God Reveals the Suffering Servant

Transcription

1 Session 5 God Reveals the Suffering Servant THEOLOGICAL THEME: Salvation comes through the suffering of God s chosen Servant. Rising to a massive 29,035 feet, Mount Everest holds the undisputed position of being the highest point on earth, rising 5 ½ miles above sea level. Standing on top of the majestic mountain, with one foot in China and the other in Tibet, climbers feel like they are on top of the world. With winds exceeding 200 mph and temperatures of -80 degrees Fahrenheit, even those who glimpse the unrivaled beauty of Everest s summit cannot do so for long. There is simply more beauty than any single person can appreciate surrounding this majestic treasure of the East. What is the tallest mountain or highest elevation you have ever visited? What do you recall about that experience? Ascending from the pages of the Old Testament, Isaiah 53 stands as a spiritual Mount Everest pointing to the glory of Christ and the hope of eternal salvation. As we journey up this mountain, we encounter a prophetic picture that all of us can appreciate but none of us can exhaust. Voices from Church History (Oh, the surpassing kindness and love of God!) He did not hate us, or reject us, or bear a grudge against us; instead he was patient and forbearing; in his mercy he took upon himself our sins; he himself gave up his own Son as a ransom for us, the holy one for the lawless, the guiltless for the guilty, the just for the unjust, the incorruptible for the corruptible, the immortal for the mortal. 1 Anonymous (2 nd century) 46 Date of My Bible Study: 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Hundreds of years before Christ was born, Isaiah prophesied about a mysterious Servant who would be rejected and despised yet bring salvation through His suffering. The early Christians believed this prophecy was made about Jesus and His life and work. As those who benefit from the service and suffering of Jesus, we now embrace a life of suffering and service on behalf of others. 1. A Servant Who Is Despised and Rejected (Isa. 52:13 53:3) 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. These words lay the foundation for the victory that Jesus earned by means of sacrifice. The action of submitting to the will of His Father was wise because it resulted in Jesus being raised, lifted up, and greatly exalted (52:13). (Perhaps the apostle Paul had these words in mind when he penned Philippians 2:5-11.) Understanding the depth of Christ s suffering heightens the magnitude of His accomplishment (52:14). His chastisement was so severe that His standing as King of kings over heaven and earth is not only unpredictable but also astonishing (52:15). Take a few moments to compare Paul s words in Philippians 2:5-11 with Isaiah 52: What similarities do you see? What differences? Session 5 47

3 When we read Isaiah 53 today, we see it as referring ultimately to Jesus Christ. The original audience, however, would have identified this mysterious servant with God s chosen people Israel (see 41:8). But the mystery deepens as we keep reading, and we begin to realize that this particular prophecy s meaning cannot be identified solely with Israel because Isaiah describes the servant as someone who will die as a substitute for God s people. 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. The Jews of Jesus day were hoping for a Messiah who would be a king with the power to conquer their enemies. Instead, Isaiah predicted a Servant who would be despised and rejected, without form or majesty to catch our eye. Israel rejected their Messiah despite the Lord s promises and prophecies about Him (see John 12:38; Rom. 10:16). The nations did not receive Him because they were uninformed or unimpressed (Rom. 15:21). Few people believed Jesus was the Messiah then, just as few people sincerely believe today (Matt. 7:13-14). But make no mistake. The final exaltation of Christ will leave unbelievers, both Jew and Gentile alike, shocked when they consider their previous notions of Jesus. This is not the Savior most people were looking for, and if we are honest, this is not the kind of Messiah most people want today. Though it is tempting to sit in judgment over those who scorned Jesus in the past, modern generations are just as guilty of rejecting God s messianic Servant. A Savior who appears to be nobody is not very appealing to the masses that are desperate to be somebody. If Jesus is not a ticket to a better life now, most will find no value in following Him. We falsely assume that no one would humble himself intentionally, especially God. Thus, we fail to see that Jesus came to identify with our failure and suffering rather than be defeated by it. When we see our frailties in Him, we can rejoice that God is working through His Son in order to see His glory in us. 48 Personal Study Guide

