[Transcripts may not match broadcasted sermon word for word, and may contain extra material that was cut from the broadcast due to time constraints]

       Turn with me, or tap, to Isaiah chapter 53. As we come to this text today, we are going to realize and become familiar with, very quickly, the fact that this passage of Scripture is very deep—so much so that we really wont even scratch the surface of it. But we are going to try anyway to gain some understanding of what God has for us here from the Prophet Isaiah, namely about the Lord Jesus Christ. So, again, today, we will be thinking about Jesus.

       Too, you will realize rather quickly that a lot of what this text talks about is basic yet foundational for the Christian. These doctrines, which are touched upon, should seem familiar for those of us who have been saved for a while now. But nonetheless, it is important for us to bring to our remembrance these things, these basic truths, and refresh our minds in thinking about Christ. Hopefully so, and perhaps, we will learn something new, something we have never thought about before. That’s the beauty of Scripture, really. No matter how many times you read a passage, going back again and again you can learn new things.

       I will read Isaiah chapter 53, verses 4 through 12, the rest of the chapter. Last week we covered part of chapter 52 and the beginning of chapter 53, so if you missed that you’ll have to get a copy of last week’s message. Remember too, and really it should go without saying, that the prophet is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ here. Isaiah chapter 53, starting in verse 4; the passage reads as follows:

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:4-12, ESV).

What a tremendous passage, full of richness and truth, this is about our Lord Jesus Christ.

       First, let us consider, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4, ESV).

       So, we start here with a summary, which is a basic understanding of what Jesus has done for us, as people. Jesus even said in the Beatitudes that the mourning person should be happy. That is, the person who mourns over sin—both his or her own sin and how sin has affected the world. But we could also, and I think this gets more at the point, understand this text to be talking about the fact that Jesus can relate to grief and sorrow that we face in our lives. Remember, grief and sorrow in and of themselves are not sinful. Just several verses up we saw that Isaiah called Jesus the “man of sorrows,” for he definitely knew what sorrow was all about in his life.

       To further understand Jesus’ acquaintance with our griefs and sorrows in this life, let’s consider a couple verses from the Book of Hebrews. The writer of Hebrews penned the following at the end of Hebrews chapter 4: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15, 16, ESV). As far as our own personal sin goes, we understand that Jesus, in his earthly life, faced the same trials and temptations that we face in our lives, yet he did not falter—he did not go against God. He went through them without sinning, and never sinned at all. His life was perfect before God the Father. So the writer of Hebrews encourages us to feel safe in God's presence when we go to him in prayer because God understands where we are coming from. He totally understands our problems in life, even if it’s not that exact same situation that Jesus went through. He understands it, and he will give us both mercy in forgiving our sins and grace that will help us deal with whatever it is and press forward.

       Going back to our text in Isaiah, we read continue to read of Jesus, “yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4, ESV).

       At the time of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Israelites had surely “esteemed him stricken, smitten by God.” But that wasn’t the beginning of these harsh feelings against Jesus. One dramatic and pinnacle example of this can be seen in Matthew’s Gospel, in chapter 12. The Pharisees by this time resented Jesus so much that the said his ability to cast out demons had come from “Beelzebul, the prince of demons” (Matthew 12:24, ESV). Of course, this wasn’t the case as Jesus’ power was coming from God himself, and he was God. But if we fast-forward to the scene at the cross at Calvary, we see the Israelites, most definitely Pharisees included, shaking their heads at him as they passed by the cross from which he was hanging (see Matthew 27:39). The Jewish people thought God was against him. They thought he was altogether stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God himself. And, in a way, they were right because he was baring our sins.

       And this brings up our next point, for Isaiah says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, 6, ESV).

       As I talked about last time, and as we see here again today, God slew Jesus on the cross for our sins—for the sins of the whole world, every sin that had ever been committed to that time and all future sins that would occur. He suffered for the transgressions that belonged to us, and God bore down his wrath upon him for our iniquities. It was all collectively God’s punishment—his chastisement—for our wrongs. And, in only a way God could accomplish, this brought peace for us who trust in this sacrifice on our behalf. He brings us peace within ourselves, but more importantly, peace with God himself. He no longer counts our inquiries against us. For those of us who believe in him, we can have ‘real’ peace, and live by this peace within ourselves.

