The Sufferings of Christ

INTRODUCTION: This chapter is one of the greatest chapters on Christ in the Bible. Although it emphasizes the sufferings of Christ for the sinner, the entire gospel can be found: the birth and life of Christ, His sufferings and death, His burial, His resurrection, and His glorification. Of this chapter, the Baptist preacher J. Frank Norris said: “The greatest chapter, the highest mountain peak of the whole Bible. This chapter should be memorized by all.”

1. REJECTED OF MEN (Isaiah 53:1-3)
1. Unknown (Isaiah 53:1; quoted in John 12:38 and Romans 10:16)
1. The report is not believed (John 1:11; John 8:13-14; 1 John 5:10-11).
2. The arm of the Lord not revealed because of unbelief (Matthew 11:25; Matthew 16:17)
2. Unimpressive (Isaiah 53:2a)
1. A tender plant (Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 12:18-20)
2. A root out of dry ground (Isaiah 11:1-2, 10); the picture is of a plant that apparently died, but still had a living root and later sprang up from that root (Job 14:7-9; Daniel 4:23).
3. Undesirable (Isaiah 53:2b); although this passage may partially apply to the physical appearance of Christ during His life (no mention is ever made of Christ having a striking appearance), the main application of this text certainly points to His condition on the cross. He had been whipped until His bones could be seen through the shredded flesh (Psalm 22:17). The soldiers had blindfolded him and punched Him in the face (Luke 22:64). The crown of thorns had further disfigured his face with blood running down on all sides. In addition to all this, His beard had been pulled out by His tormentors (Isaiah 50:6). As a result, his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men (Isaiah 52:14). That is, He no longer even looked like a man.
1. No form (Isaiah 52:14); compare to the earth in Genesis 1:2.
2. No comeliness (Psalm 22:6)
3. No beauty
4. Rejected (Isaiah 53:3a)
1. Rejected of men (John 1:10-11)
2. A man of sorrows (Matthew 26:37-38)
3. Acquainted with grief (Hebrews 12:2)
5. Despised (Isaiah 53:3b; Isaiah 49:7)
1. We hid our faces from Him (Job 13:24).
2. We esteemed Him not (Luke 16:15).
2. AFFLICTED FOR MEN (Isaiah 53:4-9)
1. His Substitution (Isaiah 53:4-6)
1. His burden (Isaiah 53:4a)
1. Bearing our griefs
2. Carrying our sorrows
2. His judgment (Isaiah 53:4b)
1. Stricken
2. Smitten of God
3. Afflicted
3. His payment (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
1. The debt (Galatians 3:13)
1. Wounded for our transgressions
2. Bruised for our iniquities
2. The purchase
1. Chastised for our peace
2. Striped for our healing (1 Peter 2:24-25)
4. His benefactors (Isaiah 53:6)
1. All we like sheep have gone astray (1 Peter 3:18).
2. We have turned every one to his own way (Proverbs 14:12).
3. The LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Hebrews 9:26).
2. His Silence (Isaiah 53:7)
1. He opened not His mouth, though oppressed and afflicted (Hebrews 5:8).
2. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter (John 1:29; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 13:8), as a sheep is silent before the shearers (Matthew 27:12-14; 1 Peter 2:21-23).
3. His Separation (Isaiah 53:8-9) cut off out of the land of the living
1. Taken from prison (Isaiah 53:8; Matthew 27:15-18)
2. Taken from judgment (Isaiah 53:8; John 18:38; John 19:4, 6)
3. Cut off out of the land of the living (Isaiah 53:8; Daniel 9:26)
4. Made his grave with the wicked (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:38)
5. Made his grave with the rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
3. APPROVED BY GOD (Isaiah 53:10-12)
1. His Payment (Isaiah 53:10a)
1. It pleased the LORD to bruise Him.
2. He made His soul an offering for sin (Psalm 16:10).
2. His Promotion (Isaiah 53:10b)
1. He shall see His seed paradise (Luke 23:43).
2. He shall prolong His days resurrection (John 10:17-18).
3. He shall prosper glorification (John 17:5).
3. His Propitiation (Isaiah 53:11)
1. The Father sees the suffering of the Son.
2. The Father is satisfied.
3. The righteous servant justifies many.
1. By His knowledge; He knew what it took to pay for their sins.
2. By bearing their iniquity
4. The doctrine of propitiation (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10)
1. The definition of propitiation - The act of Christ by which He satisfies the Fathers demand of judgment against sin. By propitiation, the Son experiences the wrath of the Father on sin for the sake of others.
2. The need for propitiation
1. Gods demands (Habakkuk 1:13; Romans 6:23a)
2. Our failure (Job 25:4-6; Romans 8:7)
3. Our weakness (Psalm 49:6-8; Romans 5:6-10)
3. The provision of propitiation
1. Motivated by love (1 John 4:10; John 3:16)
2. Extending to all (1 John 2:2; 2 Peter 3:9)
3. Received by faith (Romans 3:25; Romans 10:8-17)
4. His Portion (Isaiah 53:12)
1. He receives His inheritance.
2. He has proven His worth.
1. By pouring out His soul unto death
2. By being numbered with the transgressors (Mark 15:28)
3. By bearing the sin of many (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
4. By making intercession for transgressors (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)

CONCLUSION: Jesus Christ did all this for us. Have you trusted in Him?