(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on January 26, 2003. This sermon series is based upon a request to preach on Christ in the Old Testament. All Scripture references used in this sermon are based upon the NASB®, unless otherwise stated)
| This Sermon was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
52:13 Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up, and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men. 15 Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.
53:1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Introduction: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) defines "Greatness" as the state, condition, or quality of being great, or as the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance. If you go to the internet and type in the word "Greatness" and do a search of this word, you will notice such things will come up like; race car drivers, politicians, movie stars, etc. The world's view of greatness is often not God's view of greatness. If fact someone once said, "To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die." But God achieved great things by having Christ live knowing that He would die shortly. Man thinks that they win the victory by their own abilities and boast about it, but Christ won the victory though humiliation. Let's look at what Isaiah tells us about the Messiah's victory though His humiliation by man. . .
I. His Humiliation (Isa.53:1-3,
52:14).
1. Rejected because of His message (Isa.53:1).
A. Isaiah opens verse 1 with a rhetorical question which expects a negative answer; "who has believed our message?"Application: So often man refuses to listen to those things which they don't find pleasing to the ear. The Messiah's message of the helplessness of men lost in their sins and needing to humble their hearts to accept God's gift of salvation wasn't pleasing to the ears of sinful man. Just like it is not pleasing to people today to hear. The world doesn't want a lowly Savior, but instead looks for a worldly entertainer who will preach a message of man's goodness and a god who is blinded to their sinful condition by an unbiblical view of love. Man wants a god who is made in their own image. But the power of God, isn't displayed in signs and wonders designed to woo men, but it was and is displayed today in the gospel of Jesus Christ; Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." We live in a world that is desperately seeking all kinds of ways to change or improve their lives. There are 12 step programs, there are audio tapes that you can listen too, videos and even classes that you can sign up for. We focus on improving our "self-esteem" to the point that we want to make everyone feel good about themselves. But in the end, none of these things really have the power to change man's life because sin rules the unbeliever's life. The only known thing in the universe that has the power to change a person's life is the gospel message, because it removes their old heart and replaces it with a new one; 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."1) The message of Isaiah, the other prophets, and even the Messiah would be rejected by the Jewish nation.B. But the rejected message is where the Messiah's strength is to be found (v.1b).2) This quote is attributed to Jesus Christ by the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:16, "However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, 'LORD, who has believed our report?'"
- The Apostle John also attributes this quote to Christ in John 12:37-40.3) When the report of the Messiah's first advent went forth, not many believed, and consequently the saving power of the Lord was not revealed to many either (BBC).1) The word "arm" is often used in the Scripture as an emblem of power or of God's great work (Barnes, NIBC).2) Warren Wiersbe points out that, "It is interesting that when God made the universe, He used His fingers (Ps. 8:3); and when He delivered Israel from Egypt, it was by His strong hand (Ex. 13:3). But to save lost sinners, He had to bare His mighty arm!" (BC).
Transition: They not only rejected Christ's message, He was also. . .
2. Rejected because of His lowly background (Isa.53:2).
A. Isaiah tells us that the Messiah's unbecoming appearance did not draw men to Him.Application: God didn't want to attract men and women to Himself by sending someone who would appeal to their fleshly desires, but He wanted to attract those who were willing to look deeper than just the outside. There was nothing about Christ's physical appearance that made Him different from any other Jewish man. While few people deliberately try to be unattractive and modern society has made a religion out of physical beauty, it is good to remember that Jesus succeeded without it (BC). People would not be drawn to Christ by their eyes, but only by their heavenly Father; John 6:44, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." This is still true today.B. The reference to not having a "stately form or majesty" indicates that the Messiah did not have a majestic manner (NIBC).
- His humble beginning seemed so unimportant (WGB).
Transition: Isaiah gives us a 3rd reason why the Messiah was rejected, He was. . .
