Wounded for Our Transgressions
Isaiah 53:1-12
SS Lesson for 01/30/11
Devotional Scripture: Heb 10:5-18
The outline of the lesson came from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary. This week's lesson reminds us that Jesus was Wounded for Our Transgressions. The study's aim is to realize that by Jesus' stripes we are healed and that it was all done to appease God for our transgressions. The study's application is to understand that we appropriate the healing of Jesus for ourselves when we receive that death as done for us.
Superman
We live in a world that needs a savior. Countless lives are broken, beaten, and confused. We need someone to intervene—someone to expose the lies that dominate our lives and to set us on the right course. In the late nineteenth century, the atheistic philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche identified just the sort of savior he thought this world needed. His idealized savior was a man, but certainly no ordinary man. Nietzsche’s description of a value-creating being translates somewhat loosely into English as “superman.” Nietzsche’s vision of such an individual was that of a man who rejects any notion that God or any other being outside the world should be the source of values to govern the world. Nietzsche suggested instead that this superman would trust his own intuitive sense of good and evil. This superman’s sense of right and wrong would be rooted in what helps him succeed and prevents him from failing. Since the superman observes that everything in this world is in a constant state of flux, he acknowledges that all that exists now, including his current value system, must be overcome by what comes next. To keep current, this superman must reinvent himself continually in order to become stronger. Thus, according to Nietzsche, what this world needs is a being who draws on his own internal resources to master the practice of overcoming his former self. If the brightest minds of our day were to design the savior they think this world needs, it might not look much different from Nietzsche’s. It might still be an individual who spurns tradition and is accountable to no one but himself or herself. Or perhaps it would look like one of the countless conflicted heroes of the comic books. After her decimation by Babylon, Israel also needed a savior. Israel needed someone who could meet them where they were, overcome their sin, and set them on the right course. Today’s passage reveals God’s promise to send them the hero they needed. But the hero they received was nothing like anyone expected.
Lesson Background
Isaiah 53 addresses the same historical context that was addressed in the last three lessons: God comforted his people Israel, who were oppressed by the Babylonians (although that oppression was many decades in the future as Isaiah wrote). The people were calling into question God’s sovereignty and their own future. Yet today’s passage also takes place in a wider biblical context that is important to its proper understanding.
This particular “Servant Song,” which begins in 52:13, is quoted multiple times in the New Testament as a description of Jesus’ ministry, death, and burial (examples: Matthew 8:17; Luke 22:37; 1 Peter 2:22). Perhaps the most well-known passage that connects Jesus with the servant of today’s passage is Acts 8:26–35, in which Philip evangelized the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was reading from an Isaiah scroll and was confused by the verses we now identify as Isaiah 53:7, 8. That is the passage that describes the suffering servant as a sheep being led to slaughter. Philip immediately identified the servant as Jesus and explained the gospel. Today we will discuss this passage in its context and highlight how it points beyond events of the sixth century BC toward the work of Christ. The last three verses of Isaiah 52, which directly precede today’s text, discuss how God’s servant is to be exalted despite the reaction of the startled nations. The nations were taken aback because they didn’t see the servant coming. It wasn’t revealed to them as it was to Israel. Yet all nations will indeed have to reckon with this startling servant.
A eunuch was on his way back to Ethiopia after visiting Jerusalem. He was likely a Jewish proselyte. What, if anything, he had heard about Jesus while there is not known. Being a student of God's Word, however, led this eunuch to use his time wisely as he traveled along. Probably having just purchased a copy in Jerusalem, the treasurer of the Ethiopian queen read from a scroll of Isaiah. In the meantime, God sent a man named Philip to intercept him on his journey. Coming up to his chariot, Philip asked, "Understandest thou What thou readest?" (Acts 8:30). Being invited to sit in the man's chariot, "Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus" (vs. 35). In God's providence, the very Scripture the Ethiopian was reading was Isaiah 53, this week's lesson text. While other Old Testament passages could have been used to proclaim Christ, this was the most explicitly gospel-oriented one in the entire Hebrew Bible. Before long, the Ethiopian official professed faith in Christ and was baptized (Acts 8:36-38). A study of world religions will show that the whole world is seeking salvation in one form or other to get rid of their sins and to achieve a bright future, whether it is heaven, nirvana (a state of passionless bliss), or something else that is supposed to give hope and peace about the future. We need to emphasize that they all promote doing something to earn one's way there. Christianity, however, offers salvation for free to all who will just believe in what has already been done. One often wonders why Jesus had to die such a cruel death on the cross. The Old Testament law said that blood had to be shed for sins to be taken away. Jesus was the fulfillment of that law, and He was the perfect sacrifice for us. In our lesson this week we explore the plan of God, the suffering of Jesus, and the consequences for us. Because of His wounds and His death, we have healing and salvation today. We have a bright future because of this.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
10 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you — I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked — But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."
24 He 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.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
22 But Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
For the past four weeks we have studied how God intervened to deliver Israel from Babylonian captivity. We have seen that the Israelites were captive not only to a foreign nation but also to the sin that filled their lives and brought about their punishment. God was faithful to deliver his people from both physical and spiritual bondage. What is important to note as we wrap up our study of Isaiah is the means God used to liberate his people. The Babylonians had mocked both God and his people, dragging their names through the mud. The Israelites responded by doubting God’s power, thinking themselves to be forgotten. Many Israelites undoubtedly embraced the alternative power and religion of Babylon. God could have responded in various ways. He could have imposed his way of thinking on Israel and the nations supernaturally. He could have assembled the heavenly hosts and established his reign with brute force. He could have raised a great warrior-king in Israel to crush Babylon. Yet God didn’t use any of these strategies. Instead, he told Israel that idol worship was wrong as he used arguments that could be accepted or rejected freely. He claimed that his sovereignty was attested in how he brought his predictions to fruition. God used the foreigner Cyrus to execute judgment against Babylon without overriding Cyrus’s own agenda. Finally, God used a gentle servant-leader to form a people to bear witness to his power of reconciliation and new life. In calling both unfaithful Israel and the faithful servant by the same name—servant—God held before Israel a picture of what he aspired that nation to be. This is evident in what God did next with his people: he returned the Israelites to their land without the perks that were supposed to accompany great nations, and he instructed them to wait for the faithful servant to arrive. That would be a servant who would lead them to greatness as God defined greatness. When that servant arrived in the person of Jesus, he taught God’s people that if they were to be his light to the nations, then they would have to follow his path of suffering service. He taught them that such service would be a demonstration of God’s power and the proper posture of his people in the world. God’s strategy has not changed. Christians and churches in our own day must take seriously the servant posture to which God calls us.