       Jesus’ wounds—his suffering—has given us and continues to give us healing. His wounds heal us—all the regret, the wrongs, the mistakes, the things we could have done better, the immoralities, the hurting of others—whatever it be, whatever we bring to mind—he has truly healed us from those things. Now, we may carry them around on our backs as dead weight, refusing to let the past go, but God has let them go. If we confess our sins to him, he forgives us and remembers them no more, even if we bring them to mind or others remind us about them. They are no more in God’s eyes—and, my friend, that’s all that matters. Please see this; let us find rest for our souls. This is something we can have now, have today. As the writer of Hebrews has told us, “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:1, 2ex, ESV).

       Next, we read, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6, ESV).

       It is true that everyone one us in the this world is a sinner—a person who does things against God. Sinning is in our nature; it is part of us. That’s why we have a great need for a Savior, and that’s why we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to others, so this sin problem can be corrected in each one of us. For many of us Christians, we can remember how we lived our lives before we became saved. We can recall that we went our own ways, as we did what we wanted to do in life without input from God and without input from his ordinances—his Word. And as we lived our lives, we realized that something wasn’t right, something was missing. The meaning to life wasn’t there. And then someone shared the Gospel with us, and we believed it, and turned from following our own ways. And now, most of the time hopefully, we experience real life, true life.

       And, we understand importantly that Jesus didn’t just save us from some of our sins, or most of them, but he saved us from all of them. But even after we become saved in our lives, we still find ourselves slipping into sin. But when we correct ourselves or are corrected by God, we repent of the sin. The Apostle John tell us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, ESV). Indeed, this is a continual process—for Jesus said and taught his disciples in the Lord’s Prayer to daily say to God, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, ESV). But every sin that we commit in our lives can be forgiven by God no matter what, as long as we turn from it and repent. If there was a sin that could separate us from God again, then wouldn’t Satan just focus on trying to get us to commit that sin? Or, look at it this way. Before God saved us he knew the things we would do, as a Christian, for he knows the future. If there was an unpardonable sin we could commit, and we did commit it, then why did God save us to begin with? No, all sins can be forgiven.

       Continuing in Isaiah, we read, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away” (Isaiah 53:6-8a, ESV).

       Even though Jesus was oppressed and afflicted in his journey to the cross, we know from reading the Gospels that Jesus did not fight back, nor did he speak a word against his accusers or punishers. God, writing through Isaiah, says “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” The animal doesn’t realize what is going on. In Jesus’ case, though, he knew exact what was going to happen—for he had told his disciples on multiple occasions what was going to happen to him. But the point here is that Jesus did not talk back. And this is an example we can all learn from. So, Jesus was lead to his accusers by both the oppression of the Israelites and the judgment of God, for he was paying for our sins.

       Now, we read, “and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?” (Isaiah 53:8bc, ESV).

       Here again, the fact is pointed out that many of Israelites, most as a whole, didn’t understand that Jesus was the Messiah, the one they were supposed to be waiting for. Note here the Jesus died first for the Jewish people—God’s chosen people—as the passage states. But, obviously, we Gentiles are also offered God’s salvation. Some theologians believe that because the Israelites saw Jesus’ miracles, and all the things he did, since they walked with him—that they are more responsible for their disbelief, and will face further punishment. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself talked about this fact in Matthew 11 and Luke 10. And some even point to the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit as only being possible for the people of Christ’s generation since they saw his works. They saw them with their own eyes, and yet they rejected him.

       The next part of the passage states, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt”” (Isaiah 53:9, 10a, ESV).

       We know from Matthew, Mark, & Luke’s Gospels that Joseph of Arimathea was the one who cared for Jesus body after he died, and he put it in his own tomb. Now this man from Arimathea named Joseph was a rich man, and we really don’t know if he had purchased the tomb literally for himself, or for someone else in his family. It was probably for himself, and he decides to use his tomb for Jesus. But as Isaiah tells us, and as Matthew, Luke, and John confirm in their Gospels, the tomb in which Jesus’ body was laid was a ‘new’ tomb. But Isaiah tells us that apparently in the garden near the cross were buried other wicked men, and a rich man. The Gospels do not confirm this, but we know it’s true since God has said it in his Word.

