God’s Suffering Servant

Intro

Our middle son, Declan, just had a birthday on Tuesday.

He turned 5 years old.

When Corrie and I finally chose the name Declan to be his first name we still had arguments about what his middle name would be.

I knew what I wanted his middle name to be and she didn’t like it.

So as a place holder, during the pregnancy, I called him Declan “The Destroyer.”

It was a funny name that I thought fit him.

Unfortunately, it fits him all to well.

It’s almost as if at the giving of that nickname he took on the charateristics of “The Destroyer”.

Usually, if something in the house breaks, it’s because of Declan.

Now this is silly, but I like to think that my deeming him Declan “The Destroyer” prophesied his personality.

And at times, I wished I would have called him Declan “The Mild.” or Declan “The Obedient.” or Declan “The Perfect.”

Now as much as I would like to think that I had the power to dictate my children’s personality, I do know that that isn’t how things work.

God is the author of life.

He is the creator and through his providence, he bestowed us with Declan the Destroyer.

What does this have to do with this morning’s message?

Well even though I don’t have the power or insight to prophesy something that is going to happen, God does.

In fact, In the text that we are going to look at this morning, God used Isaiah to prophesy Jesus’ coming, his life, death, and resurrection.

And this prophecy wasn’t written just a few years before Jesus’ coming.

Or during Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus.

No, this prophecy is recorded some 700 years before Jesus’ coming.

God outlined what his Servant would look like.

How he would behave.

What his people should expect.

How he would be exalted.

and How much he would suffer.

One of the most pressing questions we need to ask is how can sinful man be reconciled, or brought into a relationship with, a holy God.

And the answer is found in Jesus, God’s Suffering Servant.

Isaiah 52:13–15 CSB

13 See, my servant will be successful; he will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were appalled at you— his appearance was so disfigured that he did not look like a man, and his form did not resemble a human being— 15 so he will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of him, for they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard.

God’s Servant Predicted

Isaiah has 4 Servant Songs predicting the coming of God’s Servant.

This is the last of them in the text.

Here God is predicting his servant coming.

Not only that, he is declaring that this servant is going to be successful.

We can all hope and dream about doing great things.

We can aspire to being successful.

We can pray that things are going to get better.

Only God can declare, promise, and demand that things are going to be one way or another.

And here his servant is going to be successful.

Up to this point we don’t know what that will look like.

We don’t know how success is going to be obtained.

But we do know that it is going to happen.

God’s servant is going to be successful, because he is serving God.

He loves and obeys God.

And because of that love and obedience, God is going to exalt him.

In the end, regardless of what happens, this Servant is going to be lifted high.

He is going to be made much of.

He is going to be upheld and exalted by God’s own hand.

It doesn’t mean that his life is going to be easy.

It doesn’t mean that following God is going to be painless.

In fact, spoiler alert, in the next sections we are going to see that this Servant’s Exaltation comes through his humiliation.

Part of that humiliation is going to come through some sort of disfigurement.

He is going to be so disfigured that he is appalling to look at.

He disfigurement caused him to not even look human.

At times in my life, I have watched some boxing and MMA (mixed martial arts) fights.

I remember watching the end of some of those fights and trying remember who fought who.

Their eyes are swollen, their noses are bleeding, broken teeth, they are unrecognizable.

I imagine this when I read about the Servant of God being disfigured and not resembling a human being.

He is beaten, bloodied, and bruised.

Horrendous, hideous, and horrifying.

Despite being appalling to the people, this servant is going to do something amazing.

He is going to sprinkle the nations.

We aren’t told what he is going to sprinkle on the nations.

But we can infer from the word “sprinkle” and the context that this is referring to the blood sacrifice done in the tabernacle and the temple.

And what was happening when the priests were sprinkling blood in the tabernacle and temple.

They were making atonement for the sins of the people.

They were making an offering to God.

Now this was limited to the Israelites and the converts to Jewish Beliefs.

But here we see that this sprinkling is going to be extended to the many nations..

People from all tribes, all tongues, and all nations will be cleansed by the power of the blood.

So this sprinkling is sacrificial and cleansing imagery that is being used.

And the Servant’s willingness to obey even in the circumstances of pain and disfigurement cause even those in a position of power and rule to stand in awe.

To stand and not say anything.