3. Rejected because of His suffering (Isa.53:3; 52:14).
A. In Isaiah 53:3, we are told that the nation of Israel despised and rejected the Servant who experienced anguish or grief, because He was the kind of individual that people do not normally want to look at (BKC).Application: Why was Christ rejected? Because of man's misconceptions and unbiblical opinions about what the Messiah should say, what He should look like and what He should be as the stately king instead of the suffering servant. When we create god in our own image, then we will find that the real God never "lives up" to our own standards - it's impossible because He is sinless and we are sin-filled. A pick-and-chose faith will always create a pick-and-chose god to match. The Apostle John wrote world's blindness of Christ, "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him" (John 1:10-11). It's easy for Christians to look back and shake our finger at the Jews because of their blindness, but if we are not careful we too can allow our misconceptions and unbiblical opinions to get in our way of serving the Savior that we claim follow. The suffering that Christ endured, He endured for us to become the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Let never forget this truth.1) They were repulsed by Him and thought very little of Him so that they turned their backs on Him (POC).B. In Isaiah 52:14, we see that Christ was rejected also because of He suffered the fate of a criminal and not a king.- Isaiah wrote that they hid their faces from Him- a phrase used to describe turning away from a leper.2) Those who saw Him experiencing sorrows, only saw Christ as a failure and not as a Savior (POC).3) He was acquainted with grief because of his earthly mission (WGB).
A) Mark 2:16-17, "And when the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax-gatherers, they began saying to His disciples, 'Why is He eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?' And hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"B) They were ashamed of Him because He did not represent the things that were important to them, things like wealth (Luke 16:14), social prestige (Luke 14:7-14; 15:1-2), reputation (Luke18:9-14), being served by others (Luke 22:24-27), and
pampering yourself (Matt. 16:21-28: BC).- He is rejected today for the same reasons.1) Isaiah tells us that People would be horrified at the Servant's appearance and that He would be so disfigured that He would no longer look human (NIBC).- "marred," ("mishchath" {mish-khawth'}); literally speaks of a disfigured face.2) When you consider all that Jesus endured physically between the time of His arrest and His crucifixion, it is no wonder He no longer looked like a man (BC).A) Not only were His legal rights taken from Him, including the right of a fair trial, but His human rights were taken from Him, so that He was not even treated like a person, let alone a Jewish citizen.3) The Gospel writers give us the facts but not the details, but it will suffice it to say that when the sinners were finished with the Savior, He did not look human; and people were so appalled, they turned their faces away (BC).B) When He was questioned before Annas (the high priest), Jesus was slapped by an officer (John 18:22).
C) At the hearing before Caiaphas, He was spat upon, slapped, and beaten on the head with fists (Matt. 26:67; Mark 14:65; Luke 22:63).
D) Pilate scourged Him (John 19:1; Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15), and his soldiers beat Him (John 19:3).
- Scourging was so terrible that prisoners were known to die from the ordeal.
Transition: While man could not overcome their false concepts of what the Messiah should be and failed to accept the Messiah, God would give Him. . .
II. His Glorious Victory (Isa.52:13,
15).
1. By being exalted by God (Isa.52:13).
A. The Messiah would act wisely, doing what the Lord wants Him to do thus He would prosper (v.13a: BKC).Application: Christ suffered and died, but He didn't remain dead. What looked to men like a humiliating defeat was in the eyes of God a great victory (BC); Colossians 2:15, "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." Jesus was not only raised from the dead, but His body was glorified. He ascended to heaven where He sat at the right hand of the Father. He has all authority (Matt. 28:18) because all things have been put under His feet (BC); Ephesians 1:20-23, "which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all." Man thought that he had put Christ in the grave, but God took Him out of the grave and exalted Him above all men;B. Christ was "high" or "exalted" in Resurrection, He was "lifted up" in His Ascension, and He was "greatly exalted" (i.e., made very high) in glory at God's right hand (BBC).
Transition: Christ would have a glorious victory. . .
