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WHERE IS THE BEAUTY THAT

WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM?

Discovering the Glory of Jesus Christ

through a Closer Look at Isaiah 53

A discussion and devotional

(Second Edition)

Jerry Smith

Faith Missionary Publications.

Gruelti-Laager, TN USA

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Other Books by Jerry Smith

Christ Ed. in the Church (2014)

Why Use the King James Bible (2012)

65 Real Conversations for the ESL Classroom (2011)

American Accent Training Book 1 (2011)

Available locally (Philippines) or through Lulu.com

To order locally, send an email to: jfrsmth@gmail.com

Where Is The Beauty That We Should Desire Him?

Copyright © 2012 by Jerry F. Smith

All rights reserved.

Published in the USA

By Faith Missionary Publications. Gruetli-Laager, TN USA

Unless otherwise indicated, all Biblical texts are taken from the King James Bible.

Cover picture source: http://www.flickriver.com [open domain]

Printed in the Philippines

ISBN: 580-0-086695-76-4

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In loving memory of Lee F. Smith, Mary Ann

Smith, Eleanor Chituras, Frank Chituras,

Marion L. Smith, Emily Sousa, Alfred Sousa,

Frank Jones, Charlotte Picentine, Richard

Limbaugh, and all the loved ones of my youth.

To Babi, Shanon, and Jer-Jer who have

endured so much to see this through.

Dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, may it be

pleasing to Him, and may He be pleased to use

it to bless the lives of many.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

Preface 1

How to Use This Book 3

Introduction to Isaiah 53 4

Orientation to Isaiah 53 7

Verse 1: The Arm of the LORD 11

Verse 2: No Beauty… 17

Verse 3: Man of Sorrows 27

Verse 4: He Carried Our Sorrows 35

Verse 5: He Was Wounded 44

Verse 6: We… Have Gone Astray 52

Verse 7: He Opened Not His Mouth 60

Verse 8: He Was Cut Off 68

Verse 9: Because He Had Done

No Violence 76

Verse 10: It Pleased the LORD

To Bruise Him 82

Verse 11: He… Shall Be Satisfied 90

Verse 12: He… Shall Divide the

Spoil 97

Conclusion 103

About the Author 105

1

PREFACE

In my personal Bible reading in 2010, I was going

through the book of Isaiah. It was a splendid time which

took a few months to conclude. It took me two weeks to

finish reading chapter 53, as I was enjoying every verse,

and in some cases, each clause in a verse. It was then

that a deep longing to preach this chapter began to arise.

I besought the Lord repeatedly, sometimes in profound

heaviness of heart, to grant me that blessed privilege to

proclaim His Son and work in Isaiah 53. Then, true to His

ways, in January of 2011, the Lord had providentially

arranged it so that I was given the wonderful opportunity

to preach a series of messages from Isaiah 53.

Originally, I had planned to preach maybe three or four

messages to cover the chapter. But as I began to take a

closer look at the individual verses, I saw that they could

stand alone, apart from the whole, and still be a message

in itself, each proclaiming an aspect of the glory of Jesus

Christ and His work 2,000 years ago. I realized that it

would be a shame on me (or any man) if I treated this

exquisite chapter in 3 or 4 sermons. Therefore, I went with

the verse-by-verse expository approach, in order to dig

deeper, for buried treasure. I was not disappointed.

What you, the reader will encounter in this book, is the

culmination of my longing to preach Isaiah 53. It is the

compilation and editing of each of the twelve sermons

which God granted me the privilege to preach in my

church. These messages are inherently evangelical, but

also inspirational, as the believer is provided a different

aspect of one of the most beautiful passages on the Lord

Jesus Christ in the Bible. The purpose of sharing these

writings is because the message is too precious to keep

buried; to stay locked away somewhere never to be heard

from again. The Lord reveals to us so that we may share

with others. My desire is that you the reader would walk

away blessed from this book, and share the same message

with others: that there is yet undiscovered great beauty in

the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How often, we as believers read through the Bible, or

perhaps hear a message from the pulpit, or sit in a Sunday

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school class and almost yawn when hearing about Jesus

Christ. How often we fail to see and enjoy His beauty in

His ministry and sacrifice. How many Christians have lost

their First Love because their eyes have become clouded

by external dressings? Sometimes, we just need to be

reminded what the Lord has done for us.

This work is in no way an exhaustive theological,

academic examination of Isaiah 53, it was not meant to be.

I prefer to keep things simple. But it is more inspirational

in its purpose with the expressed design of aiding, if the

Lord be so pleased to, the believer in re-discovering the

beauty of Christ which once attracted us to Him without

delay, after it was revealed in our hearts; that same

beauty and more, as we dig deeper to know Him to a

greater degree, and our heart fire for Christ rekindled,

recovering that passion we once had for the Saviour. This

work may also be used, God be pleased, to draw the non-

Christian reader to know more clearly about Jesus, and

subsequently bring them to a point of acknowledgement

and confession of the Jesus Christ of Isaiah 53 as his only

sufficient hope of salvation and righteousness (goodness)

before God.

The following is the result of reading and reflection,

meditation and quiet time, as well as searching the

Scriptures, studying through the old commentaries, and

seeking the Lord to guide me into all truth. It is indeed an

original work guided, directed, corrected, and injected by

the Holy Spirit. Thus to God be the glory. And may it be

used of God for the reader to see the beauty and glory of

the Lord Jesus Christ once again, or for the very first time.

Jerry Smith

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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

It is my deep desire to know that the Lord would be

pleased to use this book in the lives of the readers. When I

first started this work, it did not occur to me HOW it might

be used, other than the fact that I had something that I

wanted to share based on the series of messages the Lord

was pleased to allow me to preach. Only later did I realize

that this book could be used in the very same manner

which the Lord gave me the messages: by taking Isaiah

53 piece by piece.

That being the case, the design of this devotional

provides the reader with a step-by-step, verse-by-verse,

phrase-by-phrase approach to this wonderful chapter and

hopefully, the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,

my simple suggestion is that the reader take one phrase

at a time as part of daily devotions. Read the page/-s

associated with each phrase one day at a time. Read,

consider, meditate, and ask the Lord to reveal more to

you; the next day, another phrase. There are a total of

forty-four phrases discussed in this devotional; enough for

well over a month's worth of devotions as you take a

closer look into the depths of Isaiah 53 and I pray, the

beauty of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners. May God

richly bless you as you partake on this journey.

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INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 53

We read it, we know it, and some can even quote it.

We may read it occasionally to find some comfort, to

review history, to examine the sufferings of Christ, but

how much do we really appreciate or consider His

sacrifice? Do we just glance over it, or do we ever dig

deeper? Be assured, the more we examine this passage of

Scripture, the more beauty is revealed. It offers one of the

most vivid descriptions of the passion of the Christ 1 in

Scripture, not Hollywood. It was remarkably prophesied

about 700 years before it happened. That in itself is a

miracle which demonstrates the inspiration of Scripture.

However, it not only depicts His PASSION, but also offers

descriptions of His PERSON, His PASSIVITY, and His

PORTION; each of which gives us a different perspective in

which to view the Jewel, the believer’s Precious

Treasure . . . the Lord Jesus Christ.

The author offers no attempt to prove that the Person

spoken of in the fifty-third of Isaiah is none other than the

Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God come down from heaven

to do a specific redeeming work. It is clear from Scripture

that is who is being spoken of, and any effort to

demonstrate otherwise would only distract us from the

purpose at hand which is seeking the beauty of the Lord in

Isaiah 53. In fact, as one writer put it, if one were to read

it without knowing it was an Old Testament text, they

might say it sounds like a Gospel account.2

Read this:

(2) … he hath no form nor comeliness … no beauty that we

should desire him. (3) despised and rejected of men; a man

of sorrows, acquainted with grief … we esteemed him not.

(4) … he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows … (5)

… wounded for our transgressions … bruised for our iniquities

… with his stripes we are healed. (6) … the LORD hath laid on

him the iniquity of us all. (7) He was oppressed, and …

afflicted … he opened not his mouth … (9) … he made his

1 Not His “feeling” but His “suffering.” 2 Unknown internet source

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grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death …he had

done no violence, neither deceit in his mouth. (12) … he was

numbered with the transgressors … bare the sin of many,

made intercession for the transgressors.

As we examine Christ in this text and if you are a

believer reading this, you have been given sacred, holy

eyes to behold His beauty. The world is not able to see it

(53:2). Therefore, to the believer, God forbid that it should

be dull. If you are a Christian and cannot see the beauty of

Christ anymore, then there is certainly something wrong,

because God reveals that beauty to His people at the time

of salvation, and as we grow in grace, so that we would

desire Him more and glorify Him. To the seeker, this

passage of the Bible explains our condition as man(kind),

our need of a Saviour, and what He did to redeem sinners.

When God reveals our condition before Himself as a

thrice holy God; 3 He makes Christ attractive to us.

Remember your first love? How beautiful he/she was?

Everything about them was beautiful; but as the years go

by (perhaps if you’re younger, the months) maybe now,

not so much beauty or attractiveness. So, we need to be

reminded at times of what we first saw in our beloved

which drew us to them. It is the same with Christ. He

ought to be precious to every believer. But often, as the

years go by, our eyes get cloudy, and we no longer see

the beauty that we once saw in our First Love. We just

mechanically go through the motions of Christianity

without stopping to be refreshed, to smell the Rose of

Sharon, the Lily of the Valley,4 and remember the sweet-

smelling Savior of sinners.

Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Christ is hid all the

treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Did you ever hear

about buried treasure as a kid? How do you get to it? You

must dig. We can apply that to Christ: He is our greatest

Treasure, so let’s dig deeper. The further we dig, the more

glorious Christ becomes. Let Christ be exalted, and He will

draw men to Himself;5 let man be exalted and men will be

drawn away from Christ. One way we benefit, the other

3 Isaiah 6:3 4 Song of Solomon 2:1 5 John 12:32

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way we suffer. So, let’s dig and have a closer look at

Isaiah 53, one of the most beautiful images of the Person

and work of the Saviour in the entire Bible.

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ORIENTATION TO ISAIAH 53

Isaiah was a prophet of Judah, whose ministry lasted

about 60 years from, 6 and included the reigns of five

kings. 7 Much of his ministry was directed towards the

idolatrous practices of the nation at that time, her

alliances with alien nations, warning of the inevitable

invasion of Babylon, the accompanying Judean captivity,

and her future restoration and glory.

However, Isaiah has been called the evangelical

prophet because he says so much about the redemptive

work of the Messiah. Other prophets also speak of a

Messiah: Moses, the Psalmist, Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos,

Micah, Zechariah, Malachi; but Isaiah says more about the

Person, His coming, His work, and future Kingdom of

Christ than any other Old Testament book.8 As a matter of

fact, our text has been called the Old Testament Gospel,

and one early writer speaks of God using this chapter

alone to convert people:

It is so undeniable a proof of the truth of Christianity, that

the bare reading of it, and comparing it with the Gospel

history, has converted some unbelievers, and brought them

home to the faith and religion of Jesus Christ.9

Isaiah 53 foretells: The sufferings of the Messiah; the

end for which he was to die and why He suffered and died;

and the benefits to man resulting from that amazing event

and the results of His suffering.10

Among the many divisions the author has examined,

Charles Ryrie has divided the chapter into bite-sized

portions. According to Ryrie, Isaiah 53 can be divided into

four parts: The Suffering Servant: His PERSON, (1-3) His

PASSION, (4-6) His PASSIVITY, (7-9) and His PORTION

6 740 B.C. – 680 B.C 7 Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh Ryrie, Charles. 1994. Comparison of the Four Major Prophets, p 1090. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV. Moody Publishers, Chicago. 8 Ryrie, Charles. 1994. Introduction to Isaiah, p 1008. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV. Moody Publishers,

Chicago. 9 Lowth, Wogan, W. Quoted in Isaiah 53, Verse 1 Introduction. British Family Bible Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain]. 10 Isaiah 53, Verse 1 Introduction. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open

Domain]

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(10-12). 11 And it is this sectioning that we will follow

through the remainder of this discussion.

Isaiah 53 is a continuation of Isaiah 52:13-15

which mentions the great acceptance of the gospel among

the Gentiles:

(v13) Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be

exalted and extolled, and be very high. (14) As many were

astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any

man, and his form more than the sons of men: (15) So shall

he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths

at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see;

and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Here in verses 13-15, Isaiah speaks of: (a) The

positive reception which the gospel of Christ would find

among the Gentiles; (b) That nations and their kings

would welcome it; (c) That those who had not seen him

should believe in him. In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul,

and his epistles fulfill this prophecy.12

Now here, almost in amazement, Isaiah foretells

the unbelief of the Jews toward their own Messiah, even

though they had been told of Him repeatedly in Scripture,

from Genesis to Malachi. The Lord spoke of this in John

5:39-40:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal

life: and they are they which testify of me. (40) And ye will

not come to me …

The Lord speaking to the unbelieving Pharisees13 who

spent hours and years studying the Scriptures, tells them

that everything they had been studying points to Him. Yet

they did not believe.14

Now bring that here to us today and we may observe

that those who study the Bible for the sake of knowledge,

perhaps the case in many a seminary, may well know the

Bible, but may have missed the whole point of the Bible:

11 Ryrie, Charles. 1994. Notes on Isaiah 53, p. 1071-1072. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV. Moody

Publishers, Chicago. 12 Acts 13:46 13 The spiritual leaders of Israel in the days of Christ, who would spend a lifetime mastering the

Law (the Scriptures), even being called “lawyers.” 14 Compare with Matthew 16:15-17.