       And again, the irony behind Jesus’ Roman execution was the fact that “he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth,” as Isaiah said. Jesus wasn’t guilty like Barabbas, the robber and murder that had led a rebellion in Israel sometime earlier (see Luke 23:18 & John 18:40). The Jews requested of Pilate that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus, and that Jesus be condemned to death. Mark, in his Gospel, blamed the release on Pilate, for really too it was Pilate’s decision (see Mark 15:15). He didn’t have to release Barabbas. Again, this just another reason why the condemnation of this generation of time will be greater than those in other times, like during the time Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God. So God crushed Jesus in the execution, putting him through grief.

       Continuing on, the passage states of Jesus, “when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:10, 11, ESV).

       All of us alive today who are Christians, and those in the past after Jesus’ resurrection who believed, are the offspring of Jesus. We have been raised with Christ, in the same way he was raised. We are his heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Jesus was the first-born from the dead, the One who paved the way for all us to have life after we die. And, of course, we know that Christ will establish his kingdom here on the earth in the near future, which is for the Jewish people—those who have believed in him and for many who will believe in him. And Jesus, by all the he has accomplished on the cross, is satisfied at what yet is to come—both for him and for us as fellow heirs with him. So, many of us—since his resurrection—have been made righteous before God, declared righteous, since he died for our sins and provided an acceptable payment before God the Father.

       Remember the Sadducees in the New Testament did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus—yet in this very passage we just read the resurrection is proclaimed. Jesus had told them to just look at the account of the burning bush when God spoke to Moses to see the fact that people do rise from death. Remember how Jesus pointed it out to them, noting that God said, ““I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”” (Exodus 3:6, ESV). And he told them that this phrase “I am” is significant because it differentiates the fact that the deceased people are still living. God didn't say, “I was… the father…” but he said, “I am.” So, even the Old Testament proclaimed the resurrection of the dead.

       The final part of our text states, “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12, ESV).

       In concluding our study of this text, we understand that God exalts Christ to be high and lifted up—and we know he will give him the position as King over Israel. And not only this, but we as believers will receive spoil, that is, good things with him from God. For those of us who are faithful, and even those of us who escape as though through fire, much will be given us. The obedient will be rewarded with great things. Our gifts from God at the end of our lives can be much, as we seek to please him in this life. He will give us the desires of our hearts. And all of this is thanks to Jesus, thanks to what he did for us on our behalf. He bore all of our sins, and even today makes intercession for us. So, while we may struggle in this life with hardships and difficulties, God rewards us even today with Jesus’ help, as he prays on our behalf for our good. What a marvelous truth from God’s Word.

       Indeed, in conclusion today, Jesus doesn’t just want to help believers, but really he wants to help everyone in our world today. He wants people to come to him for the gift of life—true life. Jesus offers people a personal relationship with God. Jesus offers eternal life—resurrection from the dead to life—to all who will believe in him, who will trust in his sacrifice on their behalf for the forgiveness of their sins. Life doesn’t end after we close our eyes and pass away here from the earth. Indeed, humans are eternal beings—and once created, they live forever somewhere.

       You can either remain in your current state, separated from God, or you can turn to God, believing in his provided salvation. God gives these things to people because he loves them. He loves everyone in the world, and is not willing that anyone should perish. He created each person as a unique, individual being. The way you are, the way you look and the personality that you have, all come from God himself. He has already displayed his power and love to you. But he wants to be able to fellowship with you on a day-to-day basis. But he cannot do that if you are separated from him. He wants to give you Heaven in the future—not Hell. He doesn’t want anyone to have to go to Hell. But if you wont accept him, he has no choice but to separate you from his presence. After all, didn’t you take part in that choice?

       Please don’t turn away from Jesus today. Don’t worry. No matter who you are, no matter what your background is or what you have done in your life, you can come to him today. He will not reject you. If you would like to accept Jesus Christ today as your personal Lord and Savior, then follow my lead in this prayer:

God, I am separated from you today. However, I would like to come into personal relationship with you starting now. I believe Jesus has paid from my sins on the cross, and that he will accept me. I believe he rose from the dead and is now with you in Heaven. I want to turn from my sin and start to following your way, which I now see as the correct way. Father, please change my life, and make me become a better person, like Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

-Daniel Litton