Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Do you believe the Bible?
• Many don't believe
• Many cast aspersions on the word of God
• Consider Isaiah 53
• Written 700 years before the life of Jesus Christ
• Words that speak so plainly
• v5
• v7
• Can you not see Jesus in these verses?
• v9
• v12
• There are many others passages [that prophesy of Jesus Christ]
• No bones were broken
• Gambling for His clothes
• For those that say the Bible is not true
• What is your bias?
• Have you really read it?
• Have you considered the evidence?
• How do you explain the details of the prophecies of Jesus Christ?
• How can you say the Bible is not inspired?
• A wonderful passage
• The 'first gospel'
• So much doctrine:
• Justification
• Particular redemption
• Substitutionary atonement
• Resurrection
• Overview (the Suffering Servant):
• A Startling Servant (52:13-15)
• A Scorned Servant (53:1-3)
• A Sorrowful Servant (53:3)
• A Substitute Servant (53:4-5)
• A Submissive Servant (53:7-9)
• A Satisfied Servant (53:10)

A Startling Servant (52:13-15)

• He will be exalted above all, but there is something startling about Him
• People despised Him
• His face was disfigured
• He was beaten and scourged
• He suffered terrible pain
• What does this tell us about Jesus Christ and about humanity?
• It speaks of the amazing love of Jesus
• It tells us how awful humanity is
• We have depraved hearts

A Scorned Servant (53:1-3)

• Outwardly nothing beautiful about Jesus
• He was ordinary [in appearance]
• From a human perspective He was insignificant
• Yet He was the Son of God
• Who believed the report?
• He was despised by his family (initially), the religious establishment, the Jews
• Do we serve or scorn Jesus?

A Sorrowful Servant (53:3)

• We have indwelling sin - but Christ's soul was sinless
• His soul was so sensitive to sin
• His heart was filled with great sorrow as people were filled with sin and because He was filled with great compassion for them
• In Gethsemane - we see Jesus in great sorrow/distress
• Ps 69
• He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows
• Not just His own sorrows but ours too
• He is a sympathetic High Priest

A Substitute Servant (53:4-5)

• Think of how the soldiers came for Jesus
• What did He do - He stepped forward
• The soldiers fell back
• Peter took out his sword but Jesus instructed Him to put it away
• He went willingly to the cross
• Consider Barabbas
• Pilate gave the crowds a chance to release Jesus
• Pilate & Herod found no crime in Jesus
• The crowds chose Barabbas
• Jesus took Barabbas' place
• Jesus took our place
• He was bruised for us - for our griefs, our transgressions, our iniquities
• The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ (God's righteous servant)
• He is a substitute servant
• May Good Friday really be a good day for you
• May you believe in the substitute servant Jesus Christ

A Submissive Servant (53:7-9)

• He kept silent against His accusers
• He did not need to speak against these accusations
• He would not defend Himself
• He was silent (v7-8)
• He was obedient even to the point of death, the death of the cross
• The weight of sin upon Him
• He was cut off from His Father in heaven
• 3 hours of darkness on the cross (at midday)
• He was willing to do the Father's will

A Satisfied Servant (53:10)

• The Father did not take pleasure in smiting His Son, but took pleasure in the [perfect] sacrifice
• He was pleased to give those saved as a gift to His Son
• Jesus takes pleasure in His people
• Easter Sunday has changed our world
• 3 wonderful days
• Days that would change history forever
• Jesus is pleased in His offspring
• He would bring many sons to glory
• Is Jesus satisfied in you now?
• Have you trusted in Jesus and repented of your sin?
• Have you believed the word of God?
• Have you believed that you are a sinner?

Closing Remarks