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But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the

Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life

through his name (John 20:31).

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded

unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself

(Luke 24:27).

The whole point: Jesus Christ. May we learn then to

put our confidence in Christ the Person, and His finished

work as revealed to us in His Word, and not in our Bible

knowledge.

Now yes, we should know what the Bible says, we are

commanded to study and be ready,15 but we ought not to

seek to simply fill our heads with knowledge in order to

get a passing grade or meet a certain requirement. The

Bible was written for us to know Christ. The well known

verse in 2Peter 3:18 says grow in grace, and in the

knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace

means sitting at the Lord’s feet, learning of and from Him;

following Him, bearing fruit; obeying His commands;

enduring trials and purgings. Knowledge here, is

knowledge of what? Look at the rest of the verse; of our

Lord and Saviour; of Jesus Christ: His work, His attributes,

His glory, His beauty.

It is not merely knowledge of the Bible, law, doctrine,

theology, church, alone for their own sake, apart from

Christ, isolated from Christ. They cannot be separated

from Christ. Indeed, they are all under Christ. Thus

Hebrews 12:2 says:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith …

What does the rest of the verse say?

… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the

throne of God.

15 2Timothy 2:15 and 1Peter 3:15

10

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds

(Heb 12:3).

It’s about Christ: Christ and Him crucified; Him

resurrected; Him interceding. It’s about Christ: our

strength and the power of God, not just Christian living;

because if our lives, hearts, and minds, are centered on

Jesus Christ, everything else will fall into place, and we will

most certainly live Christian lives. We won’t have to

emphasize our ability; we will naturally follow Him, be

more like Him. As we learn at Christ’s feet, we will

naturally learn the doctrine, the Bible, the theology,

because we will be so consumed with knowing Him more

intimately. Hence the Lord tells us that we are to, “love

the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,

and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.” 16 If

everything in us is centered on Him, everything else

around us will fall into place.

Getting back to our text: Here in 52:15, surprisingly,

the Gentiles (those of us who are not Jews), having no

prior knowledge of this event, of this Person, would believe

on Him, while the Jews, who had the Scriptures which

testified of a coming Messiah, would not. John 1:11 makes

reference to this as well as Acts 13:46:

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

[Paul and Barnabas speaking to unbelieving Jews in Galatia]

lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Therefore, in awe, Isaiah writes 53:1 . . .

16 Luke 10:27

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VERSE 1

THE ARM OF THE LORD

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of

the LORD revealed?

Who hath believed our report?

Believed. Isaiah is incredulous that his people, the

Jews, would not believe. As wondrous as the miracles were

which Jesus wrought, and as powerful as the doctrine was

he taught; very few embraced it, and in general they shut

their eyes against all evidence, and refused to hear or

understand. Thus, the Lord speaks to His people in John

10:38 and 14:10 in order to confirm the Scriptures:

But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that

ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in

him.

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in

me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:

but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Now, while Gentile nations have heard and believed

the gospel, the Jews, to this day lie in unbelief, having

rejected the Wisdom of God, Jesus Christ. 17 Most Jews

today are still waiting for their Messiah, their deliverer,

their King, even though He has already come. Report,

speaks of the Old Testament prophets’ prophecies that a

Messiah, a Deliverer, would come. It is the message they

preached, and the implication is the same today: Just as

we have the Gospel today, so too, they had the Gospel

then. Our report as Christians is the Gospel. Our command

is to share it with others.18 That is what we are called to

do as believers. That’s our part.

But, we cannot believe the Gospel unless GOD first

does a work in our hearts:

17 1Corinthians 1:24 18 Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8

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But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: … (6)

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2Corinthians

4:3)

In the beginning, the Spirit of God moved upon the

void and darkness giving life in Genesis 1. And it is the

same today. His Spirit must also move upon the void and

darkness in the heart of a lost (dead) soul:

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses

and sins (Ephesians 2:1).

The Gospel is hid to the lost who sit in darkness, thus

ours is to preach,19 but the saving part, the giving of sight;

the giving of a heart to desire, seek, and know Jesus

Christ, is of God, because salvation is of the LORD,20 lest

anyone should boast in their own ability.21

Therefore as Christians, we must do what God calls us

to do which is share the report, the Gospel, and humbly

plead to God to grant understanding. It is all of God, and it

is God who must bring us to see our need of Christ:

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent

me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John

6:44).

That’s why GOD gets the glory in HIS salvation,

because He works in us:

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to

become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his

name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of

the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of

his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

19 Teach, share, witness, give out tracts, Bible study, and the like 20 Jonah 2:9 21 Ephesians 2:9

13

In the Bible, a reference such as this to the arm speaks

of power. In this verse, the arm of the LORD is His power

to deliver, His power to deliver the Jews from their past

circumstances22 and His power to save.

The arm of the LORD is:

1. The Messiah, Jesus Christ:

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ

the power of God, and the wisdom of God (1Corinthians

1:24).

2. The Gospel:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is

the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

The reference here in Isaiah is to Jesus Christ and His

Gospel. The arm of the LORD is His power to save in

overcoming sin and our condemnation by it. The arm of

the LORD is Jesus Christ; His power in salvation in

overcoming the darkness of the human heart.

Thus it is clear: Wherever Christ and His Gospel are

not preached, there is no power. And where Christ is not

preached, there is nothing for God to reveal. That is why

where salvation is the matter at hand, Christ must be

preached, must be taught, and must be shared:

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ

the power of God … (1Corinthians 1:24).

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit …

(1Corinthians 2:10).

No Christ in preaching, teaching, sharing, visitation,

Bible studies, etc. means no Life, no Light, no Bread, no

Way, no Truth, no Door, no Shepherd, no True Vine, no

22 Egypt, their wanderings, their enemies

14

Lamb of God, no blood.23 If we desire to see people saved,

how can we neglect Him in teaching and preaching?

Everything must relate to Christ where souls are

concerned.

How about you today? Have you ever believed the

report? Has the Lord ever revealed His arm to you? Have

you ever seen yourself as needing the arm of God, Jesus

Christ, to save you? Have you ever looked to Him with

eyes of faith and trusted Him for your soul’s salvation from

sin and its eternal consequences? Isaiah 59:1 says:

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot

save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your

iniquities have separated between you and your God, and

your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

The report is this: We are separated from God because

of sin, condemned, doomed. And if God left us to

ourselves, we would rightfully perish. Every one of us is a

sinner in the eyes of God: We are born sinners; none of us

are righteous; all of us have sinned and come short of the

glory of God; we are sinners from head to toe, and even

our hearts are wicked: The heart is deceitful above all

things, and desperately wicked; even our good works are

filthy in the eyes of God: all our righteousnesses are as

filthy rags; and we are already condemned from birth.24

We must understand this in order to see the beauty of

Christ (verse 2). God could have left us to ourselves, dead

in trespasses and sin, but He did not. Out of his love, and

for his glory, God made a way:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but

have everlasting life (John 3:16).

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we

were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

He made a way – the only way that we could come to

Him; that we could be forgiven; that we could be righteous

23 See John 1:4; 8:12; 6:48; 14:6; 10:9; 10:11; 15:1; 1:29; Ephesians 1:7 for these descriptions

of the Lord. 24 John 3:18; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:6; John 3:18

15

in His sight . . . to start again; to be clean before Him; to

have an eternally blessed relationship with Him as it was

in the beginning before Adam’s sin.25

If you see yourself as an unholy sinner, the BAD NEWS

is that you are condemned, you are helpless and hopeless

of yourself, and you must look outside of yourself for

salvation. The GOOD NEWS however, is that Christ died

for you!

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners … (1Timothy

1:15).

God says:

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that

we might be made the righteousness of God in him

(2Corinthians 5:21).

This is the message of the hour. The Bible says

come, rest in His Word on the finished work of God

through Jesus Christ:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I

will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is

finished… (John 19:30).

He did the work. He suffered for us. He took our guilt

and shame so you need not!

If you have already believed and are resting on the

finished work of Jesus Christ for your soul’s salvation, be

faithful and continue sharing the report, the Gospel. God

will do His will, and it is not for us to know who will believe

our report, for the secret things belong to the LORD.26 Of

the many that hear the report of the Gospel there are few

that believe it or even listen to it, so don’t be surprised or

discouraged dear Christian when you share the Gospel and

people don’t respond. It’s because it has not been

25 Compare with Genesis 3:8. God was walking in the Garden calling out for Adam. 26 Deuteronomy 29:29

16

revealed to them yet. Just keep sharing. God looks for

faithfulness from you not results:27 leave those to Him.

27 Matthew 25:23

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VERSE 2

NO BEAUTY…

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as

a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor

comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty

that we should desire him.

Last chapter we saw how Isaiah 53 could be divided

into four parts: His PERSON, (1-3) His PASSION, (4-6) His

PASSIVITY, (7-9) and His PORTION (10-12). We learned

that the events in Isaiah 53 were written approximately

700 years before they actually happened; and that they

were written in such great detail, as if they were written

by an eyewitness: a testimony to the inspiration of

Scripture. It also offers one of the clearest descriptions of

the Passion of the Christ in the Bible. Isaiah 53 can also be

considered the Old Testament Gospel. For this cause,

Isaiah was known as the evangelical prophet of the Old

Testament, since much of His writings cover the coming,

the work of, and the future kingdom of the Messiah.28

Isaiah 53 is preceded by Isaiah 52:13-15 which speaks

of the Gentiles’ acceptance of the Messiah which the book

of Acts testifies to as the fulfillment of this prophecy. Thus,

when we get to Isaiah 53:1, he offers a statement of

shock or amazement that who among his people, the Jews,

has believed their (the prophets’) report; and then, to

whom is the arm of the Lord (going to be) revealed.

We also saw just what the arm of the Lord is: the

power of God through Jesus Christ and His Gospel 29 to

save souls. From verse one we may see at least two

implications:

1. That a person can read and study the Bible their

whole lives (as the Pharisees did) and still miss the

point: Jesus Christ;30 the Jews had Isaiah 53, as well

28 Ryrie, Charles. 1994. Introduction of the Book of Isaiah, p 1008. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV. Moody Publishers, Chicago. 29 1Corinthians 1:24; Romans 1:16 30 John 5:39, 40

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as other Scriptures, yet they did not see Christ. A

person may have great knowledge of the Bible, of

theology, of doctrine but never know the Author (and

Finisher of our faith). Not just know about the Author,

for Eternal life is knowing God through His Son Jesus

Christ.31 It is a relationship not acquired information.

Having a degree, a title, or reading many books does

not guarantee spiritual understanding, only God

reveals spiritual things.

2. That since Christ and His Gospel are the power of

God unto salvation, we must be faithful in preaching,

teaching, and sharing Him if there will be any power,

or anything for God to reveal

That brings us now to our current text a

continuation of verse one. Having expressed his shock at

the Jews lack of belief of their Messiah; under the Holy

Spirit’s leading Isaiah goes on to express why. As we

examine the PERSON of the Suffering Servant which

describes the Messiah: (a) what the Jews were to expect;

(b) what He would be like; (c) what they (the Jews) should

look for in their Saviour; and (d) why they rejected Him. If

you are familiar with the last days of the Lord’s earthly

ministry, you know that He was crucified at the almost

unanimous consent of His people. Isaiah 53:2 gives us the

reason why (humanly speaking).

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant,

and as a root out of dry ground

A new, baby, tender plant is pretty weak, easily

damaged, and fragile. Have you ever seen one? And so

are we humans. The frailty of the human body is clear in

Scripture.32 We are only an illness, heartbeat, or injury

away from death; the weakness of the flesh: and the Lord

took upon Himself this frail fleshly frame33 to accomplish

His work: He had to become a man in order to take our

place and suffer what we suffer. That He might also be an

31 John 17:3 32 “He knoweth our frame…” (Psalm 103:14); “we are as the grass” (1Peter 1:24) 33 John 1:14

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effective High Priest, “For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without

sin.”34

A root out of dry ground is coarse, rugged, not

worth a second glance, or even thought. Have you ever

seen one? It just looks like a dried stick in the ground.

Who cares?

This speaks of the Lord’s lowliness, and lowly

background:

At the time of His arrival, the Jewish nation was

conquered and enslaved by the Romans, poor, and

despised;35

The line of David had decayed and become poor, and

perhaps even forgotten;36

He came from Nazareth of Galilee, where nothing good

was expected to come from;37 Nazareth was considered the

bad part of town, a slum or low-income housing area, filled

with crime, shady characters, and poor education (like the

reputation the Bronx, Harlem, or East LA had in the US);

He was a poor itinerant teacher with no place to lay His

head38 with no formal education, from a poor family, whose

followers were poor “fisherman”39;

He did not come into the world as a King, the way one

would have thought the God of the Universe would have. No

riches, no position, no glory, no fame: Just lowly. Not what

we’d expect.40

He hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall

see him, there is no beauty that we should desire

him

He did not look like superman, a super-male model, an

actor, or even royalty; not physically appealing or

34 Hebrews 4:15 35 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 2. Thomas Haweis Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain]; Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 2. Thomas Scott Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 36 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 2. Matthew Poole’s Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain];

Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 2. Thomas Haweis Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 37 John 1:46 38 Luke 9:58 39 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 2. Thomas Scott Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 40 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 2. Thomas Scott Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain]

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attractive by our standards;41 He was, humanly speaking,

a disappointment to the Jews who many years later would

say, “we will not have this man to rule over us;”42 He did

not fit the expectations of the Jews for the God-Man. No

physical attractiveness, no appeal, not what they imagined

a Saviour should look like.

