Isaiah 53

by

Exaltation of God’s Suffering Servant

Background

Isaiah ’53 prophesies Jesus crucifixion. The best way to explain the bible is using the bible itself. In Act 8, A Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah 53. He asked Philips, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”. Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Division

v1-4: Life and Ministry of Jesus

v5-8: Death of Jesus

v9: Burial of Jesus

v10-12: Resurrection and Exaltation of Jesus

Exposition

  • v1: [Who has believed our message]. Many throughput the centuries chose not to believe in in Jesus Christ.
  • v1: The arm of the LORD means the power of God. The gospel is the power of God (Roman 1)
  • v2: This verse talks about the life of Jesus. Tender shoot means even He has great power, He chose not to use His power. It talks about Jesus’s humility.
  • v2: root out of dry ground means Jesus humble life while growing up. Although He was the root of David, but because Israel was under the reign of the Romans, Jesus was only the son of a carpenter.
  • v2: Jesus did not have a physically attractive appearance.
  • v3: Jesus was despised and rejected by the Jews during His earthly ministry, and He was despised by many throughout the 20 centuries.
  • v4: Jesus died on the cross for men, for men’s sins. However many men thought Jesus was punished by God.
  • v5: We have peace and our pains are healed when we believe in what Jesus did on the cross for us. He took the punishment that was meant for us.
  • v6: The reason why Jesus needed to be crucified, is because we have gone astray, we turned to our own way, away from God.
  • v7: It was read by the Ethiopian eunuch and explained by Philip. When Jesus was tortured, He did not open His mouth.
  • v8: [He was cut off from the land of the living]. Our Lord Jesus die on the cross.
  • v9: The burial of Jesus. Jesus was crucified with two other wicked criminals. He was then buried in a rich man tomb, as prophesied here.
  • v10: The Cross is not accidental, it was God’s plan to redeem the fallen world. So it was God who crush Jesus on the cross.
  • v11: After his crucifixion, He saw the light of life, which is the redeemed people, the church.
  • v12: The [Therefore] reminds us of the therefore in Phil 2:9. The Servant was willing to suffer, therefore God was willing to act. What did God give to Christ? I think God gives Christ the victory over satan. God also gives Christ to be the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. And Christ is going to share His victory over satan and His authority as Lord of all created things to His church.Jesus Himself quoted this verse and said it was referring to Him. Luke 22:37 “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” Mark also quoted this verse in Mark 15:28, which he was depicting the crucification of Christ.

    [Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.] This prophesy cannot be any clearer. This suffering Servant of God will bore the sin of many. Look back to history, did or could the country Israel bore the sin of many? Did any one else in the history of man kind who bore the sin of many, except the Lord Jesus Christ? Great teachers throughout the centuries touch great teachings. But that is only one that bore the sin of the world.

    That is not the end of the story. Christ did not only bore the sin of many, He interceded for the transgressors. [But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.] Luke 23:34. Jesus interceded for one romans soldiers who crucified Him. After His resurrection and ascension, He is now seating on the throne interceding for us.

    [who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us] Rom 8:34.

    [Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.] Heb 7:25.

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