10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

Introduction: How many ways are there that lead to heaven? Most of the world, which includes many Christians, believe that there are many ways to get to heaven. Most people think that the various religions in the world are all really worshiping the same God, so there is really no difference since they all can get you to heaven. Others, believe that you can also do various things to earn your way into heaven. For example, if you live a "good" life and help your fellow man then God will see your goodness in the end and will let you into heaven. You will also find that if you are a Christian and proclaim that there is only one way to get to heaven and that way is Jesus Christ, then you'll find yourself being called such things as "hateful," or "mean spirited," or "closed minded." But what does the Bible say about this subject? Is there really many ways to get to heaven? Or is there only one way? In the gospel of  Matthew it says in 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it." God's Word makes it clear that the way to heaven isn't found on the wide roads of the various religions of this world, nor is the way to heaven found on the wide roads of self-effort. What we will clearly see in our passage of Scripture this morning is the only gate that leads to heaven is named Jesus Christ. The reason for this is found in the fact that the Messiah gave Himself as the satisfying sacrifice to meet the holy standards of righteousness set by a holy and perfect God.

Transition: The Messiah's sacrifice was satisfying because. . .

I. It Was An Ordained Sacrifice (v.10).
1. It was according to God's will (v.10a).

A. Jesus was crucified by the hands of wicked men, but His death was determined beforehand by God (BC).

1) Acts 2:22-23, "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know - this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."

2) 1 Peter 1:19-21, "but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

B. Jesus was not a martyr, nor was His death an accident, He was God's sacrifice for the sins of the world (BC).

2. It was substitutionary (v.10b).

A. The Messiah would be our "guilt offering."

1) "'asham" {aw-shawm'}); guilt offering, trespass offering, compensation for offense.

2) This word is used in the book of Leviticus and elsewhere of an offering to atone for sin (BKC).

- Leviticus 6:2-5, "When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full, and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering."

B. Christ's death was the sacrifice for our sins and He had to die to satisfy the righteous demands of God.

3. It was effective (v.10c).

A. It gave birth to spiritual offspring.

1) To die childless was a grief and shame to the Jews, but Jesus gave birth to a spiritual family (BC) even though His death and burial appeared to end His existence (BKC).

2) John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."

B. It conquered death.

1) Christ's days were prolonged, in that He lives on forever as the resurrected Son of God.

2) Ephesians 1:19-23, "and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 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."

C. It provided a way of salvation.

- Isaiah tells us that God had took pleasure in the fact that sinners would be redeemed and be justified through Christ's sacrifice would "prosper" (Young).

Transition: Not only was Christ's sacrifice ordained by God, but. . .

II. It Was A Satisfying Sacrifice (v.11).
1. It brought satisfaction and it satisfied (v.11a).

A. The Messiah's death brought satisfaction (BC).

1) It satisfied the heart of His heavenly Father.

A) John 8:29, "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

B) The Heavenly Father did not find enjoyment in seeing His beloved Son suffer, but the Father was pleased that His Son's obedience accomplished the redemption that He had planned from eternity past.

2) It satisfied the Law of God.

A) The theological term for this is "propitiation," which means to "appease" or "atone," and it stresses that the holiness of God is fully satisfied (Moody Handbook of Theology).

(1) Romans 3:25, "whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed."

(2) 1 John 2:2, "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

B) In pagan religions, the word meant "to offer a sacrifice to placate an angry god."

C) The Christian meaning is much richer.

(1) God is angry at sin because it offends His holiness and violates His holy Law.

(2) In His holiness, He must judge sinners; but in His love, He desires to forgive them.

(3) God cannot ignore sin or compromise with it, for that would be contrary to His own nature and Law.

B. The Messiah would be amply satisfied seeing the multitudes of those who would be redeemed by His blood (BBC).

2. It was justified and it justified (v.11b).

A. By the Messiah's knowledge of His Father's will, it led Him to the cross to bare the punishment for our iniquities (BBC).

- Thus His death was justified, or declared right in the sight of God.

B. By the knowledge of what Christ did for us and putting our trust in His sacrifice for our sins, we are justified in the sight of God.

1) To "justify" means "to declare righteous" (BC), or "to acquit from guilt" (NIBC).

2) The Messiah took our sins that we might receive the gift of His righteousness (BC).

A) 2 Corinthians 5:21, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

B) Romans 5:17, "For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."

3) Justification means that God declares believing sinners righteous in Christ and never again keeps a record of their sins (BC).

A) Psalm 32:1-2, "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!"

B) Romans 4:1-8, "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.'"