Sadly, the Pharisees were (theologically) educated but

missed the point.43 They neglected the lessons of the past:

King Saul looked like a king, but failed miserably; David’s

son Absalom, a prince was a very handsome young man,

but came up short; Samson was given strength, but used

it selfishly

On the other hand: The apostles were fishermen and a

tax collector but God used them to build His church. Paul

was not an impressive man physically, or in speech, but

God used Him mightily to preach the Good News to the

world of his day. God became a lowly Carpenter from

Galilee to redeem His people

So, what, according to verse 2 is the reason (humanly

speaking) for the Jews rejection of their Messiah? Look at

the first word: For (Because) it was the failure of His

appearance to impress anyone:

He did not look the part.

He did not look like the Son of God.

He did not look like a King.

He did not look like a mighty Deliverer.

Yet, He healed the sick and lame, raised the dead, cast

out demons, bore our sins, and brought salvation. He did

not fit the Jews’ image of a national Saviour, so they

rejected Him, based on appearances alone, the outward

man. They crucified Him because He did not appeal to

their flesh. He did not look good.

And it is the same today: These days our minds are

filled with the mighty warrior mentality. We’ve been

conditioned through computer games, comic books, toys,

and movies that a king a god, a deliverer must be some

41 He didn’t look like that pretty picture we often see hanging on many church walls. He wasn’t deformed either. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that. 42 Luke 19:14 43 As is the case in with many-a seminary graduate today.

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muscular, intelligent, handsome/beautiful specimen with

sword in hand, ready to kill everyone that threatens. We

prop up handsome, chiseled actors and beautiful, curved

actresses, singers, and movie stars as leaders; people who

appeal to our images: comely, beautiful, people. God told

the Jews 700 years before Christ came what to look for: a

lowly Servant, but they missed it because of vanity

(looking for an impressive figure). They were looking for

great things, but missed the important things.

Let us then beware that in looking for great things we

miss what God says:

That we walk by faith and not by sight . . . but the

world seeks appearances, and aesthetics;

That it is not by might or by power, but by God’s

Spirit . . . but the world seeks physical strength;

That in our flesh dwelleth no good thing . . . yet the

world seeks to reform or improve a hopelessly

corrupted flesh;

That our righteousnesses are as filthy rags . . . but

the world seeks to boast in good deeds;

That it is finished . . . but the world seeks to work

for salvation;

That we are saved by grace, through faith . . . but

the world seeks salvation as a reward for hard work or

good effort.44

And if we bring that to church: Perhaps we too look

to do great, highly visible, and aesthetically acceptable

things to appeal to the opinions of other members, but we

neglect simple acts or opportunities of service in the

church of spiritual value and worth: visitation, cleaning,

texting a brother or sister, praying for the pastor and the

church, loving one another, edifying one another, small

jobs, preparing and or serving food, tract distribution,

giving time/money . . .; OR Perhaps we neglect our lowly,

humble positions in life. Things such as being a good

husband/wife, being a good father/mother, good

son/daughter, good employee, good neighbor . . . because

44 2Corinthians 5:7; Zechariah 4:6; Romans 7:18; Isaiah 64:6; John 19:30; Ephesians 2:8-9

22

we want greater things: job success, higher education,

career, a nicer car, more money, more power.

We as people of flesh imagine greater things, but

God doesn’t cater to our wicked imaginations.45 He sent

His Son in humility, meekness, and lowliness (spiritual

qualities), with no beauty, no attractiveness, no

comeliness, no appeal (physical qualities) to please us. If

God were trying to please us with an outward beauty,

maybe everybody would follow Christ, but without

changed hearts; without sincerity; without truth. God

looks on the inward man – the heart.

Christ is God in the flesh, yet his appearance was

unappealing to us . . . why? Because we are flesh and He

is Spirit. He is Good and we are not. Thus it is natural for

us NOT to see His beauty, we are blind to it, because His is

a spiritual beauty, an eternal beauty, a holy beauty.46 But

we do not naturally like holiness. It does not appeal to our

flesh. We run from it. 47 Only God doing a work in a

person’s heart can get us to enjoy it. That is a fruit of

righteousness: that you enjoy holiness, not that you

tolerate it; but that you actually enjoy it!

The Lord’s beauty can be seen in one brother sharing

with another the wonderful things the Lord has shown him

in his Bible reading; or rejoicing because the Lord showed

you how the Old Testament sacrifices more clearly relate

to Christ’s sacrifice; or delighting in the attributes of Jesus

Christ as they are the same as the Father’s; to give a few

examples. How many of us have read something in the

Bible and just rejoiced because it was so beautiful? That is

enjoying beauty that the world cannot see.

Now because they cannot see it, the world often tries

to make Jesus acceptable, and appealing by painting

pretty, femininely-handsome pictures of Jesus. But that’s

only physical appeal, NOT Biblical appeal. The world needs

the eternal-spiritual beauty of Christ, not an appealing

picture of Him. Those pictures are of another Jesus as

spoken of by Paul in 2Corinthians 11:4, not the uncomely

Christ presented in Isaiah 53:2. Psalm 31:30 says,

45 See Genesis 6:5 46 Psalm 29:2 “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty

of holiness” 47 John 3:20

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“beauty is vain.” Matthew 23:27 says, “Woe unto you,

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto

whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward,

but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all

uncleanness.” These verses and more tell us that physical

beauty, attractiveness; appeal is not what we ought to be

focusing on.

Christ’s is a real, true, and lasting beauty: His

holiness; the fact that He cannot/does not/will not lie; His

self-sacrificing love; His righteousness; the peace He

brings; perfect in His ways; merciful; full of grace and

truth. That is the beauty the world cannot see, because it

is blinded to it.48 Therefore Dear Reader, praise God if He

has enlightened your understanding to see it. And not just

to see it, but to adore it, and to adore Him.

God sent His Son to earth in humility, meekness, and

lowliness (spiritual qualities), no beauty, no attractiveness,

no comeliness, no appeal, (physical qualities) to show us:

that His ways are not our ways, that His thoughts are not

our thoughts; that He looks at the inward man (the heart),

while we look at the outward man (appearances); that He

has chosen the weak things, and lowly things, and base

things to confound the wise, so that He would be glorified

by the demonstration of His power, and not man’s.49

How often, we as humans look for some grander way

to enter heaven; some outstanding effort or work to earn

the right to enter heaven, but miss Christ because He

doesn’t fit our opinion of a Saviour (too lowly, too simple,

too easy), so we say, “I’ll do it my way,” but to an eternal

regret. Few in Jesus’ day expected a Saviour such as He

even though God foretold of it in Scripture, they did not

get it, and many people today don’t get it either. Many

don’t respond to humility, meekness, and lowliness.

Though the Lord had in His power, legions of angels50 to

destroy earth, He demonstrated an uncharacteristic-to-

mankind, godly meekness, that only He could, because

none of us are God.

People do however respond to beauty (physical,

temporal), degrees, money, force and fierceness, violence,

48 2Corinthians 4:4 49 Isaiah 55:9; 1Samuel 16:7; 1Corinthians 1:27 50 Matthew 26:53

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arrogance and pride. The movies, books, and computer

games portray these things. But this is not God’s way. God

tells us to be meek, live peacefully with all men. This is

what glorifies Christ, not the behavior of the flesh.51 And

here in verse two we see Christ as our Example.52 This is

Christ-like, and may HIS beauty, not the world’s version of

it, be reflected in us and from us as Christians (Christ

ones). May we then learn therefore to follow the Lord’s

example and not strive for or be consumed with fleshly

appeal, but cultivate and nurture the inner man in Christ.

Nobody naturally desires Christ. Nobody can

naturally see His beauty. We’ve seen that there is no

beauty that we should desire Christ (humanly speaking).

Now as was presented last chapter, if you are a believer,

at some point, God has revealed the beauty of His Son

from Scripture and given you a desire for Him.53

However, as happens over time, we lose that first

attraction, that appeal, that affection we once had as new

believers, because we change over time. But Jesus Christ

never changes. His Word says so: “Jesus Christ the same

yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” 54 Therefore, if

someone has changed, it is us, you and me. Our eyes

have become dim, our thinking clouded, and our hearts

cold. Why? Because the things of this world compete with

that affection for the Lord in our hearts:

Our desires; our possessions; our money, and how to

make more; our pursuits; our promotion; our

education; our family; our friends; our “priorities;" or

other “more important things”

We give them higher importance, pre-eminence if you

will in our hearts, minds, and lives. But the Lord says, “set

your affections on things above, on heavenly places where

Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father.”55 If we do

that, we just might see more of His beauty.

51 Let this mind be in you… (Philippians 2:5) 52 Compare with 1Peter 2:21 53 For me it was in 2001, in Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness…” 54 Hebrews 13:8 55 Colossians 3:1-2

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Dear Reader, you may be reading this book

and . . . Be religiously seeking to promote your own

righteousness instead of trusting in Christ’s, or have never

seen the beauty of Christ, or have never had a radical

change in your life: no time in your life when your

direction has changed; or you have never been led by the

Spirit of God, and never had fellowship with others who do.

Perhaps you enjoy the sins of the world without conviction

or fear of God. Or maybe you have never had a desire for

the things of God, or do not understand the Scriptures,

and or you are aware that you are not saved, and may be

seeking God. It may be that you are a Christian who

cannot see the beauty of Christ anymore, or who comes to

church as a tradition or as an obligation, who has little

interest in Isaiah 53, and or who no longer shares the joy

of other believers in knowing Christ more.

As we study Isaiah 53 out, Lord willing, we will see

more beauty in Christ and His worthiness of your utmost

affections, but please allow me to share a little more of His

beauty in closing this chapter:

The Bible says, “He came unto His own, and His own

received him not:” that by Him were all things created: by

Him and for Him; that the Word, the Creator God, became

flesh, and that God was manifest in the flesh to take away

sins.56 Creator God came to us, but there was no warm

welcome, no parade, no comforts, without wealth, to

suffer at the hands of men and take our punishment upon

Himself. He left Glory. Why? He did not have to. Why did

He? Because of love. Why else would He do it? John 3:16

says it all, “For God so loved the world …” Now, the Bible

also says, “When we were yet without strength, Christ

died for the ungodly.57”

When we were yet without strength. We had no

power with God, nothing to boast about, unable to reach

the glory of God; beggars . . .

Separated from God (our strength)

Dead in sin

Sinners from birth

56 John 1:11; Colossians 1:16; John 1:1, 14; 1Timothy 3:16 57 Romans 5:6

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Cursed

Guilty

Condemned

Unrighteous

Could not possibly inherit the kingdom of God.

When we were yet without strength, Christ died

for the ungodly. We had no perfection before God; not

just beggars, but filthy beggars . . .

We are liars from birth (Psalm 58:3);

We are all under sin (Galatians 3:22);

We fall into lust, fornication, idolatry, wrath, strife,

disobedience, envy, murder, reveling, drunkenness,

hatred (Galatians 5:19).58

When we were in this condition, HE came to US. . .

When WE had no power, no strength, easily broken,

nothing to boast about; When WE were dead in sin,

wretched sinners, in a world of sin, condemned, poor,

beggars, abominable, ungodly; When WE were

unappealing and unattractive; When WE had no beauty

that HE should desire US!

HE took our punishment, our just reward, for our sin,

our wages of sin upon Himself. He was made sin for us:

the just for the unjust so that we might be forgiven; that

we might be reconciled to God; that we might be made

righteous in Him; that we might have peace with God; that

we might not be condemned; and that we might have

eternal life.59

Now that is beautiful! That is praiseworthy! That is

worth our undying devotion! May God grant unto each of

us to see Christ’s beauty whether to be refreshed, to be

reminded, or for the first time. Lowly and meek He came,

but very able to save.

58 Maybe you say, “oh, I’ve never done those things” but do you take pleasure in them that do

them while watching television dramas or movies? Then you are also guilty (Matthew 5:28;

Romans 1:28). Do you imagine them at times? Then you are also guilty (1John 3:15). 59 2Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 3:18; 1John 2:12; 2Corinthians 5:18; Romans 10:4; Romans 5:1;

Romans 8:1; John 3:16

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VERSE 3

MAN OF SORROWS

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and

acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from

him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

In the previous chapter we looked at verse 2. We

looked at the reason for Israel’s rejection of their Messiah

and the implications for us today. But, before we proceed

further let us review some key points as we build up to the

climax of this wonderful chapter in the Bible:

First, we saw that the Lord’s PERSON as portrayed in

Isaiah 53:2 is one of a tender plant, which refers to His

human frailty, that he took upon Himself the form of a

man. God tabernacled Himself in the flesh, and dwelt

among us.60

Next, we saw the Lord’s PERSON described as “a root

out of a dry ground,” which refers to His lowliness and

lowly background.

We also read that He had “no form or comeliness,”

making reference to the fact that the Lord was not

physically attractive or appealing, dispelling the myths that

He was effeminate, almost girlish in appearance as

portrayed in many-a picture in churches and on house

walls.

Fourthly, according to 53:2, what was the reason

(humanly speaking) for Israel’s rejection of her Messiah?

It was because he was not physically attractive or

appealing. He was lowly. He was not what they wanted in

a Saviour. That should remind us that God does not look

on the outward man, but the heart is where the Lord

looks.61

So, what is the beauty of Christ? It is a spiritual beauty,

an inward beauty, hidden from men’s eyes, to be revealed

only by God.62 And as Christians, what so often clouds our

60 John 1:14 61 1Samuel 16:7 62 Compare with Galatians 3:23 and Ephesians 3:5

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view of Christ’s beauty? We so often get distracted by the

things of this world.

