Living for A Higher Purpose. Having turned away from God to idols, they were commiting adultery and prostitution (Jer 3:8-11; Ezek 23:37).

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1 Introduction Down through the centuries most Israelites had been deeply influenced by their unbelieving neighbors. As a result, idolatry and every kind of occult practice flourished throughout the nation of Judah. Having turned away from God to idols, they were commiting adultery and prostitution (Jer 3:8-11; Ezek 23:37). Throughout the book, Isaiah gives a scathing analysis of their culture. He says that they were steeped in idolatry and false worship: - they mocked the righteous - they rebelled against God - they were children of liars and idolatrous leaders. They worshipped sexual pleasure and the cruel gods that allowed violence and human sacrifice. - They had family gods or idols in their homes. - They secretly engaged in false worship behind closed doors. They loved the sexual fertility worship. They took delight in flaunting their nakedness in public. - And they trusted in worldly kings instead of God.

2 2 Isaiah reminds them that: - God will judge their sin because they do not fear the Lord and because they place their trust in idols. But the Lord loved his people and never ceased to reach out to them. Whether they were in Egypt or Assyria God remembered them! That s one of the reasons why chapter 53 is so amazing. In this chapter God shows us the extent of his love. Let s set the stage by starting with verse 1 inasmuch as verse 1 speaks of the people s incredulity: 1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? (Isaiah 53:1) In other words, - Even though the Savior s coming had been predicted, the prophecy had been rejected. - People either denied they needed a Savior or denied God would send a Savior to the world. Isaiah preached and preached but very few believed his message. It must have been difficult, even tragic. So Isaiah reveals even more about this coming Messiah.

3 3 Verse 2 begins to describe Jesus, 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. (Isaiah 53:2a) - People expected the Messiah to come in: great power and majesty, pomp and circumstance. - People expected Him to overthrown the Roman emperor and be king like David or Solomon. - But He didn t come as a conqueror or mighty prince. - He came as a helpless baby born in a manger. 2b He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2b) - Jesus wasn t physically attractive. - He wasn t a Brad Pitt. - Does that truth astonish you? - He didn t have a charismatic personality that naturally drew people to Him. - Does that shock you? - Does that truth repulse you? - Jesus was an average, ordinary guy. - He wasn t a TV evangelist!

4 4 - He wasn t a T.D. Jakes! - He wasn t a Pastor Rod Parsley! - He wasn t a Tony Robbins either. - He didn t wear Italian suits or a gold watch! - No one would notice Him in a crowd. - The Paparrazi wouldn t stake out his house. No 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3) A. He Knew 1. Sorrow a) Anguish b) Affliction 2. Grief a) Malady b) Disease c) Sickness d) Pain 67 they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him (Mat 26:67)

5 5 B. He was treated like a leper 1. People hid their faces from Him. 2. They pulled their coats over their faces. 3. They were embarrassed to look at Him. 4. They were ashamed of Him. C. He was disparaged and disrespected. 1. Distained 2. Scorned 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting (Isa 50:6) D. God came to the world and men hated Him. - They beat Him. - They pulled out his beard. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4) E. God made himself weak! - He felt the sting of sin in his flesh! 1. Stricken 2. Smitten

6 6 3. Afflicted F. But He 4. He was pushed and shoved. 5. He was pummeled and punched. 6. He was mentally distressed. 1. Bore our griefs a) He lifted them up and b) carried them away 2. He carried our sorrows a) Bent under them b) Burdened by them 5 [But] he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) G. For Our Transgressions Pierced! H.For Our Iniquities Crushed! 1. Beaten 2. Bruised 3. Incapable of carrying himself; 4. His muscles wouldn t respond I. For Our Healing Scourged! 1. Black and blue all over 2. Cut and bleeding

7 7 For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16) 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) When the government phased out its food program, a poor man got up early and went to a local church food bank to get into line before the food ran out. After waiting a few hours, it was almost his turn. In the corner of his eye he saw a neighbor at the end of the line. He yelled, Hey John, come here. Both John and his wife had been out of work for a while. They had four children and had lots of needs. The man in line knew the food would run out soon, but he insisted that his neighbor take his place. The first man went to the end of the line. Within a short time they were out of food; the one who gave up his place also gave up his food. In the same way, Jesus Christ drew us to His place, while He stepped into ours taking upon Himself all the consequences of our failures

8 8 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7) - He suffered and died that we might live. - While we were yet sinners, he died for us. - We did all the sinning, and He did all the saving! - He was tortured and stomped, mocked, and spat upon, Yet He did not open His mouth. - His fate was as certain as a new born lamb on the day He was born - He would be led to the slaughter, to be torn apart to cover and feed the flesh. - He knew this but He did not bleat! - Man wanted to destroy the Lamb of God for his own purposes but God had a greater purpose for His Lamb. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)

9 9 It was this - Instead of His Lamb being used by man, He would be used for man. - Instead of His Lamb being used by man to satisfy the Law, He would be used by God to satisfy the Royal Law. - Instead of satisfying the flesh (will of man), He would satisfy the Spirit (will of God). - Instead of a mortal, perishable, and natural purpose, Conclusion He would be used for an immortal, imperishable, and supernatural purpose. God from eternity knew that we would choose the darkness rather than His Light, and therefore He sent His only begotten Son to shine in the darkness And so He, the Light of God, shined in the darkness (John 1:4, 5) and he has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. What was the greater purpose of God in all of this?

10 10 God gave His only begotten that He might be worshipped in the way He desires and deserves a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice to His Father, for our rebellion, that we might be cleansed and prepared for that Great Day of salvation and glory. What, I pray, have you given of yourself that you might be so presented on that day? Have you given God your life? That s the only way you can Live for a Higher Purpose. Jesus lived not for Himself but for God the Father. God asks us not to live for ourselves but for Jesus sake. 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1) Invitation