4 What are some ways people recreate Jesus today in order to make Him more appealing? How do these recreations distract us from the primary work that Jesus came to do? How do they compromise our relationship with Him? 2. A Servant Who Submits as a Substitute (Isa. 53:4-9) 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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? 9 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. Why do we need a substitute? You may recall that when Adam and Eve chose to sin, humanity was left reeling under the curse of their transgression (Rom. 5:12-14). Destined to die as a result, the only hope for salvation is that our sentence of condemnation be taken away. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the debt we owe. Rather than ignore our sin and deny His holiness, God chose to take our punishment upon Himself through the person of His Son in order to remove our sins completely. Session 5 49

5 Despite the common Jewish notion that all suffering is a direct result of individual sin, Jesus faced these brutal consequences even though He was completely innocent (Isa. 53:9). He remained silently determined to meet all demands necessary so that we could be saved from our sins (53:7). Doing so required Him to drink from the bitter cup of our guilt and shame. He was punished so that we would not have to be. Jesus endured these things not because He was a sinner but because we are sinners. What are some ways that we try to minimize the gravity of our sins? 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 61. Christ as Substitute At the heart of the atonement is Jesus Christ substituting Himself for sinners as He died on the cross. This truth is seen against the backdrop of the Old Testament sacrificial system, which provided a picture of humanity s need for sin to be covered and guilt to be removed by an innocent sacrifice. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with humankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of humanity from sin. What does Jesus substitutionary work for us reveal about how God sees our sin? How does Jesus substitution help us? Two phrases demonstrate the monumental impact of Jesus becoming our substitute. First, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. This tells us that Jesus sacrifice restored our peace with God, making a relationship with the Almighty possible. Second, Isaiah said, With his wounds we are healed. Though this healing can be physical in nature, the primary purpose of its inclusion here is the spiritual restoration and health that Christ s substitution makes possible. As wonderful as temporary healing is, the focus of Isaiah 53 is the final victory we receive as a result of Christ s substitution. Fully healed from the disease of rebellion, peace with God can be reality. 50 Personal Study Guide

6 In what ways are we like sheep that have gone astray? How does the Servant s work on our behalf serve to bring us back to God? 3. A Servant Who Is Exalted and Victorious (Isa. 53:10-12) 10 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. 11 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. 12 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. Lest anyone erroneously believe that these atrocities against the Messiah were accidental, we learn that God not only orchestrated the whole affair but also that He was pleased to do so. The greater good produced by Jesus willing substitution far outweighed the agony of His passion. Because He was victorious over sin and death, Jesus is exalted over all the earth with a name that is above every name (Phil. 2:9-11). In addition to receiving the glory that He clearly earned, we receive atonement and forgiveness that we do not deserve. Because Jesus willingly became an offering for sin (John 10:17-18), God the Father rewards Him in three distinct ways in Isaiah 53:10: Session 5 51

7 1. He shall see his offspring. Seed is a reference to descendants or offspring. Despite the agonies of His death, Jesus would live again to enjoy those who gain from His sacrificial work (Heb. 2:13). With the church as a reward, the agony of the cross was worth it (Eph. 5:27). Have you ever thought of yourself as a reward to Christ for His work on the cross? How does this change your ambition to live for Him? 2. He shall prolong his days. Without the certainty of resurrection, the future exaltation of Jesus would be impossible. Thus, Isaiah insisted that death would not defeat Jesus and that His days would continue beyond the grave. Because He is the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20), not only will He live eternally but all those who are in Him will as well (1 Cor. 15:21-23). 3. The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. What is the pleasure of the Lord? Verse 11 points us to the redemption of sinners as the focal work given to the Son. The Father s eternal design is to exalt the Son for saving transgressors (Col. 1:14-20). This is why the Son of Man came seeking to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). He willingly submitted to death (Isa. 53:12) because He always sought to please His Father (John 8:29). As a result, Jesus lives eternally as the instrument of God s abundant grace and mercy. Unbelievers who fear that salvation is unattainable can reassure themselves that Jesus work on the cross is not only an expression of His love toward all people (Rom. 5:8) but also an act of supreme devotion to God the Father. No sinner is out of reach (Isa. 59:1), and no saint can forfeit the safety of the Savior s steady hand (John 10:28). Rather than compete with His love for us, Christ s exaltation is intricately tied to and fulfilled by it instead. As a result, followers of Jesus rejoice that His completed work in us is the prelude to His reward (Phil. 1:6). Voices from Church History Christ has made an atonement so complete that he never need suffer again. No more drops of blood; no more pangs of heart; no more bitterness and darkness, with exceeding heaviness, even unto death, are needed. 2 Charles Spurgeon ( ) 52 Personal Study Guide