From these things, we saw at least two implications

for us: (a) That we as people so often judge by the

physical, and neglect the spiritual; (b) That the beauty of

Christ is not something we naturally see.

That brings us now to our current text, verse 3 a

continuation of verse 2. As we conclude our examination

of the Suffering Servant: His PERSON, which describes the

Messiah – what Israel was to expect, what He would be

like, and what they (the Jews) should look for in their

Saviour. The result of verse 2 (His appearance) leads to

verse 3 (His treatment):

He is despised and rejected of men

Despised, is synonymous with scorn; contempt; to

look down on; loathed; detested; unloved. The Lord was

hated, especially by the scribes and priests who should

have known better. He was sent out of synagogues, faced

angry mobs who wanted to kill Him, townspeople sent Him

out of their towns, there were plots to kill Him, He was

betrayed by a friend, and traded for a murderer. The

prophetic Psalm 22:6 describes the Lord’s emotions:

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and

despised of the people.

His own people cried out, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!”63

Yet, He was innocent of any evil.64

He was rejected, forsaken of men, discarded,

unwanted, no longer regarded as a man. But the Stone

rejected by the Jews has become the Chief Cornerstone to

those who believe:

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner" (Acts 4:11)

He is become the Rock of our salvation – for all those who

believe on Him.

63 Luke 23:21 64 As testified by Pilate, Herod, and Judas, His enemies

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Nevertheless, these days He is still rejected: He is

rejected in public schools and public education; rejected in

science; rejected in prayers of public office; rejected in

religious organizations; rejected at Christmas-time; and

yes, even rejected in some churches. Very few speak of

Him. Very few want to.

A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief

Sorrow, speaks of deep distress and or mental

anguish. His deep anguish over the results of sin upon His

perfect Creation; upon the beloved people He created. He

cried over Jerusalem and He wept,65 and Hebrews 5:7 says,

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers

and supplications with strong crying and tears…

He was no stranger to tears, which would have been a

constant companion for the Man of sorrows. He wept for

the effects of sin, for the fallen creation, not because He

was thwarted, but because He is compassionate!

He became a man of sorrows seeing the sorrows

of sin: The disease, the pain, the suffering, the misery,

the death, and its effects upon people; the anger, the

wrath, the lust, the fornication, the strife, the idolatry, the

covetousness, the envy, the thievery, the murder, the

drunkenness, His sorrow at the consequences of

unholiness in His once Holy Creation, contrary to His holy

nature, and on and on the list of sin goes. Holy God

entered a fallen creation and beheld as a man, firsthand

the cruelty and grotesqueness of sin. Thus we have a High

Priest who CAN be touched with the feeling of our

infirmities.66

We do not read of Him laughing in Scripture. Some

Christian materials present Him as a happy walking around

with a grin on His face but that’s not the Jesus of the Bible,

it is another Jesus. 67 He was a Man of sorrows whose

distinguishing characteristic was sorrow. Why else would

65 Luke 19:41 and John 11:35 66 Hebrews 4:15 67 2Corinthians 11:4

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He be given that title? He bore the sorrows of the world:

the effects of sin, in this world of sinners.

He was also acquainted with grief. Grief is an

emotional suffering from bereavement such as the loss of

a loved one or disaster: in other words, the pain of sin.

Sorrow and grief go hand in hand: Sorrow is the woe of sin,

while grief is the pain of sin. The Lord was in constant

contact with grief. He was acquainted with it. He was

familiar with it. He had intimate first-hand knowledge of it

from others whose grief He shared. He sympathized and

was compassionate; and not only that, He helped ease the

suffering by healing the lame, the lepers, the blind, the

dumb, the sick with palsy, casting out demons, raising the

dead. He knew well the grief of the people around Him,

and He helped them.

But, He also sweat drops of blood for His own

sorrow and grief: That He would be brutally treated:

beaten, smitten, whipped, spit on, carry His cross, and

crucified. A lamb to the slaughter, bearing the sins of

many upon Himself, finally separated from the Father

before death! God the Father could no longer look upon

His Son who became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we

might be made the righteousness of God in Him.68 Jesus

Christ was separated from His Father from eternity, crying

out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me!” He

alone could bear it, the God-Man, our God-Man. He shared

our grief, but He bore His own alone, for you and for me.

O, so great a salvation which came at such a high price!

Now Christian, the next time you are tired, look to

Christ:

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds

(Hebrews 12:3).

Looking at Christ, should take our minds off of our

griefs, and place them properly, squarely, upon the

precious work of the Saviour on your behalf.

68 2Corinthians 5:21

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But for all that . . . we hid as it were our faces from

him

We speaks of the Jews, including Isaiah himself; but

WE, the children of Adam are included here; you and me

by default.

Hid. Why do we hide our faces from people? Because

we don’t want them to see us or look directly at them in

acknowledgement; we don’t want to talk to them or be

near them; we’re trying to ignore them; trying to avoid

them; embarrassed to be seen with them. The Lord was

treated as a leper. People hid their faces from Him, out of

shame to know Him; Even His disciples ran away and

forsook or denied Him.69 It’s the same today. Mention the

name of Jesus Christ and many people’s faces will change,

or they will change the subject; or walk away, or get quiet.

People don’t want to talk about Him, don’t want to know

Him, do not want to be seen with Him. So the Lord says in

John 3:20, “every one that doeth evil hateth the light.”

The Lord is the light, and we naturally avoid it, because

our deeds are naturally evil from birth:70

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the

world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because

their deeds were evil (John 3:19).

The natural man doesn’t even want to be around the

Name of that Light.

But to the believer, it is a precious name:

…there is none other name under heaven given among

men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Worthy of honor and praise to whom all will bow the

knee:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things

in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth

(Philippians 2:10).

69 Mark 14:50 70 Psalm 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born,

speaking lies.”

32

And there ought to be NO shame in His Gospel: …for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that

believeth (Romans 1:16).

Not only did we hide our faces from Him, but …

we esteemed him not. He was not given the glory due

His name. He wasn’t valued for who He was. The Jews

preferred a murder, Barabbas, over Him.71

And the natural man today thinks little of Him too.

To the lost He is only a man, a teacher, a prophet, part of

a religious collection, just the Son of God, just Jesus my

buddy; just a picture on a wall, window dressing, just an

ingredient to salvation;72 just someone I read about in the

Bible, just someone I hear about on Sunday mornings,

just a guy who died on a cross, just someone in a movie I

saw.

Hollywood tries to portray characters like Braveheart,

or Joan of Arc who suffered terribly for their causes, but

nevertheless perhaps Hollywood, the world, the devil are

trying to indirectly reduce Jesus’ sufferings to the same.

However, none of these people either real or make believe

EVER carried the sins of the world on themselves. No one

has suffered the physical, mental, or spiritual anguish that

the Lord suffered. And we esteemed Him not.

But thankfully, He did not come for our esteem. He did

not need it. He is God. And He does not need our pity

either. Don’t feel sorry for God. We ought to weep for

ourselves:

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a

Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid

the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (27) And there

followed him a great company of people, and of women,

which also bewailed and lamented him. (28) But Jesus

turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not

for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children (Luke

23:26).

71 John 18:40 72 I.e. Christ + my work = heaven

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Be sorrowful for what we did to the Lord, that is

needful, but don’t pity Almighty God. He did not come for

our esteem: He came to save. Even without our regard for

Him, He did what He had to do. He came and He finished

the work. How often do we look for someone to watch us

do something so that we can be applauded for our efforts?

But, the Lord did not look for men’s esteem because, “that

which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in

the sight of God."73

Scripture tells us the world, the natural man, hates

Christ:

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it

hated you” (John 15:18).

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that

is written in their law, They hated me without a cause (John

15:25).

Naturally we despise and reject Him, hide our faces

from Him, and esteem Him not. How about you Dear

Reader – Who is Christ to you?

Is He worthy of your esteem? Is He precious to you

or is He despised? Are you rejecting Him, or have you

received Him in your heart? Is He worthy of your worship?

There is a difference between the Christian and the non-:

To one, Christ is worthy of esteem, precious, acceptable,

worth worshipping. To the other, Christ is not attractive,

not worthy, not desirable, and cause to hide his face from.

So, from verse 2, we learned that Christ was not appealing

to the flesh, which led to verse 3, the results of this lack of

appeal to the flesh. But His doctrine was good, He

performed miracles and healed the sick as an

authentication of His ministry and Godhood. He was the

Messiah prophesied in Scripture, but the flesh prevented

them then, and people now from coming to Him.

He did not come in glory and majesty; His Gospel,

His story, is not preached with “enticing words of man’s

73 Luke 16:15

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wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”74

with “plainness of speech.”75

Now Christ came in plainness, but He will return in

power, majesty, and glory, and will be worshipped:

Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy

One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation

abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise,

princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is

faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee

(Isaiah 49:7).

And He will judge the world. Revelation 20:11-15 gives

a troubling account of the end:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from

whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there

was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small

and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:

and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and

the dead were judged out of those things which were written

in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave

up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up

the dead which were in them: and they were judged every

man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were

cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And

whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast

into the lake of fire.

In the end, the Lord will be the only one worth

esteeming. The Lord says:

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the

unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in

the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1Peter 3:18).

If you haven’t already, trust Him. Turn and come, seek

His grace to turn from sin and self, to see His worthiness,

His glory, and rest in Him, even now.

74 1Corinthians 2:4 75 2Corinthians 3:12

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VERSE 4

HE CARRIED OUR SORROWS

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and

afflicted.

How often Christ and His work are tacked on to the

end of messages. But what preachers forget is that Jesus

Christ IS the message. According to Paul, Christ was all he

wanted to know:

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save

Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1Corinthians 2:2).

But we preach Christ crucified … (1Corinthians 1:23).

Unto him [God] be glory in the church by Christ Jesus

throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians

3:21).

So it shouldn’t be an unusual thing to hear Jesus Christ

exalted, magnified, praised, honored and preached in HIS

churches. Yet, there are some Christians who think it

unnecessary because of course, everybody’s a Christian in

church, or so people think. Some church members are

even offended when Christ is preached. But the truth is, if

you want a powerful message, if you want a message that

will save souls and transform lives, preach Christ:

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto

me (John 12:32).

Maybe you already know about Jesus. Maybe you have

already heard about what He did. Maybe you have even

studied it; read it in your Bible several months ago, or

even saw it in a movie. I’m not talking about a movie

review here, the question is, what does the Passion of the

Christ mean to YOU? Is it boring to hear about again? Is it

old news or good news? Do you enjoy hearing about it or

are you tired of it?

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How we answer these questions is a good measure of

how and where we are spiritually. To every Christian this

ought to be a precious, honored, and even a joyful event

in our hearts, minds, and mouths. Sadly though, to many,

it is just an old story. So, as we begin to uncover the

PASSION of the Suffering Servant, examine yourself, and

see what it means to you.

Surely he hath borne our griefs

Last chapter, we saw that the person of the Lord was

despised, rejected of men, and esteemed not. These first

three verses conclude the narrative of Jesus Christ, his

PERSON. The next three verses (4-6) cover his PASSION

(suffering): what he endured at our hands and why.

Surely, that is certainly He bore our griefs and carried

our sorrows because He had NONE of His own to bear. The

Lord is perfect, blameless, righteous, without sin, “a lamb

without blemish and without spot.”76

Surely he hath borne our griefs. Borne, means to

endure. Our, pertains to us, not His own griefs, but ours.

Griefs, are our sicknesses, infirmities, diseases (physical

and spiritual). So in Matthew 8:17 the Lord quotes this

verse using the word sicknesses:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the

prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our

sicknesses.

He bore our griefs; that is: (a) He endured them in

removing them, in healing them; and (b) He endured

hardship and fatigue in healing our miseries of the flesh.

We read of Him healing people from day until night.77

He bore our griefs and … carried our sorrows:

There are at least four sorrows the Lord carried for us

which we can relate here:

76 1Peter 1:19 77 Compare with Mark 1:29-34

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1. Sorrow of a WASTED LIFE

A life spent on sin and self. How many people are there

who wish they had done something different with their

lives? How many regrets are there at the end of a life

wasted on vanity? The Bible says all in this life is vanity:78

Our lives and this world79 and that one day everything is

going to be burned up.80 Yet, how much of our lives are

spent chasing vain things; things that will burn up; things

that will bring us no eternal pleasure. Hebrews 11:25 says,

the pleasures of sin is but only for a season. That is, sin

has no lasting value.

But Jesus Christ came that we need not experience the

sorrow of a wasted life: In Christ we are new creatures,

instead of the old corrupted people we are originally. In

Christ we are created unto good works, not fleshly works,

not wasted efforts. In Christ we can bear much fruit,

instead of fruitlessness. In Christ we can have an

abundant life, instead of a life of misery. Christ offers us

eternal life in Him, an eternally blessed, sins-forgiven

relationship with the God of the universe. In Christ life is

not wasted: “and the world passeth away, and the lust

thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

O, what a wasted life is one spent on sin and self; one

filled with ungodly sorrows.81

2. Sorrow of CONDEMANTION

Jesus Christ suffered that we need no longer sorrow

over our own personal sins which condemn us. Before one

sees the beauty of Christ there is a time of sorrow,

whether brief or prolonged, but it is a godly sorrow that

brings us to Christ:

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be

repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death

(2Corinthians 7:10).

