Nov 16-22-08 The Suffering Christ

THE SUFFERING CHRIST

Would you be able to explain to someone where the Scriptures

speak about Jesus, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets?”

(Luke 24:27)

THE SUFFERING CHRIST

That’s what the Lord did with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus. He explained how the Old Testament—

the only inspired Scriptures in existence at that time—foretold His

coming as the Messiah.

THE SUFFERING CHRIST

An entire list of the 0ld Testament texts to which Jesus probably

referred would be too lengthy to publish here. But one book that

He undoubtedly spent a lot of time on was Isaiah.

THE SUFFERING CHRIST

No other Old Testament prophet made as many references to the coming Messiah as did Isaiah.

Notice his emphasis on the Messiah as a suffering servant, a

role that Jesus fulfilled:

The Suffering Servant

Would be widely rejected Isaiah 53:1 NET Who would have believed what we just heard?When was the LORD's power

revealed through him?

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53:3 NET He was despised and rejected by people,

one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness;

people hid their faces from him;he was despised, and we considered

him insignificant.

Jesus

Jesus came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”

John 1:11 NET He came to what was his own, but his own people

did not receive him.

Jesus

John 12:37 NET Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous

signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, 38 so that the

word of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled.

Jesus

He said, "Lord, who has believed our message, and

to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

The Suffering Servant

Would be disfigured by suffering Isaiah 52:14 NET (just as many were horrified by the sight of you) he was so disfigured he no longer

looked like a man;

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53:2 NET He sprouted up like a twig before God,

like a root out of parched soil;he had no stately form or majesty that

might catch our attention,no special appearance that we should

want to follow him.

Jesus

Pilate had Jesus scourged (beaten):

Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head struck Him on the head with a stick, and spat on

Him.

Jesus

Mark 15:15 NET Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate

released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged,

he handed him over to be crucified.

Jesus

Mark 15:17 NET They put a purple cloak on him and after braiding a

crown of thorns, they put it on him.

Jesus

Mark 15:19 NET Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Then they knelt down and paid homage to him.

The Suffering Servant

Would voluntarily accept the pain, suffering, and death that sinners

deserve.Isaiah 53:7 NET He was treated harshly

and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth.

The Suffering Servant

Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before

her shearers,he did not even open his mouth. 8 He was led away after an unjust

trial — but who even cared?

The Suffering Servant

Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living;

because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded.

Jesus

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus laid down His life for His “sheep.” John 10:11 NET "I am the good

shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus

John 19:30 NET When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said,

"It is completed!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Suffering Servant

Would make atonement for sin through His blood.

Isaiah 52:15 NET his form was so marred he no longer looked

human — so now he will startle many nations.

The Suffering Servant

Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness

something unannounced to them, and they will understand

something they had not heard about.

Jesus

Believers are redeemed and saved through the blood of Christ.

1 Peter 1:15 NET but, like the Holy One who called you, become

holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 16 for it is written, "You

shall be holy, because I am holy."

Jesus

17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges

according to each one's work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.

Jesus

18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your

ancestors you were ransomed — not by perishable things like silver

or gold,

Jesus

19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and

spotless lamb, namely Christ.

The Suffering Servant

Would take upon Himself the grief of human sin and sorrow.

Isaiah 53:4 NET But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and

afflicted for something he had done.

The Suffering Servant

5 He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds,

crushed because of our sins;he endured punishment that made

us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.

Jesus

Jesus was “delivered up because of our offenses;”

Romans 4:25 NET He was given over because of our transgressions

and was raised for the sake of our justification.

Jesus

He ‘bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” and by His stripes we were

healed 1 Peter 2:24 NET He himself bore our

sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and

live for righteousness.

Jesus

By his wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned

back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

The Suffering Servant

Would die on behalf of “the iniquity [sin] of us all.”

Isaiah 53:6 NET All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off

on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him.

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53:8 NET He was led away after an unjust trial —

but who even cared?Indeed, he was cut off from the

land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was

wounded.