8 What does it mean for us that the Servant lives to intercede for His people? How does knowing Christ is praying for us impact our daily choices? Conclusion If God loved us enough to offer His Son as a Suffering Servant, how should we respond? What kind of lives should we live in light of this truth? First, we must be sure that we identify with Jesus our substitute. Apart from repentance (Luke 13:3) and faith (Rom. 10:9), we are left to face the penalty of sin on our own. This messianic song invites us to call on the name of the Lord in order to be saved (Rom. 10:13). Second, we dare not squander such a costly sacrifice on our behalf. Christianity is more than a one-time decision, after which we choose to live independently of God. Accepting Christ s death also requires yielding to His life (Gal. 2:20). Just as Jesus sought to obey His Father in all things, we too must die to ourselves so that He might live through us with the same agenda. Finally, we should eagerly spread the good news that salvation is available to all. If God merely turned a blind eye to our wickedness, there would be little motivation to take the gospel to the world (Matt. 28:19-20). The costly nature of this sacrifice, however, compels us to share with others so that they might benefit, even as we have. CHRIST CONNECTION: Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God opened the eyes of Isaiah to see the coming Savior with detail no one had seen before. Isaiah prophesied about a mysterious Servant who would be rejected and despised and yet accomplish salvation through His suffering. The New Testament shows that this prophecy is about Jesus and His work. Session 5 53

9 HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION MISSIONAL APPLICATION: As those who benefit from the service and suffering of Jesus, we now embrace a life of suffering and service on behalf of others. 1. What should our attitude be as we face derision and rejection for the name of Jesus? How can we encourage one another to display this attitude? 2. What are some ways we can sacrifice for unbelievers that would help support our message that Jesus is the substitute for our sin? 3. Write a prayer of praise for the One who sacrificed Himself in order to suffer and serve on our behalf and who even now intercedes for us. 54 Personal Study Guide