78 Ecclesiastes 1:2 79 “Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away” (Psalm 144:4); “all is

vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). 80 2Peter 3:10 81 2Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; John 15:8; John 10:10; 1John 2:17

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It is a sorrow over sin, your sin, your sin before God,

and His judgment upon you, your condemnation. Have you

ever suffered this sorrow? If you have, or if you are

experiencing it now, praise God! Because Christ carried

your sorrow, it means that He carried your SIN. Acts

13:39 says, “And by Him [Jesus Christ] all that believe are

justified from all things.”

The Doctrine of Justification is a truly blessed study,

but not for the pages of this text. Nevertheless,

justification simplified is this: Every person who trusts in

the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone is counted

righteous; 82 that in the eyes of God, your standing in

Christ is just as if your had never sinned. You are declared

legally not guilty of breaking the law of God; declared

legally righteous by the judge himself . . . GOD!

Hence Romans 10:4 puts it this way, “For Christ is the

end of the law for righteousness to every one that

believeth.” Therefore, all who believe, are justified by faith

in Christ, and need not sorrow over our sinful standing

before God. Of course, we sorrow over our daily sins; this

is part of the process of sanctification, as long as we are

on this earth. But, the sorrow of condemnation need no

longer plague you. It is replaced by joy at the time of

conversion.

3. Sorrow of FINAL JUDGMENT

One day, all those who lived life outside of Christ,

whatever their status in life, whatever their educational

attainment, whatever their problems in life were, will

stand before the Great White Throne of judgment:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from

whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there

was found no place for them (Revelation 20:11).

Sadly, it will be too late then. Great people, strong

people, famous people, mighty people, poor people,

everyone not found in Christ will stand before God and

82 Romans 4:3

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give an account of their lives. There will be no more

boasting, no more haughty looks, no more laughing, no

more rebellious attitudes, God alone will be exalted. Isaiah

2:11-22 offers a vivid description of that day:

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the

haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD

alone shall be exalted in that day. (12) For the day of the

LORD of hosts shall come upon everyone that is proud and

lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up; and he shall be

brought low: (13) And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that

are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, (14)

And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that

are lifted up, (15) And upon every high tower, and upon

every fortified wall, (16) And upon all the ships of Tarshish,

and upon all beautiful vessels. 17 And the loftiness of man

shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be

made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that

day.(18) And the idols he shall utterly abolish. (19) And they

shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the

earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty,

when he arises to shake mightily the earth. (20) In that day

a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold,

which they made, each for himself to worship, to the moles

and to the bats; (21) To go into the clefts of the rocks, and

into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and

for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake mightily

the earth. (22) Turn away from man, whose breath is in his

nostrils: for of what account is he?83

Based on works, no man can stand before God and say

he is righteous. 84 However, God will judge them by

works,85 so they may know that their condemnation is just,

and deserved. It ought to trouble the lost soul to know

that God keeps a record of our deeds, if that’s the method

one prefers to be judged by. The Bible says that in our

flesh dwells no good thing 86 and that all our

righteousnesses are as filthy rags.87

83 Couric, Robert A. 2003. King James 2000 Bible, The. Online [Open source]. Accessed

September 20, 2014. 84 See Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:16 85 Revelation 20:12 86 Romans 7:18 87 Isaiah 64:6

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Dear Reader, you don’t want to stand before GOD

in judgment, you will lose! It will be the lowly Christ, who

was rejected of men, despised, and unesteemed who will

judge:

… and whosoever was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). But Jesus Christ suffered that we need never

experience this sorrow.

Condemnation is certain because we are already

condemned.88 But God gives us His Word which tells us

that, “we may have boldness in the day of judgment:

because as he [Jesus Christ] is, so are we in this world.”89

There is only one way to escape the Great White Throne

Judgment, and that is through Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1

tell us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them

which are in Christ Jesus…”

Believers will also be judged, 90 but not for

punishment, because Christ already took our just

punishment on the cross:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;

that every one may receive the things done in his body,

according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad

(2Corinthians 5:10).

So may believers seek to reduce any sorrow then by

abiding in Christ, and walking in the Spirit:

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me,

and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without

me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the

lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

88 John 3:18 89 1John 4:17 90 2Corinthians 5:10

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4. ETERNAL Sorrow

The final sorrow Jesus came to bear for us, so we

would not have to, is eternal sorrow in hell, and ultimately

the Lake of Fire,91 where there is no hope of release.92

There will be eternal regret, 93 eternal darkness, 94 and

eternal torment. 95 But those who find themselves there

will bear the eternal sorrow of knowing that Christ suffered

that we need not experience this sorrow. If you are born

again, God revealed to you from His Word that Christ took

your place, and by God-given faith you looked to Him for

your soul’s salvation, so you would not suffer this

sorrow. . . isn’t that praiseworthy?!

If you have not yet looked to Christ and reading this,

you will experience this sorrow if you do not turn to Him.

That’s the bad news. These things await those who neglect

Christ. A person does not have to do anything to obtain

this sorrow: any bad deed, any crime, any evil because we

are already born into this path:

… he that believeth not is condemned already (John 3:18).

Psalm 51:5 implicitly implies that in sin we are

conceived; Romans 3:23, tells us in no uncertain words

that all have sinned; and Romans 3:10, makes it clear that

there is none righteous. BUT there is good news:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but

have everlasting life (John 3:16).

God could not allow us to be with Him in heaven in our

corrupt condition, because He is holy, but in love, He sent

His Son to bear the sorrows that rightfully belong to us.

91 Revelation 20:15 92 Revelation 20:10 – forever 93 Matthew 13:49 – weeping and gnashing of teeth 94 Jude 13 – The blackness of darkness for ever 95 Luke 16:22 – rich man in torments

42

He carried our sorrows yet … we did esteem him

stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The Jews despised Jesus so much that they presumed

He was being punished by God for some evil that He had

done. John 5:18 tells us:

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he

not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was

his Father, making himself equal with God.

Instead of grieving over His suffering, they were glad

about it. Isaiah 53 tells us that they did not consider that

He was innocent; they did not consider that He spoke the

truth, which was authenticated by His miracles. They did

not even consider that He was the Messiah of Scripture.

If they had put to heart Isaiah 53, instead of just

reading it for knowledge alone, or if they had studied the

Scriptures instead of just memorizing them, they may

have realized (humanly speaking) that the man before

them was indeed the Saviour, come from God, the

Messiah. Luke 24:25 states it even better:

… all that the prophets have spoken: (26) Ought not Christ

to have suffered these things …

And here it is over 2,000 years later and it is still the

same: Who considers that Christ died for them, for their

sins? Many know about Jesus Christ, but they do not know

Him. Many try to proclaim their own righteousness; many

do not consider Romans 3:10 seriously: there is none

righteous. And many do not look at Jesus Christ as bearing

their sins.

Our spiritual disability is that we are blind to our sin.

But when God reveals it to us, it will trouble us; it will

disturb us enough to seek God’s mercy in the face of Jesus

Christ, our only hope. How about you Dear Reader? Has

He carried your griefs and your sorrow? The Lord says

believe; Believe on Him, that HE has carried your griefs

and your sorrows. But it means that you must first

conclude that they are rightfully your griefs and YOUR

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sorrows HE bore and carried; that YOU deserve them and

NOT the LORD.

The Lord says that we are ALL guilty, and the only just

reward for our guilt is eternal separation from God in a

place called the Lake of Fire. This is the only way we can

properly pay for our own sins. But God made a way, one

way out of our sorrows through faith in His Son Jesus

Christ and his finished work.

There is nothing we can do to be saved. We cannot

work enough; we cannot earn enough good points to

outweigh the bad. Only Christ could bear our burdens, the

God-Man. The Lord did for us what we could not do for

ourselves. He did it on His cross 2,000 years ago, out of

love. It was for sinners that He suffered and died, and that

Saviour is beautiful!

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VERSE 5

HE WAS WOUNDED

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was

bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace

was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Verse five is the second verse continuing the PASSION

of the Christ. Last time, we saw in verse four His afflictions

of soul; that though He bore our griefs and carried our

sorrows, and that we presumed that He was being

chastised by God for His own evil, without realizing that

surely he carried ours, and so we esteemed Him stricken,

smitten of God and afflicted. Now, as we continue on, we

see the afflictions of body. Four words are used to describe

the pains of the Lord in this passage: wounded, bruised,

chastisement, stripes. “How many, how varied, and how

acute were his pains none of us can tell.”96 More is said

here, of the very low condition to which he abased and

humbled himself, to which he became obedient even to

the death of the cross.

But…

We are met by a profound but, a correction of thought.

But is a contrasting thought from the preceding clause. It

is a connector that says, wait, do not think that way

anymore (the previous verse). It is a correction; a change

in perspective; consider this instead of that.

But, this was a most false and unrighteous sentence.

And it is from here we springboard into verse 5:

… he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for

our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes we are healed.

Now look at it again from verse four:

96 Spurgeon, Charles. Spurgeon Devotional Commentary. Isaiah 53, Verse 1. Power Bible CD

[Open Domain]

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Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet

we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted …

(v5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was

bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was

upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

But (verse 5) is an interjection of a correction of

thought. But He was wounded, bruised, chastized, and

endured stripes . . . not for Himself but for others; for us:

Isaiah to the Jews, and by grace to us, the Gentiles).

He was given a fourfold punishment for our sins; a very

thorough, a very fierce recompense for the sins of many. For

the guilt of their sins, which he had voluntarily taken upon

himself, and for the recompense of their sins secured by

God; the Lord was wounded with thorns, nails, and spear;

bruised with strokes and buffetings: his back ploughed up

with stripes and scourging. For our transgressions; for or

because of them, as this particle commonly signifies?97

He was wounded

These wounds were not just mental sorrows, but also

physical. A wound is a physical injury that leads to death,

and it signifies the totality of the Lord’s physical anguish.98

It literally means "pierced.”99 We can see the relationship

between wounding and piercing in the prophetic Psalm

22:16:

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked

have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Compare that with Luke 23:33:

And when they were come to the place, which is called

Calvary, there they crucified him …

97 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Matthew Poole’s Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 98 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 99 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain]

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The Lord was not only wounded (pierced) by the nails

in his hands and feet, but also wounded by the thorns in

His head, and the spear in his side.

He was wounded for our transgressions

The word transgression means to pass over or beyond

(God’s commands) as taught by Scripture:

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin

is the transgression of the law (1John 3:4).

And our transgressions required wounding, a just

recompense for our collective breaking of God’s laws:

… the soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).

But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy

scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses (Psalm

68:21)

The beauty of Christ is revealed in His work, when we

see that because all of us are guilty of sin, we shall die.100

As a consequence of our fallen state, we are naturally

enemies of God,101 whom God shall wound the heads.102

Jesus Christ took upon Himself the wounds meant for US.

He was bruised for our iniquities

He was bruised. A reference in Genesis 3:15 gives us

the first prophecy of a coming Saviour. In it we read of the

Serpent bruising the Lord’s heel. When the nails went

through His feet, they were not only wounded (pierced)

but bruised; a crushing inward and outward suffering, as

from a beating.103 Add to this the fact that the Lord was

buffeted and others smote Him.104 Isaiah 30:6 also speaks

of Him giving His back to the smiters. And why did the

Lord endure this form of suffering? Because . . .

100 Ezekiel 18:4 101 Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:21 102 Psalm 68:21 103 Comments on Isaiah 53:5. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain] 104 Matthew 26:67; 27:30

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He was bruised for our iniquities. Iniquity speaks

of:

crookedness, perverseness, i.e. evil regarded as that

which is not straight or upright, moral distortion;

naughtiness, mischief; lawlessness;

unrighteousness.105

It is differentiated from sin, though they are often

grouped together as we read in Hebrews 10:17:

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

The chastisement of our peace was upon him

Chastisement, speaks of correction, disciplinary

correction; discipline by punishment.106 Chastisement, as

one old commentator put it is

Literally, the correction inflicted by a parent on children for

their good (Hebrews 12:5-8,10,11). Not punishment strictly;

for this can have place only where there is guilt, which He

had not; but He took on Himself the chastisement whereby

the peace (reconciliation with our Father; Romans 5:1;

Ephesians 2:14,15,17) of the children of God was to be

effected (Hebrews 2:14).107

Other commentators describe it:

The chastisement of our peace; those punishments by which

our peace, i.e. our reconciliation to God, and salvation, or

happiness, was to be purchased.108

The chastisement of our peace -"The chastisement by

which our peace is effected;” that by which we are brought

into a state of peace and favor with God. 109 [Compare that

with the words of 1Peter 3:18, “… the just for the unjust,

that he might bring us to God.”]

105 Iniquity. Edwards, Miall. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain] 106 Unknown reference 107 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain] 108 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Matthew Poole's Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open Domain] 109 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Bp. Lowth. British Family Bible. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain]

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To purchase our peace with God, he, who was holy and

beloved, consented to bear our punishment as if it had been

a fatherly chastisement.110

“Upon” him – as a burden; parallel to "hath borne" and

"carried."111

Hence in the New Testament we can read that from the

Lord’s chastisement on behalf of believers, “we have peace

with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 112 Also

2Corinthians 5:19:

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto

himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath

committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

That reconciliation so costly paid for by the Lord

Himself made peace between an angry, holy God, and

sinful, condemned mankind. But not only was he wounded

for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and

chastised for our peace, but . . .

And with his stripes we are healed.

Stripes is a reference to being scourged.113 The Lord

was likely scourged or whipped with what the Romans

referred to as a scorpion. This scorpion was a multi-

stripped device with metal hooks at the end of each strip

of the whip which when applied to the receiver, would

actually hook into the skin and pull, tear, or rip the flesh

from the person. It would be no surprise to have pulled off

muscle also, as well as inflict bone-deep lacerations.

