The Lord’s Servant Will Suffer and Die
When Abraham nearly completed his instructions to offer up his one and only son as a sacrifice, the angel of the Lord stopped him. Then the Lord provided a substitute sacrifice. Abraham then offered up a ram that was caught in a nearby thicket. “So Abraham called that place, ‘The Lord Will Provide.’ And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” (Gen 22:14) This was a foreshadow of what God would do in providing a substitute for sinners. It was fulfilled when the Lamb of God was offered up as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. On the cross, in that very same region, Jesus died. It was perhaps the same spot where Abraham found provision in place of his son. God’s Servant, the Christ, is the perfect provision for all the world.
There are four “Servant Songs” in Isaiah detailing the service, the suffering, and the success of the Servant of the Lord. Review the previous three sections.
Servant Songs Service | Suffering | Success |
Isaiah 42:1-7
Isaiah 49:1-7
Isaiah 50:4-9
52:13-15 These three verses really serve as the introduction for what is found in the next chapter. The Servant of the Lord is someone who doesn’t look like he fits the role of a Savior, but he would even affect kings by his work. He would do something amazing and something unexpected by many people. Analyze what you know about the work of Christ and share what makes it so startling and amazing a message.
- This summary highlights that Jesus followed the amazing plan perfectly. What God had determined and prophesied long beforehand. That plan included his suffering and humiliation as he took the place of all sinners. It also included his exaltation and return to glory as victorious and living Savior.
- They will shut their mouths. Who can imagine or design such a thing? God in his grace would take on human flesh and allow himself to suffer so greatly. His grace is so wonderful that he gave his life for sinners! This will leave all who hear (and believe) to stand in awe and amazement and wonder.
- People use the phrase “O My God!” to describe amazement. But this is the one place that phrase really belongs: the message of the manger, cross, and empty tomb.
53:1 The point of these rhetorical questions is that Isaiah has an unbelievable message to share. Read John 12:37-38 to see how Isaiah was right about the way his message would be received.
- It was so unbelievable and offensive that many found it a message too hard to swallow and rejected Jesus because of it. In fact by nature, we cannot believe it! The Father must draw us to his Son by the gospel.
53:2-3 List the things about the life of Jesus of Nazareth that fulfill these words regarding “The Servant.”
- He came from a broken line of kings of Judah, it was not a kingly birthplace, but a barren one.
- When people saw Jesus of Nazareth, they initially balked at the idea he might be the Christ. “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?”
- Over and over Jesus was rejected by the rulers of the people and by many others.
- +++John 6:60-66 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? …66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
- +++ Acts 3:14-18 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life…17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer (also John 1:10-11; Mt 11:19-22; 1 Pt 2:6-8)
- He was despised (Read Mt 27:27-44)
53:4-6 These verses reveal the surprising reason for the Servant’s suffering. Use the events of Good Friday (Read Matthew 27:27-66) to explain what the people who rejected Jesus had first thought was happening that day.
- Many at first thought that he must deserve to suffer and mocked him for being blasphemer or fool.
- His cry “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” was not fully understood by the onlookers. He was indeed forsaken by God, but it was for our sins.
“We thought it was because of God he was stricken.” So many wrong ideas existed about Jesus’ death. His enemies thought it was God’s will. It was, but not for the reason they supposed. Examine the dialogue recorded in Luke 24:18-27 to discover how far the misunderstandings about Jesus’ death pervaded. Why do so many hold to the same misunderstandings today?
- Even his own disciples struggled to think it wasn’t all a failure and God just let him die.
- Unbelief does not accept the prophecies or the offense of the “foolishness of the cross.” ( 1 Cor 1:20-25)
53:7 Share what was so striking about Jesus’ response to all his suffering and explain why he responded the way he did. (Compare Luke 22:37)
- Luke 22:37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.”
- Matthew 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to pass from me unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
- Lk 9:20–22. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21He gave them a strict command not to tell this to anyone. 22He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law. He must be killed and be raised on the third day.”
- Acts 2:23 This man, who was handed over by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, you killed by having lawless men nail him to a cross.
53:8 Share what was so striking about the trial proceedings and the crowds who called for Jesus’ crucifixion. Explain why they acted the way they did.
- Ac 3:17–18.“Now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just like your leaders. But in this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through the mouth of all the prophets: that his Christ would suffer.”
- Matthew 27:18 For he (Pilate) knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
Review Isaiah 52:13-15 & Isaiah 53:1-8
53:4-6 What was revealed about Jesus that indicated he was absolutely innocent and should not have had to suffer any of these things? (compare with Is 50:4-8)
- He suffered for the sins of the people. He himself was innocent and had done no wrong.
- Jesus, just as the high priest also prophesied, died for the people.
- As Pilate testified he had done no wrong.
- As the apostles declare he was innocent and holy.
- As God spoke from heaven and declared he was the beloved and sinless Son of God.
There is a saying among cooks, “There is no substitute for a slow fire.” What do you suppose this phrase means? How can there be no acceptable substitute for all the sins of the world other than this man dying on the cross?
Jesus suffered and the world incorrectly thought he deserved it. Explain how the same misunderstanding will be true for all Christians.
- John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
This section clearly teaches “substitutionary” or “vicarious” atonement. Define that term and share some other parts of Scripture which also clearly teach this truth.
- “Look the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” -all the sacrificial system of the OT
- The foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Isaac and God’s provision.
- The prophecy of a man born of the offspring of Eve who would do what no other man could, defeat the devil. He would take the sinners place in life and death.
- The titles for God such as “Redeemer” and “he has become your salvation” or the phrase “The Lord’s own arm worked salvation.”
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