Isa 52:15 “... Kings will shut their mouths because of him, for they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard.”

This is true in the Life of Jesus.

Pilate refused to act to save Jesus’ life.

He even washed his hands of the Incident.

Likewise, Herod found no guilt in Jesus either.

But instead of fighting for Jesus they stood silent and witnessed his crucifixion.

They stood confronted by the King of the universe and shut their mouths at the injustices done on him.

Despite the fact that God said his servant was going to be lifted up and greatly exalted, this was going to have to be done through suffering.

Through the pain of Rejection.

Rejection of the very people he came to save.

Isaiah 53:1–3 CSB

1 Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

Rejection of the Servant

This section begins with two questions

Isa 53:1 “1 Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

The people speaking here are those that have believed in the Promised Servant.

And so far the Servant didn’t meet any of their expectations.

So b/c he hasn’t met any of their expectations it’s hard to believe that this guy is the guy they were waiting for.

So as these Believing Israelites are trying to convince and help their brothers and sisters understand they are met with rejections b/c of unbelief.

But the reality of Jesus is hard for many to accept.

The way is narrow and the path is straight.

To follow Jesus means to lay aside your fleshly desires and take up the yoke of Jesus.

It means to offer your body, mind, and soul as a living sacrifice.

Daily giving God all that you are, desire, and want to be.

It means loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

It means giving of ourselves, our time, our talents, and our finances.

But we willingly do that b/c he extends to us salvation.

Forgiveness, mercy, and love.

Let’s not overlook the phrase “the arm of the Lord”

This should remind us of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

The arm of the Lord represents his power to save.

His power to deliver.

His power to overcome and crush his enemies.

With his power, majesty, and might he rules the earth and delivers his people from bondage.

Saves them from sin.

And overcomes death.

We can’t forget that our God fights for us.

That he is a warrior.

That he establishes justice and will crush the heads of his enemies.

We don’t have to fight or overcome b/c he’s already done that.

And we are invited to be a part of his kingdom.

We are invited to be a part of his family.

We are invited to be sons and daughters of the victorious overcoming King.

Now b/c God is warrior and king, there was an expectation that the Messiah’s coming was going to look a certain way.

The Israelites assumed that the Messiah was coming to fight off their oppressors.

That he was going to set them free and establish them as a new nation.

They understood that the Messiah was going to look a certain way.

He was going to remind them of the kings of the past.

Remember when Israel wanted to have a king for themselves in 1 Sam 9.

One of the reasons that they chose Saul to be their king was because he looked like a king.

He was impressive. He was Majestic.

He was attractive. He stood a head taller than all the other men.

He looked like a King.

But he was a bad King.

Just because he looked like he fit the role doesn’t mean that he actually fit the role.

God is more concerned with Character than he is with physical appearance.

In fact, when it comes to Israel’s second King, David, we read this in

1 Sam 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.””

Regardless, they wanted a savior that looked like and acted like an earthly king.

But the reality is that the Messiah, Jesus, didn’t come to establish a worldly kingdom.

Jn 18:36 “36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.””

Jesus Didn’t come to set people free from worldly oppression.

Didn’t come to release captives from physical bondage.

Jesus came to set us free from the bondage and oppression of Sin.

That’s why he was despised and rejected by the people he came to save.

He wasn’t what they wanted.

He didn’t give them what they wanted.

But he came to give them what they needed.

However, they didn’t want what he offered them.

So to this day there are still those that reject Jesus as savior.

There are still those that are longing and waiting for the Messiah to come and save them.

I think back to the story in Jn 6 about Jesus feeding the 5,000.

They loved Jesus as he was feeding them bread and fish.

They wanted to follow Jesus as he was giving them what they wanted.

But when he started to teach them the truth.

When he started to give them what they needed rather than what they wanted, they left him.

They didn’t want to serve him.

How true is that of many “Christians” today?

They don’t want to serve Jesus, they just want to be served by him.

Jesus was misunderstood by the world.

He was misunderstood by those he came to serve.

Jesus doesn’t give us what we want, before he gives us what we need.

We have to value him for who he is.

We have to acknowledge him for what he’s done.

We have to submit to him b/c he is the Sovereign King.

But b/c of he was misunderstood.

Because he didn’t meet the people’s expectation, he had to endure suffering.

And not just suffering on his own but suffering on our behalf.