Roman law prohibited more than forty lashes of a scorpion

because it was such a brutal punishment, people could die

from it, which is why they normally stopped at thirty-nine,

just to be safe.

However, in the case of a criminal, condemned to die

by crucifixion, the Roman soldier had the liberty to inflict

as much damage as they wanted to without limitation.114

110 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Thomas Scott Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open Domain] 111 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 5. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain] 112 Romans 5:1 113 Comments on Isaiah 53:5. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open

Domain]; Matthew 27:26; 1Peter 2:24 114 Ancient Torture part 3/3. History Channel: Ancient Discoveries. You Tube [Open Domain]

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This means that the Lord was probably scourged to within

an inch of His life (humanly speaking), as we read in

Matthew 27:26:

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had

scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

This point is further driven home when we read Isaiah

52:14:

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred

more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.

It makes sense then, that from the account in this

verse, that the Romans certainly whipped Him to an

incredible extent. But, no man could take His life. He lays

it down and takes it back up again,115 and so He endured

what was handed Him for our sakes. What we see in the

pictures and statues so often found in certain churches of

Jesus with a crown of thorns and some blood, a little gash

in His side, while hanging on the cross, is a weak

representation of the physical suffering the Lord suffered.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,

that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed. (1Peter 2:24).

With his stripes we are healed, that is, by his

sufferings we are saved from our sins, and from the

dreadful effects thereof.116 From Psalm 41:4, we can see

that all of our souls are in need of healing:

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have

sinned against thee.

Healed, spiritually: restored to what we ought to be, in

Christ. This indicates that before Adam’s sin, having been

created in God’s image117 Adam was spiritually healthy:

He was righteous, truly holy, and knowledgeable. 118

However, after the fall we lost that image and only in

115 John 10:17-18 116 Comments on Isaiah 53:5. Matthew Poole's Commentary. Power Bible CD [Open Domain] 117 Genesis 1:27; compare with 2Corinthians 3:18

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Christ can we be restored to it, though in this world we

can only change from glory to glory, but “we know that,

when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall

see him as he is.”119 Christ was that Perfect Man that we

were supposed to be.

All of these sufferings the Lord bore for US.

Another commentator puts it this way:

He bore them, and blamed not his lot; he carried them, and

did neither shrink from them, nor sink under them until he

said, It is finished.120

Jesus Christ, God’s Suffering Servant, was a Man of

sorrows who suffered afflictions of soul but who was also

wounded, bruised, chastised, and scourged, suffering

afflictions of the body, a most complete punishment of

soul and body, and for what? He was an innocent Man. He

suffered these torments for us; for our transgressions, our

iniquities, our peace, and our healing. This is how we can

read in the New Testament and be refreshed and joyful at

words such as we find in 1John 2:12:

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are

forgiven you for his name's sake;”

And in 1John 3:5:

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins;

and in him is no sin.

Believer, this is the essence of what we read in

Hebrews 12:1-3,

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great

a cloud of witnesses, let us 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, (2) Looking unto

Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy

that was set before him endured the cross, despising the

shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of

God. (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of

118 Ephesians 4:24, without sin; Ephesians 4:24, not an outward, but an inward purity; Colossians 3:10, an understanding of the mind of God, His will, and of His Creation 119 1John 3:2 120 Unknown source

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sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your

minds.

Consider Him … lest ye be wearied and faint … He

endured so much more than we could ever possibly

imagine; so much more than what we could possibly be

experiencing now. This is why we are told to consider Him,

who suffered anguish of soul and body, yet innocent. He

did not have to take this punishment, for it wasn’t His. If

we will but consider HIS sacrifice, instead of our own

suffering, perhaps ours will not be as overwhelming. Keep

going on!

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VERSE 6

WE HAVE GONE ASTRAY

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every

one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the

iniquity of us all.

Verse six is the last of the passion verses, and it

includes a common Bible illustration of sheep and people.

It is a reminder for us, as we go throughout our lives, of

the behavior which often entraps us in sin and unhealthy

behaviors, and which leads us away from the Lord rather

than toward Him. Nevertheless, we read that though we

have behaved this way from the beginning by the sin of

our corporate head Adam, and continue to this day, the

Lord carried this, but additional indictment upon the cross.

All we like sheep have gone astray

Sheep have a flocking instinct. They tend to go with

the flow, and do what the other sheep in the flock do.

They have even been known to follow others off a cliff.121

We too like sheep are followers of evil, bent to sin,

because everyone else is doing it; so God, in His infinite

understanding tells His people in Exodus 23:2, “Thou shalt

not follow a multitude to do evil.” Sheep operate

mostly by sight. They go where the scenery appeals to

them; a marked similarity between us and sheep. Thus in

1John 2:16, we read about the three categories of sins, of

which the lust of the eyes, is one of them. So far, there is

an unmistakable similarity between us and sheep. This is

surely one reason why the Lord often refers to His people

as sheep in Scripture.

Sheep have excellent hearing. They can distinguish

a specific voice among many; they can distinguish or

recognize their shepherd’s voice from others.

They are generally considered dumb animals.

Sheep do what they want to do without regard for injury.

121 One news report from Turkey several years ago had 1,500 jumping off a cliff.

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They’re prone to wander away from the shepherd and go

places that would endanger them. We are already born

astray, all non-believers are still astray, and believers can

go astray, even doing things that harm them spiritually122

and even physically.123

Sheep often go astray; spiritually speaking, from the

path of righteousness into wickedness. Starting with Adam,

who was created in righteousness, we went astray by

disobeying God’s command to Adam not to eat of the fruit

of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; and now we

all follow the same path (remember the flocking instinct).

So the Lord uses terms like, wander,124 gone astray, 125

and shepherd126 to describe our attitudes, behaviors, and

condition: Our thoughts (lustful) … attitudes (arrogant) …

ways (away from God) … eyes (look upon evil) … ears

(listen to evil) … hands (commit evil) … feet (run to evil) …

heart (is evil) … tongues (speak evil) … have all gone

astray. Compare this with the words of James 1:14:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own

lust, and enticed.

Drawn away from God, from the path (of

righteousness), path of life, path of the just, path of God’s

commandments. We so easily get distracted from the

eternal things by the temporal: So says the Lord, “Seek ye

first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33); So says the

Lord, “Looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2); So says

the Lord, “look not to the left or to the right” (Joshua 1:7).

Stray believers have the Holy Spirit who convicts, who

restrains, who leads, who brings God’s Word to

remembrance, who keeps us in the path of righteousness.

And if that doesn’t work, the Lord uses His rod of

correction, or chastisement, to bring us back into the

way.127

122 E.g. unhealthy attitudes, not feeding on the Word, not breathing the oxygen of prayer,

separating themselves from the group (church, fellowship) 123 E.g. unhealthy habits or activities 124 See Numbers 14:33, 32:13; Psalm 119:10 125 See Psalm 119:176; Jeremiah 50:6; 2Peter 2:15 126 Numbers 27:17; 1Kings 22:17; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:8 ... 127 Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 12:4-17

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We have turned every one to his own way

Everyone seeks his own way, not the things of God.

Don’t agree? Why do we have these attitudes: envy …

pride … lust … covetousness … hatred … bitterness … and

the like? They are all selfish conditions, ungodly attitudes.

When the Lord speaks of our own way, I think of the old

Frank Sinatra song, My Way, and we can add to that, my

will … what I want … what feels good … and what seems

right in my eyes, which leads to death.128 But only Christ

did it God’s way; seeking not His own but that of others.

Only He could truly say, “For I came down from heaven,

not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent

me.” 129 He alone obeyed the Father’s will perfectly. We

drink evil like iced tea on a scorching summer afternoon.

But Christ’s meat was to do the Father’s will:

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that

sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:34).

His sustenance, His pleasure, His satisfaction, His

delight was to do what God wanted Him to do.

Reader how about you? How about me? This is why

we need to look to Christ, our Perfect Example130 of how to

operate in this world. He did not pursue His own desires,

but left it to the Father to give Him His desires. His desire

was the Father’s desire.

And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Wait! Stop . . . WHO laid on Him the iniquity of us all?!

The LORD?! Yes, this was a transaction between Father

and Son; between God and God alone. We had no part in

it: Its planning, its completion, its results! It was the

Lord’s plan, not ours. We weren’t even asking Him

either. 131 Not even the Devil had any part in this

transaction. Many mistakenly think this ransom was paid

to the Devil; but he has no power to hold us apart from

128 Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 129 John 6:38 130 1Peter 2:21 131 Compare with Romans 5:6-10; “Without strength … dare to die … yet sinners … enemies …”

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God’s permission.132 This holy ransom was paid to a holy

God by a loving God. The Lord initiated it, calling to Adam

in the Garden of Eden saying “Where art thou?”133 As far

back as eternity past, God had it planned.134 God sent His

Son to us:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth

his Son (Galatians 4:4).

Even when we weren’t looking for Him, or even asking

for Him, not knowing our terrifying condition or

predicament, God gave His Son to suffer what we read in

great detail in Isaiah 53:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son (John 3:16).

God gave His Son a Ransom for many.135 Ransoms are

given as payment for the freedom of a captive (i.e. a

prisoner). We are born captives of God’s wrath,

condemned to die but on the Cross: God’s justice met

God’s mercy: When we were yet condemned met not

getting what we deserved; Truth met grace: The law met

a way out for the undeserving, for lawbreakers,

disobedient, wicked; Holiness met the Perfect Sacrifice for

unholiness on the cross of Christ.

Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ was once offered to

bear the sins of many...” A debt was paid; a sin debt for

our going astray. Our disobedience required punishment,

and it was paid by Jesus Christ alone. And not only was it

the Lord’s plan, but it was the Lord’s work. So said the

Lord “It is finished” in John 19:30 on the cross before He

gave up the ghost. There is nothing left for us to do but

believe, because:

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes (Psalm

118:23).

God did for us what we could not do for ourselves:

132 Compare with Job 1:12 133 Genesis 3:9 134 Ephesians 3:11 135 See Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1Timothy 2:6

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For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ

died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).

We already learned what it means to be without

strength: No righteousness of our own; Beggars;

Prisoners.136 The RESULT is that God made a way for us to

be freed from His wrath; to escape it; to be saved! No

works of man, angels, or any other creature in this

transaction; which is why the Lord’s redeemed can in

sincerity proclaim:

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give

glory (Psalm 115:1).

…let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be

magnified (Psalm 70:4).

And the Lord laid on Him . . . the iniquity of us all.

We have already seen how iniquity is wickedness. That

iniquity is not necessarily a transgression of the law, but

an evil work of our corrupt flesh. But in order to help us

appreciate the beauty of the Lord’s work, His suffering, it

would behoove us to face the mirror and see specifically

what some of the wickednesses are that we do. Romans 1,

Galatians 5, and Revelation 22 provide pretty clear

observations:

unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,

maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,

malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,

proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to

parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without

natural affection, implacable, unmerciful

adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,

witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,

seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness,

revellings

sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters

136 Children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)

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Is there any one of us who does not fall into any one of

these wickednesses? Are we not all guilty?! But here’s the

praise-worthy application: And the Lord hath laid on

Him . . . All our wicked deeds. To whosoever believes, all

wicked deeds are forgiven in Christ!

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are

forgiven you for his name's sake (1John 2:12).

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that

come unto God by him … (Hebrews 7:25).

So, Dear Reader, if you think that you’ve done too

much evil to be forgiven, think again. As I understand it,

ALL manner of forgiven sinners will be found in heaven,

except one: The unbeliever. The one who says my sins are

too great even for Christ’s blood, so I will take my chances,

I will do it my way, or I don’t care; he who will not obey

the Lord’s command to “repent ye and believe the

gospel.”137 This is the person spoken of in 2Thessalonians

1:8,

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,

and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, the Lord still extends His invitation of

forgiveness for these wickednesses and more through the

blood of His Son Jesus Christ:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have

eternal life (John 3:15).

Have you ever seen yourself as helpless, as gone

astray: evil, wicked, ungodly, unholy, a sinner)? A wicked

sinner? Having gone your own way and lost to sin?

Hopeless, helpless, at the end of yourself? In

desperate need of forgiveness? Do you loathe your sin and

self? Then Christ bore YOUR sins! If you haven’t already,

run to Him for salvation, for . . .

137 Mark 1:15

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… the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah

53:6).

Christ the Good Shepherd gave His life for His sheep:

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep (John 10:11)

He laid down His life for His sheep which were lost to

sin (dead in sin):

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I

lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:15)

His sheep hear His voice . . . the Lord says:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow

me (John 10:27)

Have you ever heard His voice and followed Him? It is

not an audible voice from heaven, like some say. God

speaks to us today from His Word. In fact, Peter

considered the Word of God more reliable than his own

experience.138 Many people say, Jesus is my friend; God is

my buddy; I know the Lord; but the question is, does HE

know YOU?139 Matthew 7:23 says that it is not whether we

know Him, but that He knows us,

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart

from me, ye that work iniquity.

Christianity, eternal life, forgiveness of sins is found in

a relationship, not deeds.140 It is the working of God in a

person, rather than a person working for God. Romans

8:16 tells us that:

…the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are

the children of God.

138 2Peter 1:16-21 139 Compare with Galatians 4:9 140 John 17:3

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Does the Spirit bear witness in you of this relationship; in walk, in conviction, in song in your

heart, in self-examination of the Word, in fellowship, in prayer?

Are you following Jesus Christ as a sheep that has been found by his shepherd, the Good Shepherd? Do you follow His voice? Do you obey His commands?