This week's text is an obvious prophecy of Christ's suffering and crucifixion, but its main focus may escape us at first glance. Yet it reveals one of the most essential and important (and, regrettably, controversial) foundational doctrines of the Christian faith, namely, that of Christ's vicarious or substitutionary, atonement. Our text is very plain. Christ's wounds were the wounds we deserved and Christ's bruises were the bruises we deserved. The whippings and scouragings that He suffered were ones we deserved, and it was all for the sake of our undeserved peace, healing, and salvation, Christ's sufferings were by no means merely some addition to God's saving plan to show that He identifies with our human suffering, as some would wrongly have it. On the contrary, they were absolutely essential to the forgiveness of our sins and the assuaging of God's righteous wrath toward us as sinners. As the writer of Hebrews tells there is no forgiveness "without shedding of blood" (9:22). In John's first epistle, a very valuable aspect of the doctrine of vicarious atonement is expounded when the apostle uses the word "propitiation" (2:2) to describe Jesus' saving work. The Greek word for "propitiation" is the same word used in the historical Greek translation of the Old Testament (usually referred to as the Septuagint, or the LXX) to stand for the Hebrew word for mercy seat of the ark of the covenant. The mercy seat was the place between the outstretched wings of the two golden cherubim perched at either end of the lid of the ark. It was considered to be the very throne of God on earth within the tabernacle. This mercy seat was the holiest place on earth, for it was the exact chosen dwelling place of God's presence in the tabernacle or the later temple building. Most significantly for the subject of vicarious atonement, the mercy seat was the place where the high priest placed the blood of the annual sin offering for the entire nation of Israel on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The purpose of this offering was to appease God's righteous wrath toward the sins of His people by demonstrating that the rightful penalty for Israel's sin had been paid for by the death of the sacrificial animal (cf. Lev. 16:15-16; Num. 18:5). All this teaches us that our God is holy. He will not for any reason tolerate sin. His holiness causes His wrath to burn unceasingly against all those who sin. The only way to appease God's wrath toward sin is to atone for it with blood—the perfect blood of the sinless Sacrifice. Only by such a holy sacrifice can the wrath of God's holiness be appeased. Only by appeasing God's holy wrath can forgiveness be granted to the sinner. In His great love for us, God chose from the foundation of the world to appease His own holy wrath toward our sin. He did so by giving His own sinless Son as the perfect Sacrifice to accomplish our forgiveness. Amen!
1. What God is doing in another's life is not always apparent (Isa. 53:4)
2. Remember that our free salvation was in truth very costly to the Saviour (vs. 5)
3. Christ bore my personal sin on the cross because I was and am personally a sinner (vs. 6)
4. Christ's death was no accident but rather the plan of God (Isa. 53:10; cf. Acts 2:23)
5. Only Jesus' death can satisfy the wrath of God and provide salvation (Isa. 53:11)
6. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus intercedes even now for you (Isa. 53:12; cf. Heb. 7:25)
"The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns,' says Martin Luther. It is one thing to say, 'Christ is a Saviour;' it is quite another thing to say, 'He is my Saviour and my Lord.' The devil can say the first; the true Christian alone can say the second" (www.sermonillustrations.com). The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross was a spiritual work of personal redemption. Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, our sins are forgiven; we possess eternal life; and we live in the assured hope of His coming again. Truly, our entire person has been healed and made whole by the death of Jesus Christ.
Part of the message of the gospel is that punishment had to be endured in order for a perfect spiritual healing to take place. It is a fact that Jesus Christ Himself endured all the things that were wrong with us so that all things might be made right for us—so that we might be made spiritually whole and complete. What a life-transforming healing can be ours through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Left to themselves, though, people never would have chosen to experience this incredible healing. Like sheep that have aimlessly wandered away from the shepherd, mankind has always chosen the wrong path and have ended up hopelessly lost. To bring us back to Himself, God had to place the entire burden of man's sin on His Son. May we who have placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrate the spiritual healing that has taken place in our lives by being willing to endure suffering with a persevering spirit. May we not be "wearied and faint in [our] minds" (Heb. 12:3), but instead "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (vs. 1).
God never had any other plan of salvation in mind. Jesus Christ had to give Himself as the perfect offering for our sin in order to secure our salvation. It was only through bearing the crushing load of sin that the Saviour was able to offer His righteousness to unrighteous people. Jesus obediently and willingly suffered the painful death of the cross, and God the Father has lavishly rewarded His Son for it. Christ did not shy away from His divine appointment with death. Instead, He embraced the burden of bearing man's sin, taking it upon Himself and thereby securing salvation for all wandering sinners who would return to Him by faith. Someone has said, "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour" (www.sermonillustra-tions.com). Let us give our heavenly Father and His Son and His Spirit thanks and praise for the eternal spiritual healing that is ours because Jesus Christ endured our punishment on the cross. His bruises have made us whole and complete in Him.