Text: Isaiah 53
He Did Not Have the Appearance of a King (v. 2)
- Man often superficially judges according to appearance (1 Samuel 16:1,6-7)
- God expects us to judge righteously (John 7:24)
Man of Sorrows (v. 3)
- Jesus lived as a man (John 1:14) — necessary to fulfill God’s plan (Hebrews 2:14-15)
- In His life He suffered (Matthew 8:20; Hebrews 4:15)
- Abandoned by those closest to Him (Matthew 26:31-35, 56)
He Bore Our Griefs & Sorrows (v. 4)
- Inspired commentary (Matthew 8:16-17) – healing sickness, casting out demons
- Through His miracles He proved who He was (John 3:1-2; Acts 2:22)
Yet We Esteemed Him Stricken (v. 4)
- Jesus proved clearly that the Father was with Him (John 11:41-48)
- Yet at the cross, many believed the Father was against Him (Matthew 27:38-44)
- Though this was the perception, it was not reality — the Father was with Christ, even on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1, 6-8, 22-25)
Why Jesus Had to Die (v. 5-11)
- For our transgressions & iniquities (v. 5) — sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2)
- All like sheep have gone astray (v. 6) — all have sinned (Romans 3:23)
- Not because of His sin — He had none (v. 9; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 7:26)
- The Lord was pleased to crush Him (v. 10) — part of the plan (Acts 2:23)
- To satisfy the Father (v. 11) — divine requirement of a blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22)
He Bore the Sins of Many (v. 12)
- Meaning of “bore” same as in verse 4 — He removed our sins
- Many — How many? … The world (John 3:16; Titus 2:11)
- Interceded for the transgressors — reconciled man back to God (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:16-18)