First John 2:3 teaches us:

…hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his

commandments.

Later in the epistle (5:3), John reiterates:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his

commandments: and his commandments are not

grievous.

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VERSE 7

HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not

his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and

as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not

his mouth.

We are now entering the passivity verses (7-9) which

describe the Lord’s humility, His submissiveness, and His

obedience. But before we continue, let us review the

previous verses (4-6). In them we saw the suffering of the

Lord, His passion. We saw how He bore our griefs… carried

our sorrows… was wounded for our transgressions (sins)…

bruised for our iniquities (wickednesses)… chastised for

our peace… scourged for our healing… and how the iniquity

of us all was laid on him. It was a complete and thorough

suffering, of the soul and body for sinners.

Prior to this, we examined His Person in verses 1-3,

which described Him as the arm of the LORD… who had no

form or comeliness… no beauty that we should desire

Him… who was despised and rejected of men… a man of

sorrows… and acquainted with grief. Most accurately says

the Lord of Himself in Matthew 11:29, “I am meek and

lowly in heart.” GOD of all Creation willingly lowered

Himself, to become a man, in this filthy place, that He

might suffer and die a sinner’s death in order to “save His

people from their sins.” 141 He came in lowliness, and

behaved Himself in meekness.

His passivity is seen in verses 7-9. Passivity means,

not active, but acted upon. The Lord did not act but He

was acted upon. He became a sacrifice for the sins of

many: a lamb to the slaughter. Passivity speaks of the

Lord’s submissiveness and obedience to the Father’s will

unto death as a lamb to the slaughter; submissive unto

death; obedient to the death of the cross.

141 Matthew 1:21

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And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Philippians 2:8).

How about us? Are we willingly submitted to God’s will?

Yes you say? How about unto death? Have any of us

obeyed God’s will to suffer to that extent? The Lord says

Christ was innocent. Hebrews 12:3 puts it in perspective

for us:

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

The contradiction here is the fact that He was included

with sinners, though He was not one. We are to consider

His submissiveness and obedience in the face of such

heinous contradiction, to be punished a most miserable

death on the cross, and suffer such anguish of soul for

naught of Himself. We are instructed to think about what

He did for us, enduring the shame of being lumped

together with sinners, for our sakes, so that we won’t give

up, or become weary and faint.

Consider Him…

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he

opened not his mouth: he was brought as a lamb to the

slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so

He did not open his mouth.

Consider Him…

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he

opened not his mouth: he was brought as a lamb to the

slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so

He did not open his mouth.

YET (but; nevertheless; even though), He was

oppressed and afflicted … yet … he opened not his

mouth:

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he

answered nothing (Matthew 27:12).

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But neither so did their [false] witness agree together. (60)

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus,

saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these

witness against thee? (61) But he held his peace, and

answered nothing (Mark 14:59).

And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he

answered nothing. (4) And Pilate asked him again, saying,

Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they

witness against thee. (5) But Jesus yet answered nothing; so

that Pilate marveled (Mark 15:3).

Yet he opened not his mouth, to curse or revile.

First Peter 2:21 says:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow

his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his

mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;

when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously.

How often, when we are spoken against do we give a

sharp retort? People say something bad against us, and

we answer back, tit for tat! Sometimes we are right, but

probably most of the time we are wrong. Nevertheless, the

Lord showed us by His example that even to death, it is

not acceptable with Him to curse or revile. Compare that

with the New Testament Christian principle:

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that

ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians

4:6).

How much more did the Lord have a right to answer

these people who sought to crucify Him. He did no evil,

from birth until that point. We could all surely learn from

Christ’s example:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow

his steps (1Peter 2:21).

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Consider Him…

Yet he opened not his mouth, in defense. Though He was

guiltless; He did not try to defend Himself. How often we try to

defend ourselves from accusations, when we should just be quiet,

follow Christ’s ultimate example, and wait on the Lord to work it

out:

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee

to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt

see it (Psalm 37:34).

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD,

and he shall save thee (Proverbs 20:22).

Christ’s passivity left us the Christian’s definitive

example which commits all things to God’s hands:

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God

endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (20) For what glory is it, if,

when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God. (21) For even hereunto were ye

called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an

example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) Who, when he

was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he

threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth

righteously (1Peter 2:19).

Consider Him…

Yet he opened not his mouth, to complain. It was

the Father’s will that He endure this.142 And for us, the

things that happen to us fall under the Lord’s Sovereign

will,143 so may we learn to follow the Lord’s example and

not use our mouths to complain.

Consider Him…

Yet He opened not His mouth, to call down angels

to destroy the world:

142 See Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42 143 See Ephesians 1:11; 1Thessalonians 5:18

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Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he

shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels

(Matthew 26:53)?

His concern was for the Father’s will to be

accomplished. His concern was for the salvation of His

people. His motivation was love; love for the Father, love

for the sinner. It also demonstrates His meekness in that

though He is Creator God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords,

who could have commanded approximately 72,000

angels144 to destroy the earth . . . He submitted to this:

“yet he opened not his mouth;” “leaving us an example [of

meekness] that ye should follow his steps.”145

Consider Him…

He did however open His mouth to answer direct

questions of His Person.

… the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the

Christ, the Son of the Blessed? (62) And Jesus said, I am:

and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of

power, and coming in the clouds of heaven (Mark 14:61-62).

And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he

answering said unto him, Thou sayest it (Mark 15:2).

He did not open His mouth to defend Himself, or curse,

or complain, or call down angels, but He did open His

mouth to answer who He is in truth. And may we as

believers open our mouths to speak the truth when we are

asked, as 1Peter 3:15 tells us to do:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready

always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a

reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

144 12 legions x 6,000 145 1Peter 2:21

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He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter

Why is the Lord compared to a lamb? The Old

Testament offerings were only a picture of the perfect

Sacrifice to come:

And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a

female without blemish (Leviticus 4:32).

Which was a figure for the time then present (Hebrews 9:9).

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not

the very image of the things (Hebrews 10:1).

So says John the Baptist:

…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the

world (John 1:29).

God provided Himself a lamb.146 And though this Lamb

was oppressed, and He was afflicted, “yet he opened not

his mouth.”

And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he

openeth not his mouth.

Why shearers? Shearers take the wool off the sheep.

They remove the glory of the sheep. It illustrates the

Lord’s humiliation at the hands of men (the shearers).

Unlike our harsh use of the word today, in biblical times,

the word dumb meant speechless. Thus, the Lord was

quiet, He did not speak: “he openeth not His mouth.” God

of all, lowered Himself to become a man, despised of men,

rejected of men, to bare our griefs and carry our sorrows,

to suffer the abuses of men, wounded for our

transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, to be

punished for crimes that He had not done … so “he

openeth not his mouth.” He did not open His mouth

because it was the Father’s will that He endure it.

And until now He still opens not His mouth to condemn,

even though we are already condemned from birth.147 He

did not come to condemn us:

146 Genesis 22:8

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For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the

world; but that the world through him might be saved (John

3:17).

He receives and delivers all sinners:

… him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John

6:37)

there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in

Christ Jesus … (Romans 8:1)

He did not come [then] to judge us either, because

“the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which

was lost.”148 Yet there will come a day when He will judge

everyone, great and small as Acts 17:31 points out:

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge

the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath

ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in

that he hath raised him from the dead.

Now the risen Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand

of God the Father, His work finished, He has entered His

rest, and He opens His mouth to say:

Come

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I

will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Whosoever will

And the Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that

heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And

whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely

(Revelation 22:17).

Believe on Him for eternal life

147 John 3:18; Romans 5:12

148 Luke 19:10

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Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath

everlasting life (John 6:47).

You don’t have to do anything to be saved except

believe the Lord Jesus Christ.149 But it does mean that you

will naturally turn from your way and come to Christ for

His free gift of eternal worth.

149 Acts 16:31

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VERSE 8

HE WAS CUT OFF

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who

shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the

land of the living: for the transgression of my people was

he stricken.

As we approach the eighth verse of Isaiah 53, and the

second verse of His PASSIVITY (verses 7-9), we must first

break it down since this particular verse is somewhat

difficult to grasp at first reading. By way of analysis, there

are four clauses in verse eight:

1. He was taken from prison and from judgment:

2. And who shall declare his generation?

3. For he was cut off out of the land of the living:

4. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

He was taken from prison and from judgment

In this first clause, let us look at the two nouns prison

and the grave, and then look at their actions. First is

prison. Have you ever read of Christ being imprisoned in

the Gospel accounts? There is no biblical record of Him

being held in prison while He awaited trial. It all happened

fast, within hours: He was arrested, taken to the high

priest, to Pilate, then Herod, and back to Pilate, then

crucified, and His body placed in a tomb. His prison was

the grave; and the grave represents death. Job 30:23

sheds some light on this:

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house

appointed for all living.”

The house spoken of here is figurative of death. The Lord’s

house of confinement was the grave.. prison.. death. By

way of personal application, we may also take note that it

is the end for everybody, and so may we view the

worthiness of our pursuits in light of that.

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Pilate, an instrument of God’s sovereign will, delivered

Christ to His death on the cross, and He was buried in a

tomb (grave) where His body lay for three days. Yes, there

is speculation as to where the Lord was during this time

and what He was doing,150 but we know clearly that His

body lay in a tomb (a house) for three days. He was in the

grave, i.e. He was dead.

The second noun is judgment, which speaks of

condemnation, a sentence pronounced. Judgment fell on

us in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned,151 and sin

was passed on to all of us. Scripture verifies this:

There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10).

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

(Romans 3:23).

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in

one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10).

The scripture hath concluded all under sin (Galatians 3:22).

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother

conceive me (Psalm 51:5).

… condemned already (John 3:18).

But why as we have already seen was He wounded …

bruised … chastised … scourged … and put to death … as a

lamb to the slaughter… He alone who knew no sin; He

alone who is just; He alone who is righteous?152

Why was He condemned for the crimes of failing to

follow God’s commands and failure to meet God’s standard

of holiness?

Why did God the Son willingly allow Himself to be

judged by the Father and condemned for crimes He had

not done, nor even ever thought of doing? Remember,

Christ was completely holy within and without. That means

He never even had an impure thought! Who among us

could say that?

150 Refer to 1Peter 3:18-20. 151 Genesis 2:17 152 2Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 3:18; 1John 2:1

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Because . . . someone must be punished for sin. God’s

justice demands it. When there is a crime committed, we

cry out for justice (that sometimes doesn’t come to pass).

But God’s is a perfect justice that not only requires

punishment but will also get it. There is no escape. And

the only way we can pay for our sin debt, our crimes

against God, is an eternity in the Lake of Fire. And that is

what will naturally happen to each person not found in

Christ, because we are born condemned already and we

are born sinners as we have already seen.

But consider Christ . . . who humbled Himself and

became a man that He might save US: He suffered, was

condemned to die in our place, crucified and buried. That

was his judgment: to be put to death in our place. To be

separated from God because of crimes that WE have done.

He was judged and sent to prison. This was not only

physical judgment, but also spiritual that led Him to cry

out “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!” And

why did He endure separation from the Father, you may

ask? Romans 5:8 explains it: But God commendeth [showed] his love toward us, in that,

while we were yet sinners [condemned], Christ died for us.

But it did not end there . . . we still must see the

action of the clause: “He was taken from prison [the

grave] and from judgment [condemnation].” To be taken

from is to be removed out of; to be released from. His

sentence was reversed and He was set free. The Lord had

been put to death, condemned and made an offering for

our sins, laid in a tomb, judged by the Father for our

offences but . . . He arose from the grave, taken from

prison and from judgment. He was released from prison

(the grave, the hold of death) and from condemnation, as

Scripture foresaw:

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou

suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Ps 16:10).

The angel rolled back the stone from the tomb – and

Christ went free! 153 Some religions keep Christ on the

153 Matthew 28:2

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Cross, but He is risen. . . Payment was made . . . the

transaction was finished! Mark 16:6 proclaims:

Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen;

he is not here …

And Luke 24:5 asks:

Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Why was He set free? Because the Father was

pleased with the Son’s sacrifice. And only the Son pleases

the Father, in life and in death. Matthew 3:17 indicates

this:

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Dear Reader, this is the urgency of being found in

Christ; apart from Christ, we are in the flesh:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is

born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto

thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:6).

…they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8).

We are born into this world spiritually dead in sin,

separated from God. That’s why we must be born again

(spiritually).

Dear Reader, if you are NOT trusting in Christ, do

you really believe that it is possible to please God

yourself? We cannot please God outside of CHRIST, as

Isaiah and the Psalmist tell us:

…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, in the eyes of God

(Isaiah 64:6).

Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee

(Psalm 16:2).

He was taken from prison and from judgment…

Why? Because Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient. As for us,

no matter what we do, we can never reach the standard of

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God because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory

of God." Compare that with what we read about the Lord

in John 1:14,

… we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of

the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Who among us can exemplify this? Only the work of

Christ (God in the flesh) is sufficient.

Dear Reader, if you are NOT trusting in Christ, do

you really believe you are self sufficient? The Bible tells us

that “our sufficiency is of God."154

He was taken from prison and from judgment…

Why? Because Christ met the perfect requirements of the

law, and holiness. The Lord lived a perfect life, was pure

inside and out, He should not be held any longer because

it was enough. He paid our debt it in full. He gave his life;

He gave his soul; all perfect. No mere man could have

accomplished this. Only God in the flesh on earth could

meet the requirements of God above. This must quiet all

teaching that says Christ was not God, that He was only a

man because no one else but the Son of God, from the

Father Himself would have been good enough for the

Father, for “there is none good but one, that is, God."155

Dear Reader, if you are NOT trusting in Christ, do

you really believe that you are good enough to go to

Heaven? To not go to hell? Consider what the great man of

faith, the Apostle Paul wrote of himself in Romans 7:18, “I

know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good

thing.” How much more each of us?