Jesus

God made Jesus “who knew no sin to be sin for us.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 NET God made the one who did not know sin to

be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

The Suffering Servant

Would die in order to make “intercession for the transgressor”

Isaiah 53:12 NET So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes,

he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful,

The Suffering Servant

because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of

the rebels."

Jesus

Jesus was crucified between two robbers, one on His right and the

other on His left;Mark 15:27 NET And they crucified two

outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Jesus

Luke 22:37 NET For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was counted with the

transgressors.' For what is written about

me is being fulfilled."

Jesus

More generally, He is the one “Mediator between God and men” 1 Timothy 2:5 NET For there is one God

and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus,

himself human,

The Suffering Servant

Would be buried in a rich man’s tomb Isaiah 53:9 NET They intended to bury him

with criminals,but he ended up in a rich man's tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.

Jesus

Joseph of Arimathea placed the body of Jesus in his own new tomb.

John 19:38 NET After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus

(but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders ), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus.

Jesus

Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away. 39

Nicodemus, the man who had previously come to Jesus at night, accompanied Joseph, carrying a

mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds.

Jesus

40 Then they took Jesus' body and wrapped it, with the aromatic

spices, in strips of linen cloth according

to Jewish burial customs.

Jesus

41 Now at the place where Jesus was crucified

there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb where no

one had yet been buried.

Jesus

42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of preparation

and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus' body there.

The Suffering Servant

Would bring salvation to those who believed in Him

Isaiah 53:10 NET Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill,

once restitution is made,he will see descendants and enjoy

long life, and the LORD's purpose will be accomplished through him.

The Suffering Servant

11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work,

he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done."My servant will acquit many,

for he carried their sins.

Jesus

Jesus promised that whoever believes in Him would

not perish but have everlasting life.John 3:16 NET For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and

only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have

eternal life.

Jesus

The early church proclaimed that same message.

Acts 16:31 NET They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household."

The Suffering Servant

Would be exalted and extolled and be very high”

Isaiah 52:13 NET "Look, my servant will succeed!

He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted —

Jesus

God has “highly exalted [Jesus] and given Him the name” of Lord, to whom

“every knee should bow.”Philippians 2:9 NET As a result God

exalted him and gave him the namethat is above every name,

Jesus

10 so that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow

— in heaven and on earth and under the earth —

11 and every tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Is ALIVE!!

As believers in Jesus the Christ we know these things happened. We also know Jesus didn’t stay in the

tomb. He overcame death and rose again.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

As believers, we are called to proclaim the message of Christ to

unbelievers in the best way we know how, being faithful to the

truth.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

That’s really all that Peter did at Pentecost, but his speech

produced dramatic results the small band of Christ’s followers added 3,000 believers that day.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

In the same way, each of us needs to speak up as best we can when

the opportunity presents itself. What we say will reflect our

understanding of the faith at the time.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

We may not sound as impressive as Peter, or a minister, or some other believer. But at least our

message will be authentic.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

Notice that Peter did not call for an immediate response. Only after

God’s Spirit had “cut to the heart” those in the audience and they

asked for help did he explain what they ought to do.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

In the same way we need to offer the “carrot” of truth to others—the

facts of the gospel and our experience of it—and let the Holy

Spirit wield the “stick” of conviction.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

We should strive for impact and understanding before pressing for a decision. That might take weeks

or years, or just moments.

CARROTS, NOT STICKS

But we need the sensitive timing of a midwife as we assist in the

spiritual birthing process.(Word In Life Study Bible)

Planting, Watering, Harvesting

Are we planting seeds? Offering a “carrot” of truth to people we come in

contact with?We cannot convert people to following

Jesus, but we must be doing the planting and watering allowing the

Holy Spirit to do the HEAVY LIFTING!!

Planting, Watering, Harvesting

When the ground work is done, the seed has been planted, watering

has been provided, The Holy Spirit has brought forth growth, we

must be standing by to do the harvesting.

Planting, Watering, Harvesting

There’s work to be done in the world’s garden. Are we laying the ground work, planting, watering, and ready to harvest when the

opportunity presents itself?