17 April 2022 PM – Isaiah 53:1-12 – Lord’s Supper – Scott Childs
Introduction: One commentator described Isaiah 53 as follows. “Those who are acquainted with God’s Word realize that Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 give us a more vivid account of the crucifixion of Christ than is found elsewhere in the Bible.” J.V. McGee “Like Mt. Everest,” writes another commentator, “Isaiah 53 stands out in beauty and grandeur, but only because it reveals Jesus Christ and takes us to Mt. Calvary.” Warren Wiersbe
Transition: As we prepare our heart to partake of the Lord’s Supper, I want us to walk together through Isaiah 53 and note the descriptions of the suffering Messiah portrayed by Isaiah.
1. Isaiah 53:1
a. Isaiah felt that many who would read this passage would not believe the report.
b. In this chapter, he describes the future suffering Messiah about 700 years before it took place.
2. Isaiah 53:2
a. The Messiah (Christ) was like a tender plant, seemingly weak and insignificant.
b. He was like a root growing in dry soil. Israel at that time was spiritually like dry ground.
c. He was a plain man. “Jesus was not a man of remarkable beauty or physical attractiveness (comeliness). This doesn’t mean that Jesus was ugly, but it does mean that He did not have the “advantage” of good looks.” Guzik
3. Isaiah 53:3
a. He was despised (held in contempt).
b. He was rejected (considered destitute, lacking) of men.
c. Endured sorrow (pain).
d. Acquainted with or knew grief (pierced with pain, as when punching an ear ring hole)
4. Isaiah 53:4
a. He bore our griefs (pierced pain)
b. He carried our sorrows (pain)
c. “They who saw Christ suffer, instead of understanding that he was bearing the sins of others in a mediatorial capacity, imagined that he was suffering at God’s hands for his own sins.” Pulpit It was our sins that caused Him to be stricken (struck), smitten (beaten, crushed), and afflicted (to create a depression or furrow, probably as with a whip).
5. Isaiah 53:5
a. He was wounded (pierced) by thorns, nails, and spear.
b. He was bruised (crushed, as with a pestle in a mortar) for our iniquities (guilty depravity).
c. He was chastised to bring us peace. He took our payment.
d. He was striped with a whip to heal our sinful souls.
6. Isaiah 53:6
a. We went astray like wandering, disobedient sheep. We turned to our own way instead of following Him.
b. The LORD laid on Christ our iniquity (guilty depravity).
7. Isaiah 53:7
a. He was oppressed (harshly drive as an ox or slave). The same word describes the taskmasters in Egypt who beat the slaves.
b. He was afflicted (causing a depression or furrow in his flesh).
c. He remained silent during the crucifixion.
8. Isaiah 53:8
a. He was taken from prison (bondage) and judged falsely.
b. He was cut off out of the land of the living (killed).
c. He was stricken (received blows) for our transgression.
9. Isaiah 53:9
a. He was buried with the wicked and rich.
10. Isaiah 53:10
a. It pleased the LORD to bruise (crush) Him and to put him to grief (to make sore) to become an offering for our sin.
b. This was part of God’s loving plan of the sinful human race. (Acts 2:23) “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Hebrews 12:2) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
11. Isaiah 53:11
a. The LORD saw the travail (trouble, toil) of Christ’s soul and was satisfied. (Cf., 1Jn 4:10).
b. Through knowledge (experiential and intimate knowledge) of Christ, He can justify many because He bore our iniquities (guilty depravity).
c. A saving knowledge of Christ is far more than knowing about Him. It is the result of personal trust and faith in Him.
12. Isaiah 53:12
a. He poured out His soul unto death.
b. He was numbered (counted, reckoned) with the transgressors (rebels who revolt).
c. He bore (carried) our sin.
d. He made intercession (met God’s demands) for transgressors (rebels) like us.