Isaiah 53:4–6 CSB

4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.

The Great Exchange

These are some of the most famous verses when it comes to this Song.

I want you to take a moment and really listen to these words

Isa 53:4-6 “4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.”

I want the weight of that scripture to press on you.

I want it to seep into your bones.

I want it to penetrate your mind.

Jesus offered up his life because of:

Your rebellion.

Your disobedience.

Your sin.

Your iniquities.

Your punishment.

Your wandering.

And here’s the thing.

God didn’t have to provide a way for us to be saved.

He didn’t have to offer a substitute.

He didn’t have to do anything.

He could have snuffed out life.

He could have collapsed existence.

but his love and care for his creations drove him to provide us with a way out of this predicament.

We can read about, talk about, and think about Jesus’ death.

But I think that we can belittle it sometimes.

We can think in our minds or our hearts that it wasn’t so bad b/c he rose again 3 days later.

But can you for just one minute imagine the immense pain and suffering he had to endure.

not because of his own guilt.

not because of his own shame.

not because of his own rebellion.

But because of yours.

Because of mine.

As much as we like to downplay it.

Our sin costs something.

Rm 3:23 “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;”

Rm 6.23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And though these are true there is also forgiveness given through Jesus’ Sacrifice.

Jn 10:11 “11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Mk 10:45 “45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

1 Jn 2.2 “2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”

So we can either believe in his atoning sacrifice.

We can trust that he took our sin and shame.

Or we can pay the wage through.

We can take the condemnation upon ourselves and spend eternity separated from God.

Jesus willingly went to the cross to take on the sin of the world

He gave himself for those that would believe.

And by believing in him we find peace.

The wounds that separate us from God are healed.

The peace that we receive through Jesus’ suffering is unlike any peace that we can imagine.

This word in Hebrew has the meaning and understanding of wholeness.

Complete.

Our trust and obedience to Jesus b/c of his sacrifice make us whole.

It restores us into a right relationship with God.

It brings us back to where we were meant to be.

Jn 14:27 “27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”

The Peace that comes from Jesus is everlasting.

It is all sustaining.

It covers us as being at Peace with a Holy God that we have rebelled against.

That we have fought against.

That we have stood in opposition against.

And this peace declares that the wrath of God was placed on Jesus.

Again b/c there are consequences for disobedience, rebellion, and sin.

We have all gone astray like sheep leaving the flock.

Sheep without a shepherd.

But Jesus is calling us back.

And he is able to call us back b/c he has taken on God’s Wrath.

He want to give you his righteousness.

2 Cor 5:21 “21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

This is called the doctrine of imputed righteousness.

Meaning that when you trust Jesus he places on you his right standing with God.

You didn’t earn, You don’t deserve, but he gives it anyway.

Think of it this way.

Now this is an analogy so lets not take it too far, but I want us to understand imputation.

Let’s imagine that we are all viewed by God by the types of clothes that we wear.

You are wearing a dirty, stained, and holey coat.

That is your nature. That is your sinfulness.

That is your rebellion.

So when God looks at you he sees a filthy coat.

Then you place your trust in Jesus.

Now Jesus has his own coat that is distinct from everyone else’s.

Jesus takes that filthy, stained coat and places on you his beautiful white Coat.

It is perfect, white, and glorious.

So Now when God looks down on you he no longer sees your filthy rags, he sees Jesus.

You have been made to look like Jesus b/c he has given you his righteous robe.

So now b/c of Jesus’ right standing with God you are made right with God too.

Not b/c of what you have done.

Not because of how good you’ve been.

Not because of anything that you can do.

But you are made righteous b/c of Jesus.

Because Jesus was Punished for our sins.

For our rebellion.

And Jesus Took this punishment.

He endured this pain.

With dignity and in silence.

Isaiah 53:7–9 CSB

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully.

Intense Suffering

Jesus didn’t endure some minor inconvenience or a slap on the wrist.

The type of suffering He encountered was severe.

He was beaten, mocked, and scorned.

He was oppressed and afflicted.

Before he was nailed to the cross he, was beaten with a Whip.

This whip had sharp pieces of bone attached to the end of it.

So each Time Jesus was whipped his flesh was torn, ripped apart.

He was made as a spectacle for all to see as he was beaten.