2. By His forgiveness of sins (Isa.52:15a).
A. The Messiah would "sprinkle" people in many nations (BKC).Transition: And the final victory would come. . .1) The word "sprinkle" is associated with cleansing by the priest under the Mosaic Law (Lev. 4:6; 8:11; 14:1-7, 16; 16:14-15; Num. 8:7).B. The word translated "sprinkle" can also be translated "startle" (BC).2) While the sprinkling of blood, water, and oil did not take away sins, it did make the recipient ceremonially clean and accepted before God (BC).
3) The Messiah, whom many have not considered important at all, will actually provide the most important thing for nations and their kings, namely, cleansing from sin once and for all (BKC).
- Hebrews 9:11-15, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."1) This carries the thought that His death will startle when properly understood (McGee).2) J. Vernon McGee points out that, "The death of Christ should never become commonplace to anyone. His death was different. Let us keep it that way. We have not told it properly unless it startles people" (McGee).
3. By the silence of men (Isa.52:15b).
A. Realizing their great mistake, men will have nothing to say (BKC).Application: Warren Wiersbe makes this observation, "This Man whom the world condemned has declared that they are condemned unless they turn from sin and trust Him. You cannot rejoice in the Good News of salvation until first you face the bad news of condemnation. Jesus did not suffer and die because He was guilty, but because we were guilty. People are astonished at this fact; it shuts their mouths" (BC). When Christ returns all will understand then that the humble Man of Calvary is the King of kings and Lord of lords (BBC); Philippians 2:9-11, "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The problem is that multitudes will stand is silent judgment because they failed to recognize Christ the Savior the first time He was here, and they will only meet Christ the judge when they meet Him again.1) The nations are represented by their kings (NIBC).B. Eventually, when the nations of the world see Him exalted in His Second Advent, they will finally understand and see clearly (BKC).2) Their shutting of their mouths is a token of stunned respect because they had miscalculated the situation so badly (BKC).
3) The Apostle Paul writes of this in Romans 15:21, "but as it is written, 'They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.'"
Truths To Ponder:
1. We are reminded in our passage of Scripture today, that God's ways
are very seldom man's ways.
A. Man is more concerned about how the outside appears to others.2. We are reminded once again of the price that was paid by Christ because of our sinfulness.B. God is more concerned about how the inside appears to Him.
3. We are reminded that God can use a humble heart to change the world,
but a proud heart never really changes
anything.
4. You can either confess Christ now with your mouth and accept Him
as your Savior, or you can wait for the day that
you will stand is silent judgment before the
Lord.
Study References
Barnes - Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament,
Albert Barnes, Parsons Technology, Inc.
BBC - Believer's Bible Commentary,
William MacDonald, Thomas Nelson Publishers
BC - Be Comforted, Warren W. Wierbe,
Victor Books
BKC - Bible Knowledge Commentary,
John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, Victor Books
McGee - Isaiah, J. Vernon McGee,
Thru The Bible
NIBC - New Illustrated Bible Commentary,
Radmacher, Allen & House, Thomas Nelson Inc.
POC - Portraits Of Christ In Isaiah,
Arthur B. Walton, Regular Baptist Press
WGB - Willmington's Guide to the Bible,
H.L. Willmington, Tyndale House
Word Studies
V.14.
- "astonished," ("shamen"
{shaw-mame': Qal pf, 3 c.p}); to be desolated, be appalled, be awestruck.
(KJV = astonied)
- "appearance," ("mar'-eh"
{mar-eh': n, m, sg, 3, m.s., sf}); appearance, sight, spectacle. (KJV =
visage)
- "marred," ("mishchath"
{mish-khawth': n, m, sg}); disfigured (of face), corruption, marred.
- "more than any," ("'iysh"
{eesh: prep, n, m, sg}); beyond human semblance,
- "form," ("to'ar"
{to'-ar: conj, n, m, sg, 3, m.s., sf}); shape, form, outline, figure, appearance.
- "more than the sons," ("ben"
{bane: prep, n, m, pl, cstr}); beyond that of the sons of.