Transition: Not only did Christ's sacrifice bring satisfaction, but. . .

III. It Was A Rewarding Sacrifice (v.12).
1. It would be blessed and bring blessings (v.12a).

A. Isaiah pictures God the Father dividing the spoil of victory with His Servant (NIBC).

1) The people of Isaiah's day understood the idea of a conquering king who claimed the spoils of war (POC).

2) Israel had practiced this in their history.

A) Abraham did this in Genesis 14:16-24.

B) King David did this in 1 Samuel 30:20-26.

3) The Assyrian kings were doing this to Isaiah at this time.

4) God will pour out His blessings upon His Son, because of His faithfulness and victory.

A) Psalm 2:8, the royal psalm as it relates to Christ says, "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession."

B) 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."

B. Isaiah also pictures the Messiah dividing His spoils with His followers (POC).

1) Believers will receive a portion of the inheritance in Christ's kingdom.

- Colossians 1:12-13, "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."

2) Believers are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

- Romans 8:17, "and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him."

3) Believers will also reign with Christ in His millennial kingdom.

- Revelation 20:6, "Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years."

Transition: Isaiah once again reminds us of why these blessings will come. . .

2. It is a blessing because of the Messiah's actions (v.12b).

A. By His sacrificial death.

1) It was sacrificial by His voluntary submission to death.

- 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. This commandment I received from My Father."

2) It was sacrificial by His taking the place of sinners and being hung on a Cross between two thieves.

A) Matthew 27:38, "At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left."

B) Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'"

B. By His intercession on our behalf.

1) "interceded," ("paga'" {paw-gah'}); to cause to light upon, to cause to entreat, interpose, to reach the mark, to make intercession.

2) Christ began His work of intercession on the Cross when He prayed in Luke 23:34, ". . .Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. . ."

3) Christ continues to intercede on our behalf today.

A) Hebrews 7:25, "Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

B) Romans 8:34, "who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."

Truths To Ponder:
1. D.L. Moody once said this about Isaiah 53, "Despised, yet accepted and adored. Poor, yet rich. To die, yet to live. The Rabbis said there must be a double Messiah to fulfill this chapter" (BBC).

A. Man's foresight failed to comprehend the Messiah as God would send Him.

B. Yet in our hindsight, we can clearly see and understand that there was and still is only one Messiah.

A. First, God is Holy and man is not!

1) God is perfect, sinless and cannot condone any sin in His presence.

2) God has revealed His Holy standards to us through the 10 Commandments.

3) Man is born into sin because of Adam, and man actively practices sin by rebelling against God's Holy Standards.

B. Second, God has provided the only acceptable sacrifice that is needed to atone for our sins.

1) If the sinless, perfect Son of God isn't good enough to save us from our sins, then what else could?

2) To accept anything less than God's sacrifice is to reject and rebel against God thus leaving you in your sins and unforgiven.

C. Lastly, we are reminded that we must make a choice to accept God's sacrifice or to reject it.

1) We must chose if we want Christ to defend us before His heavenly Father, or if we want Him to bring the charges against us.

2) The choice is yours - God's forgiveness and eternal blessings, or God's wrath and eternal punishment for your sins against God.

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
NIBC - New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Radmacher, Allen & House, Thomas Nelson Inc.
POC - Portraits Of Christ In Isaiah, Arthur B. Walton, Regular Baptist Press
Young - The Book Of Isaiah, Edward Young, Eerdmans Publishing
 
 