He was mocked when those who beat him twisted together a crown of thorns.

They then shoved it onto his head.

Those thorns also piercing his flesh.

Blood running into his eyes.

Like tears running down his face was that blood from the crown.

I think that sometimes we are too detached from the reality of the pain that Jesus endured on the cross.

The image of Jesus is sanitized.

Just think about the times that you have seen a crucifix.

I know those aren’t common in our tradition, but I am sure that many of you have see one.

How does Jesus look on that crucifix?

He doesn’t look comfortable.

He’s got a cloth covering his private areas.

There is not one drop of blood staining his skin.

But here’s the reality.

He would have looked a bloody mess on that cross.

He would have been covered in blood.

His flesh would have been ripped open.

He would have been naked and exposed.

He wouldn’t have looked human.

He wouldn’t have been recognizable.

And yet, the scriptures tell us that during that extreme suffering.

During that beating.

He didn’t cry out.

He didn’t open his mouth.

He stood silent as he was accused.

He stood silent as they beat him.

He stood silent as they drove those nails into his wrists.

He does not plead for his life.

He does not beg for mercy.

He does not wail at the injustices thrust upon him.

He knows that the only way for humanity to be saved is for him to endure the cross.

For him to be beaten, bloodied, and mocked.

It’s interesting that as sheep we all wander.

We all go astray.

We all willingly leave the fold of God.

But Jesus endured our punishment also as a sheep.

Quiet.

Alone.

At his fingertips, he had the ability to call down legions from heaven.

He had the authority to make his pain and suffering stop.

But he held fast.

He held on.

And he died.

He died unjustly.

He died unfairly.

He died willingly.

He died so we could be made whole.

So we could have peace.

So we could see the face of God.

So we could be reconciled to God.

Jn 10:18 “18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.””

Jesus is all about doing the will of The Father.

He is all about obedience even to the point of death.

And it is b/c of his death.

His willingness to die that he is exalted and greatly praised.

And it was all the plan.

Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was the plan to bring forth salvation.

To reveal the love of God to rebellious creatures.

Isaiah 53:10–12 CSB

10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.

Exaltation Through Suffering

We can think it harsh to read

“Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.”

There are those that would argue that this is akin to divine child abuse.

That God crushing Jesus and taking pleasure in it is wicked and evil.

But listen if that’s all we read it can sound harsh.

But Why was God pleased to crush him?

Because many will be justified.

Many will be brought back into right relationship with God.

And again if God the Father forced Jesus to endure the cross that would have been different.

But Jesus Willingly goes to the cross.

He is in unity with the Father’s mission.

Jesus willingly submits to the will of the father so that many can be called sons and daughters of God.

That’s the beauty of the gospel message.

While you were dead in your sins and trespasses.

While you lived in rebellion against God.

While you were an enemy of God, Jesus willingly laid down his life so that you could be made new.

So that you could come to know the love of the father.

So that you could be made into right relationship with him.

He died so that you can live.

He rose so that you can trust his promises.

Jesus was Greatly Exalted and Lifted High so that many would come to him and experience the life that God gives.

I am about to read to you Phil 2:5-11 have read this scripture to you multiple times.

But it is one of the early hymns or creeds of the church.

It is important for us to know and it fits in with Isaiah so well.

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Exaltation Through Suffering

Jesus is exalted b/c of his obedience.

He is exalted b/c of his humility.

He is exalted b/c of his willingness to die for us.

Here’s the reality.

You have to do something with Jesus.

You need to accept him as lord and savior.

You need to acknowledge him as King.

And you need to follow him.

If you don’t do those things, then you are rejecting him.

You are telling him that you don’t love, accept, or appreciate what he has done.

And that’s a choice you can make.

But let me tell you that there will be a day when

Phil 2:10-11 “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

You will either bow as a Son or Daughter of the Father.

Or you will bow in rebellion and be cast out.

I want to see you give your life to Jesus.

It’s not about saying a special prayer.

It’s not about being baptized.

It’s not about what you have done.

Where you have been.

How much you have failed.

How much you have stumbled.

How much of a mess you have made in your life.

Jesus was crushed for all your failures.

He was bruised for all your sins.

He died to make you New.

He rose to prove it was true.

Give your life to him now.

So that when God looks down on you he sees the radiant Glory of Jesus.

Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 CSB

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.