10 Notes SESSION 1 1. A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperOne, 1961), J. D. Greear, Only One God Was Mutilated for You, JDGreear.com [online], 10 July 2013 [cited 15 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Michael Catt, The Power of Persistence (Nashville: B&H, 2009), 20. SESSION 2 1. Martin Luther, as summarized in Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, by Roland Bainton (New York: Meridian, 1995), Paul Gerhardt, Give to the Winds Thy Fears, Indelible Grace Hymn Book [online; cited 21 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Gary Inrig, 1,2 Kings, vol. 7 in Holman Old Testament Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2009) [WORDsearch]. 4. Dane C. Ortlund, Edwards on the Christian Life (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), 95. SESSION 3 1. Larry Crabb, Inside Out (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2007), Oswald Chambers, Biblical Psychology (Oxford: Partridge, 1920), Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), 25. SESSION 4 1. Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day (Nashville: B&H, 2006), Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1 39, vol. 15a in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2008) [WORDsearch]. 3. Reginald Heber, Holy, Holy, Holy, in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008), Mount St. Helens: From 1980 Eruption to 2000, U.S. Geological Survey [online], 1 March 2005 [cited 27 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: 5. Trevin Wax, Counterfeit Gospels (Chicago: Moody, 2011), John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1 39, in The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986) [WORDsearch]. 7. Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1 39, vol. 15a in The New American Commentary [WORDsearch]. 8. Robert Speer, quoted in The Contemporary Christian, by John R. W. Stott (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992), 328. SESSION 5 1. Anonymous, The Epistle to Diognetus, in The Apostolic Fathers in English, by Michael W. Holmes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), C. H. Spurgeon, Expiation, The Spurgeon Archive [online], 1864 [cited 28 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: SESSION 6 1. Ken Hemphill, The Names of God (Nashville: B&H, 2001) [ebook]. 2. Scotty Smith, Objects of His Affection (Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 2001), 29. SESSION 7 1. Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, trans. Julie Rose (New York: Modern Library, 2009), Nancy Guthrie, The Word of the Lord: Seeing Jesus in the Prophets (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), Philip Bliss, I Will Sing of My Redeemer, in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008), 281. SESSION 8 1. Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God s People (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), Trevin Wax, Jonah and the Mission of God, in The Mission of God Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2012), John Chrysostom, quoted in The Prophet Jonah in the Writings of the Church Fathers, Mystagogy [online], 21 September 2009 [cited 15 February 2016]. Available from SESSION 9 1. Oswald Chambers, in The Quotable Oswald Chambers, comp. and ed. David McCasland (Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 2008), George Whitefield, in Whitefield Gold, comp. Ray Comfort (Gainesville, FL: Bridge- Logos, 2006), David Prior, The Message of Joel, Micah, and Habakkuk, in The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove: IVP, 1998), David Wilkerson, God Will Restore Your Wasted Years! World Challenge Pulpit Series [online], 26 March 1990 [cited 15 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: SESSION Mary Willson, Tears in Memphis, The Gospel Coalition [online], 11 September 2014 [cited 15 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 2. Jerome, Six Books on Jeremiah, , quoted in Jeremiah, Lamentations, ed. Dean O. Wenthe, vol. XII in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) [WORDsearch]. 3. Greg Laurie, Let God Change Your Life (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2011), 171. SESSION Ravi Zacharias, The Grand Weaver (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), John Wesley, The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart, Christian Classics Ethereal Library [online], 21 April 1790 [cited 16 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Rhett Dodson, Our Hearts, Desperately Deceptive, The Gospel Coalition [online], 18 March 2012 [cited 16 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 4. Francis A. Schaeffer, True Spirituality (Wheaton: Tyndale, 1971), 15. SESSION Lesslie Newbigin, A Walk Through the Bible (London: Barefoot Ministries: 2011), W. A. Criswell, Is There Any Word from the Lord? Criswell Sermon Library [online], 12 January 1964 [cited 16 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: SESSION Matthew Henry, Ezekiel: Chapter 37, The Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible [online; cited 17 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 2. C. H. Spurgeon, The Restoration and Conversion of the Jews, Spurgeon s Sermons Volume 10: 1864 [online], 1 June 2005 [cited 17 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture XVIII, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. VII, eds. Philip Schaff and Henry Wallace (New York: Cosimo, 2007), Personal Study Guide

11 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Personal Study Guide ESV Volume 5, Number 1 Fall 2016 Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Personal Study Guide ESV (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unit 1: Mary Jo Sharp (sessions 1,2,4) is an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University and is the founder and director of Confident Christianity, a non-profit apologetics ministry. A clear communicator with a heart for people, she finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior. She and her husband, Roger, have one daughter. Adam Dooley (sessions 3,5,6) serves as the senior pastor of Sunnyvale First Baptist Church on the northeast side of Dallas. He is a two-time graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has also served as an adjunct professor. Adam is married to Heather, and they have three sons and one daughter. Trillia Newbell (provided the unit 1 session plans) is the author of Enjoy (forthcoming, 2017), Fear and Faith, and United. She is the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Trillia is married to Thern, and they reside with their two children near Nashville, Tennessee. Unit 2: Michael Kelley lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Jana, and their three children: Joshua, Andi, and Christian. He serves as the Director of Discipleship for LifeWay Christian Resources. Michael speaks across the country at churches, conferences, and retreats and is the author of three Bible studies and the book Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, and God. WRITERS