The Suffering Servant: Israel or Messiah
Bible Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2017, Christ in the O.T.
Northwest Bible Church – Sept. 3, 2017 – Christ in the OT series – Alan Conner
The Suffering Servant: Israel or Messiah
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Intro
A. THE JEWISH INTERPRETATION.
1. The Ancient Jewish view.
2. The Modern Jewish view.
B. CRITIQUE OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL VIEW.
1. The masculine singular pronoun.
2. Israel not a submissive, voluntary sufferer (Isaiah 53:7; 50:6).
3. Israel cannot bear its own sins, let along those of others (Isaiah 53:5, 8).
4. Israel was not killed (Isaiah 53:8-10) or assigned to a grave (Isaiah 53:9).
5. How could the knowledge of Israel “justify many”? (Isaiah 53:11).
C. SUPPORT FOR SEEING JESUS IN Isaiah 53.
D. THE EVANGELISTIC POWER OF Isaiah 53
1. Ethiopian eunuch and Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:26-35).
2. Barry Leventhal.
Conclusion
ISAIAH PREDICTED
THAT THE SERVANT…
700 YEARS LATER, JESUS CHRIST…
would be disfigured by suffering (52:14; 53:2-3)
was flogged, spat on and mocked (Mark 15:17-19)
would come from humble beginnings (53:2)
grew up in Nazareth, a city with a very poor reputation; and not where the Messiah was expected to come from (Luke 2:39-40, 51); John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “ Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
would be rejected by many
(53:3)
while on the cross, was mocked, blasphemed and reviled, even by those who were crucified with him (Matthew 27:39-44). John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
would bear our sins and suffer in our place (53:4-6,11)
“…himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24); He was literally scourged by Roman whips and pierced by the nails of the cross.
would heal many (53:4-5)
healed many (Matthew 8:16-17); resurrection bodies.
voluntarily took our punishment upon himself (53:6-7)
said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). John 10:18 “ No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”
remained silent during his suffering (53:7)
was numbered with transgressors; interceded for them (53:12)
did not defend himself to Herod, Pontius Pilate or the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:62-64; 27:11-14; Luke 23:9)
disciples carried swords to Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:36-37 quotes Isaiah 53:12 as fulfilled here), and Peter cut off ear of servant; also crucified with robbers (Mk. 15:27); prayed for those who crucified him and mocked him (Lk. 23:34) “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.
would die (53:8,12)
died on a cross (Mark 15:37; John 19:33-34)
would be buried with a rich man (53:9)
was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man (Matthew 27:57-60)
would not remain dead, but see his seed, prolong his days and be exalted (53:10-12)
rose from the dead three days after the crucifixion and still lives today and millions of people see themselves as his spiritual seed (Matthew 28:1-10)