V.10.
- "Lord," ("Yehovah" {yeh-ho-vaw': conj, pr, n}); Jehovah = "the existing One", the proper name of the one true God.
- "was pleased," ("chaphets" {khaw-fates': Qal pf, 3, m, sg}); to delight in, take pleasure in, to be pleased to do.
    (KJV = it pleased)
- "crush," ("daka'" {daw-kaw': Pi inf, cstr, 3, m, sg, sf}); to crush, to break in pieces, destroy. (KJV = bruise)
- "putting. . .grief," ("chalah" {khaw-law': Hi pf, 3, m, sg}); to be or become weak or sick, to make sick,
    to grieve. (KJV = put. . .grief)
- "render," ("siym" {seem: Qal impf, 3, f, sg [or 2, m, sg]}); to put, put or lay upon, appoint, make, to extend,
    ordain, establish. (KJV = make)
- "Himself," ("nephesh" {neh'-fesh: n, f, sg, 3, m.s. sf}); self, soul, life, person. (KJV = soul)
- "guilt offering," ("'asham" {aw-shawm': n, m, sg}); guilt offering, trespass offering, compensation for offense.
    (KJV = offering for sin)
- "see," ("ra'ah" {raw-aw': Qal impf, 3, m, s.}); to see, to look at, perceive, watch.
- "offspring," ("zera'" {zeh'-rah: n, m, sg}); seed, sowing, offspring, descendants, posterity. (KJV = seed)
- "prolong," ("'arak" {aw-rak': Hi impf, 3, m, sg}); to be long, prolong, lengthen.
- "days," ("yowm" {yome: n, m, pl}); days, time.
- "good pleasure," ("chephets" {khay'-fets: conj, n, m, sg, cstr}); delight, (good) pleasure, desire, that in which
    one takes delight. (KJV = pleasure)
- "Lord," ("Yehovah" {yeh-ho-vaw': pr, n}); Jehovah = "the existing One", the proper name of the one true God.
- "prosper," ("tsalach" {tsaw-lakh': Qal impf, 3, m, sg, paus}); to rush, to advance, prosper, make progress,
    succeed, be profitable.
- "hand," ("yad" {yawd: prep, n, f, sg, 3 m.s., sf}); hand, strength, power.

V.11.
- "anguish," ("'amal" {aw-mawl': prep, n, m, sg, cstr}); toil, trouble, labor. (KJV = travail)
- "soul," ("nephesh" {neh'-fesh: n, f, sg, 3, m.s., sf}); self, soul, life, person.
- "see," ("ra'ah" {raw-aw': Qal impf, 3, m.s.}); to see, to look at, perceive, watch.
- "satisfied," ("saba'" {saw-bah': Qal impf, 3, m.s., paus}); to be satisfied with, be fulfilled, have one's
    fill of (have desire satisfied).
- "knowledge," ("da'ath" {dah'-ath: prep, n, f, s, 3, m.s., sf}); knowledge, perception, discernment,
     understanding, wisdom.
- "righteous one," ("'ebed" {eh'-bed: adj}); slave, servant. (KJV = righteous servant)
- "justify," ("tsaddiyq" {tsad-deek': Hi impf, 3, m.s.}); just, righteous, right, correct, lawful, to make to be
    accounted righteous.
- "many," ("rab" {rab: prep, def, art, adj, m, p.}); many, great, numerous.
- "bear," ("cabal" {saw-bal': Qal impf, 3, m, s}); to bear (a load).
- "iniquities," ("'avon" {aw-vone': conj, n, m, p, 3, m.p. sf}); perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment
    of iniquity, guilt.

V.12.
- "therefore," ("ken" {kane: prep, adv}); therefore, hence, thus.
- "allot," ("chalaq" {khaw-lak': Pi impf, 1, c.s.}); to divide, share, allot, apportion, assign. (KJV = divide)
- "great," ("rab" {prep, def art}); much, many, great, numerous.
- "divide," ("chalaq" {khaw-lak': Pi impf, 3, m.s.});
- "booty," ("shalal" {shaw-lawl': n, m, s}); plunder, spoil, booty. (KJV = spoil)
- "strong," ("'atsuwm" {aw-tsoom': adj, m.p}); mighty, vast numerous, strong (in number).
- "poured out," ("'arah" {aw-raw': Hi pf, 3, m.s.}); to be bare, be nude, to uncover, to pour out.
- "himself," ("nephesh" {neh'-fesh: n, f, sg, m.s., sf}); self, soul, life, person. (KJV = soul)
- "death," ("maveth" {maw'-veth: prep, def art, n, m.s.}); death, the realm of the dead, death by violence
    (as a penalty).
- "numbered," ("manah" {maw-naw': Ni pf, 3, m.s.}); to count, to be counted, be numbered, to be reckoned,
     be assigned.
- "transgressors," ("pasha'" {paw-shah': Qal act, ptc, m.p.}); to rebel, revolt, to transgress.
- "bore," ("nasa'" {naw-saw': Qal pf, 3, m.s.}); to lift, bear up, carry, take, to bear, sustain, endure, support. (KJV = bare)
- "sin," ("chet'" {khate: n, m.s., cstr}); sin, offences, guilt for sin, punishment for sin.
- "many," ("rab" {rab: adj, m.p.}); much, many, great, numerous.
- "interceded," ("paga'" {paw-gah': Hi impf, 3, m.s.}); to cause to light upon, to cause to entreat, interpose, to
    reach the mark, to make intercession. (KJV = make intercession)
- "transgressors," ("pasha'" {paw-shah': conj, prep, def art, Qal act, ptc, m.p.}); to rebel, revolt, to transgress.