V.15.
- "sprinkle," ("nazah"
{naw-zaw': Hi impf, 3, m, sg}); to spurt, spatter, sprinkle upon, to cause
to leap, startle.
- "many," ("rab"
{rab: adj, m, pl}); much, many, great.
- "nations," ("gowy"
{go'-ee: n, m, pl}); nations, people, Gentiles.
- "kings," ("melek"
{meh'-lek: n, m, pl}): kings, royalty.
- "shut," ("qaphats"
{kaw-fats': Qal impf, 3, m, pl}); to shut, to draw together, close, stop
up.
- "mouths," ("peh"
{peh: n, m, pl, sf}); mouths, speech.
- "had not been told," ("caphar"
{saw-far': neg, Pu pf, 13, m, sg}); to be recounted, be related, told,
spoke.
- "see," ("ra'-ah"
{raw-aw': Qal pf, 3, c.p}); to see, perceive, consider, learn about, observe,
find out.
- "not heard," ("shama'"
{shaw-mah': neg, Qal pf, 3, c.p}); to hear, listen to, obey, listened to,
give heed to.
- "will understand," ("biyn"
{bene: Hithpolel pf, 3, c.p. paus}): to discern, understand, consider,
to show oneself
discerning or attentive, consider diligently. (KJV
= shall. . .consider)
V.2.
- "grew up," ("'alah"
{aw-law': Qal impf, 3 per, m, sg}); to spring up, grow, shoot forth. (KJV
= grow up)
- "tender shoot," ("yowneq"
{yo-nake': prep, def art, n, m, sg}); like a young plant, sucker, suckling,
sapling.
(KJV = tender plant)
- "root," ("sheresh"
{sheh'-resh: conj, prep, def art, n, m, sg}); root.
- "out of parched," ("tsiyah"
{tsee-yaw': n, f, sg}); dryness, drought, desert, dry land, barren. (KJV
= out of a dry)
- "ground," ("'erets"
{eh'-rets: prep, n, f, sg}); land, earth, ground.
- "no stately form," ("to'ar"
{to'-ar: neg, n, m, sg}); shape, form, outline, figure, appearance. (KJV
= no form)
- "majesty," ("hadar"
{haw-dawr': conj, neg, n, m,sg}); ornament, splendor, honor, majesty. (KJV
= comeliness)
- "nor appearance," ("mar'eh"
{mar-eh': conj, neg, n, m, sg}): sight, appearance, countenance. (KJV =
no
beauty)
- "attracted," ("chamed"
{khaw-mad': conj, Qal impf, 3 Per, m, sg}); desire, covet, delight, take
pleasure in.
(KJV = desire)
V.3.
- "despised," ("bazah"
{baw-zaw': Ni ptc}); to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.
- "forsaken," ("chadel"
{khaw-dale': conj, adj, cstr}); rejected, forsaken, refused. (KJV = rejected)
- "sorrows," ("mak'ob"
{mak-obe': n, m, pl}); pain, sorrow, suffering.
- "acquainted," ("yada"
{yaw-dah': conj, Qal pass, ptc, m, sg, cstr}); to know by experience, be
acquainted with.
- "grief," ("choiy"
{khol-ee': n, m, sg, paus}): grief, sickness, disease, affliction, pains.
- "hide," ("macter"
{mas-tare': conj, prep, n, m, sg, cstr}); the act of hiding, one who causes
people to hide.
(KJV = hid)
- "face," ("paniym"
{paw-neem': n, m, pl}): faces, from the presence of, from before, from
before the face of.
(KJV = faces)
- "despised," ("bazah"
{baw-zaw': Ni ptc, m, sg}); to despise, hold in contempt, disdain, to be
worthless, despicable.
- "esteem," ("chashab"
{khaw-shab': conj, neg, Qal pf, 1 c.p. 3, m, sf}); to think, account, reckon,
esteem, value,
regard. (KJV = esteemed)