the mystery of the Cross and Empty Tomb, who actually turn to Christ, and trust Him and know Him. And Christ says come on up here with me - you are like the Obama’s perosnal aid,the friend of the king. Portion - …gifts of the Spirit…
Look this evening from Ephesians 2 how gifts of Resurrection life come to us now,
But look a the last grace in Isaiah 53:12b
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.
Notice past tense of Good Friday's completed work and that work of Jesus is over. But look at the ongoing present tense for his vital ongoing work - that you and I are to share in - intercession from heaven - for us who trust and live by and with in Him already! For those still lost but who will be saved… . He has swallowed up death,and He now lives forever to intercede - to pray to mediated, to rule all things for this salvation and new life and kingdom to come!
I hope you see how vital the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are in God’s dealing with us. It is atonement and mercy, but it is also resurrection - new identity, new life, new kingdom, new world!
This evening we will look at how in just the same way you who believe are said to have participated in Christ’s death - in union with Christ there sin paid for sinful nature as ruling overload of your soul overthrown and crucified; so too you who believe are participate now already in Christ’s resurrection. It is those benefits to living Risen with Christ, we will look at tonight!