He was taken from prison and from judgment…

Why? Because the Father accepted his Son’s offering on

our behalf, “a lamb without blemish and without spot,"156

the Perfect offering. Jesus Christ the Righteous, the only

person who could ever say that, died in our stead; took

our shame our judgment: our crimes, our wickednesses,

our offences . . . He became an offering for our offences,

so we would not have to stand before God as sinners . . .

and be sent to prison for eternity, without parole, the

ONLY other way to pay this sin debt. Is that not beautiful?

154 2Corinthians 3:5 155 Matthew 19:17 156 1Peter 1:19

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And He was raised, so that we may know that the Father

accepted Christ’s sacrificial offering on our behalf, for our

justification (“just – as – if – I – had – never – sinned”):

Who was delivered for our offences . . . and was raised again

for our justification (Romans 4:25).

NOW every believer can stand before God with

boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is

[righteous], so are we in this world [righteous now],

according to 1John 4:17. Every believer is righteous in

God’s eyes, not just in heaven, but here on this earth. You

don’t have to die to be a saint, in Christ, you are a saint.

Reader, if you are NOT trusting in Christ, do you

really believe that you can make yourself acceptable to

God? You might be able to make yourself respectable to

the people around you, but Romans 2:11 tells us that

“there is no respect of persons with God." God is not

impressed with our status, ability, accomplishments,

degrees, or any other thing. He only considers the sacrifice

of His Son as acceptable, and anyone who rests in Jesus

Christ’s finished work is looked upon with favor:

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that

justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness

(Romans 4:5).

The glory belongs to Jesus Christ alone who has “made

us accepted in the beloved." 157 God will not share His

Son’s glory with another.158

And who shall declare his generation?

This particular clause does not have a definite

interpretation that I am aware of. Even the early writers

were not perfectly clear on the meaning of His generation.

It may however mean at least a couple of ideas. First, it

may be speaking of the eternality of the risen Christ; His

age, His life i.e. “Who can know His years, or how long His

age shall last." The fact that death has no hold on Him,

and that He that was dead is alive forevermore, therefore

157 Ephesians 1:6 158 Compare with Isaiah 42:8

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ever to remain untouchable to death, for He paid the

dues:

… Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more (Romans

6:9).

Secondly, it may also mean His Spiritual children; the

vast numbers of the saved over the centuries; the

multitudes . . . who can declare it, or who can express it?

It certainly verifies that Christ’s death was not unfruitful,

and ties into Hebrews 2:13,

And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and

the children which God hath given me.

But, in the end, it is basically saying “is there anyone

who can explain this?” Who shall or who can; who is able

to; no words can say; Declare or say; tell; explain.

Compare this with Psalm 118:23,

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

And we see that the Lord’s work is beyond our

understanding. Thus Isaiah, under the leading of the Holy

Spirit, was likely expressing a wondrous admiration in this

comment.

For he was cut off out of the land of the living

Use of the term cut off indicates it was a violent death

the Lord suffered. For (or because) He was cut off… who

could understand (i.e. who shall declare his generation).

He was supposed to be dead but He is alive. Who can

explain it (i.e. count His years or count His spiritual

children); “Who shall declare His generation,” because

(for) He was supposed to be dead (for He was cut off out

of the land of the living), yet He lives again. Compare this

with Revelation 1:18,

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive

for evermore, Amen …

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For the transgression of my people was he stricken

Stricken, speaks of the Lord being smitten to death.

This clause is a reminder that Christ died not for His own

sins, but for the sins and salvation of His people. This was

a reminder for the Jews then, to remember: They would

errantly esteem Him “stricken, smitten of God, and

afflicted” (v3), so they needed to hear it again and again,

and again. We too need to hear it again because many

esteem Him not, many despise him, many reject Him,

many see no beauty that they should desire Him, and

many hide their faces from Him, whether Christians in

their behaviors and attitudes, or those not trusting in

Christ.

Have you partaken in this wonderful work of the Lord

on your behalf? Then there is great beauty in Isaiah 53 to

be revealed, if you will look closer. I pray the Lord would

be pleased to use this study to reveal more of the beauty

of Jesus Christ, His PERSON, His PASSION, and His

PASSIVITY. If you have not partaken, will you neglect such

a perfect, great and wonderful salvation?159 It is free for all

who will look to the Lamb of God who takes away . . . our

sin.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that

we might be made the righteousness of God in him

(2Corinthians 5:21).

159 Hebrews 2:3

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VERSE 9

BECAUSE HE HAD DONE NO VIOLENCE

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich

in his death; because he had done no violence, neither

was any deceit in his mouth.

In order to get a fuller understanding of verse nine, we

need to examine it in context of following verse eight . . .

(v8) for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the

transgression of my people was he stricken. (v9) And he

made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his

death; because he had done no violence, neither was any

deceit in his mouth.

The and… that connects the two verses indicates that

not only was He cut off out of the land of the living; and

not only was He stricken for the transgression of my

people; but He was also prepared to endure the shame of

being buried with the wicked. Even in His death the Lord

was willing to suffer humiliation for us by being buried with

wicked men.

He made His grave with the wicked

Who are the wicked spoken of here? These are

those who were put to death for various crimes: thieves,

murderers, conspirators, and other criminals. The Romans

did not give honor to those who were unworthy enough to

be crucified. They simply threw them in graves with the

other criminals as another way of disgrace in death for

those who broke Roman law. In Bible times, this was

considered a great dishonor. Compare with Jeremiah

26:23:

And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him

unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and

cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

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Remember, the Lord was crucified between two thieves.

The Romans considered Him no different than any other

dishonored offender. Consequently, the Lord was going to

be put in a grave right next to those lawbreakers.

Note the Lord’s willingness to endure this additional

affliction and insult: “he made his grave with the wicked.”

This means that He was willingly ready to put Himself

among the graves of the wicked, because He prepared

(made) Himself a place there. It doesn’t say that this was

forced upon Him, but rather He chose to allow Himself to

be put in an unmarked, common grave. He came, dwelt

among us, carried our sorrows, bore our griefs; and in the

end was ready to make His grave with the wicked; a

complete and thorough humiliation. From birth, in life, in

death, and even after death, the Lord was ready to

humble Himself for our sakes.

A more generalized implication of this humiliation is

that “He made his grave with the wicked” of Adam’s race,

us. Need evidence that we are wicked? Jeremiah 17:9 says

that our hearts are desperately wicked. We are wicked

people, doing wicked things . . . are we not thieves? Are

we not murderers? First John 5:19 says, “…the whole

world lieth in wickedness.” Isaiah 53:9 is saying that He

was prepared to make His grave with us, Adam’s evil race.

Proverbs 11:21 tells us that, “Though hand join in

hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.” Therefore,

since Jesus Christ took the sinner’s place on the cross,

became sin for us, receiving their just due, He must

therefore of necessity be punished. In that, the Lord made

His grave with the wicked race of men.

His grave was appointed with the wicked;160 for this

would have been the natural course of action for the Lord

who had died a criminal’s death. This would have been the

natural course, if it were not for Divine providence; Christ

would have been buried with wicked men. But a rich man

named Joseph of Arimathaea humbly went to Pilate and

begged him for Christ’s body:

160 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 9. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open

Domain]

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When the even was come, there came a rich man of

Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus'

disciple: (58) He went to Pilate, and begged the body of

Jesus (Matthew 27:57-58).

God had providentially already inclined Pilate’s heart to

grant that request so that Isaiah 53:9 might be fulfilled:

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of

water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (Proverbs 21:1). We can learn from this that we must go to God first,

before approaching an authority. It is God who can

prepare their heart to grant your desire. And so Pilate,

who had declared Jesus a just man, before His crucifixion,

granted Joseph’s request:

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing ... washed his

hands ... saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just

person... (Matthew 27:24).

...Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered (Matthew

27:58).

And Joseph laid the body of Christ in his tomb, a new

tomb, for a rich man

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a

clean linen cloth, (60) And laid it in his own new tomb...

(Matthew 27:59).

Such care and tenderness for the body of the Lord,

that gave it a more honorable and loving burial. And so

the Scripture was fulfilled, that “he made his grave with

the wicked, and with the rich in his death...”

Because he had done no violence, neither was any

deceit in his mouth.

Why is this point so important and repeated? Because

people must understand that Jesus Christ is more than

just a man, but God-Man. Then and now it must be

proclaimed: He was the Perfect and Complete Sacrifice.

Because; for the reason of, that Christ had done no

violence, neither was there deceit in His mouth. It sounds

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like an odd way of saying something, but what this phrase

is doing is reinforcing the fact that the Lord was an

innocent man. It is in effect saying that: Because He was

just; Because He was righteous; Because He was

good.161

He was guiltless of any crime or evil against God or

man; because of this He went from making His grave with

the wicked, to being buried with the rich in His death.

Remember, Pilate declared Jesus an innocent “man.” The

fact that He had done no violence, nor was He found a liar,

warranted His proper burial. Just as God the Father would

not allow His Son to endure complete obscurity in His birth,

bringing shepherds to visit Christ as a babe and wise men

bringing gifts in His infancy;162 neither would He allow a

complete dishonoring of His Son in death.

He made His grave with the wicked; and with the rich

in His death because . . .

He had done no violence

He had done no evil, no wrong, no harm. He did only

good:

He healed the nobleman’s son; the woman with the

issue of blood, the lepers, the blind, the lame, the

palsy, and on it goes; that’s only what is written (John

20:30)

He fed 5,000 men, out of compassion

He taught the Word of God in the synagogues; blessed

are the peace makers; forgiveness of sins; love for

enemies; treat others as you would be treated; love

the Lord

He preached repentance toward God and faith in the

Gospel: Get right with God, our Creator; respond to His

message of redemption, for our own good

161 1Peter 3:18; 2Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 19:16-17 162 Luke 2:16; Matthew 2:11

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Are these things that warrant a death penalty? No,

certainly not. But may we be reminded, that all who will

live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.163 The

world hated Christ then, and still hates Him now; and will

hate us too, if we are openly letting Him live through us.

Christ lived peaceably with all men. And so are we

commanded to follow our Good Shepherd’s example, not

to attack, but to live peacefully. Sometimes as Christians,

we get caught up in causes which lead us to look like wild

extremists. That’s not what the Lord taught us:

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my

kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight,

that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my

kingdom not from hence (John 18:36).

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with

all men (Romans 12:18).

Follow peace with all men, ... (Hebrews 12:14).

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse

you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which

despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

There is nothing wrong with voicing a concern, but as

Christians, we are supposed to be different. Christians are

Christ-like; Christ-ones. There should be something in us

that is different than the world:

… how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive

him? … (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until

seven times: but, Until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-

22).

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all

iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of

good works (Titus 2:14).

We are to be forgiving, and do good works, not be

involved in violence. The Lord had done no violence, and

163 2Timothy 3:12

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for all this He was traded for a murderer, Barabbas; the

just for the unjust.164 What a poignant illustration of our

depravity. The Jewish spiritual leaders who stirred up the

crowd did not see Christ in the Law and the Prophets,

which point to Him. They did not want to admit their need

for his righteousness because they thought they had

enough of their own.

Neither was any deceit in his mouth

No trickery. No fakeness. No cheating. No scams. The

Lord is not guilty of these things, “Who did no sin, neither

was guile found in his mouth."165 What you hear is what

you get. He speaks only the truth,166 for He is the truth.167

How do we use our mouths? To praise God; to edify

brethren; to share Christ; to teach the Word of God? Or do

we use our mouths to tell dirty jokes; to gossip; to sow

discord; to yell at our neighbors? Our Perfect Example

showed us how to use our mouths; to speak truth,

“neither was any deceit in His mouth.” Well speaks 1John

3:5 about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins;

and in him is no sin.

Isaiah 53:9 reminds us of the beauty of the Lord’s

conduct and speech. May we as believers learn to yield

ourselves to the Spirit of Christ more, so that we may walk

as He lived while on earth: Doing good; living peacefully;

proclaiming the truth. And may we see more clearly His

worth, His value, and His loveliness from this verse.

164 Luke 23:18-25; 1Peter 3:18

165 1Peter 2:22 166 Titus 1:2 167 John 14:6

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VERSE 10

IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to

grief: when thou shalt 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.

Who killed Jesus?

As we begin the final section of Isaiah 53, we enter

into His PORTION, which speaks of the Lord’s reward for

His labors; the result of His PASSION and PASSIVITY.

Verse 10 is a deep verse that reveals something about the

transaction that took place between Father and Son, on

our behalf. Nearly ten years ago I preached a message

asking that same question. Since of course readers of this

book were not in attendance that night, I ask it again. If

you want to know the answer to that intriguing question,

please read on. But you may get a surprise.

Yet…

This word is related to the end of the previous verse:

“(9) he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his

mouth, which speaks of the purity of the Lord, who made

His grave with the wicked and the rich in His death.” So,

even though (“Yet”), “He had done no violence, neither

was any deceit in His mouth,” . . .

It pleased the LORD to bruise him

The Scriptures do not say that God merely allowed

men to afflict His Son, but God, the LORD, the Father

Himself, bruised Him! He Himself put Christ His Son to

death. Not only that, but it even pleased the Father to do

it! Why (you may ask)? I’ll attempt to illustrate why the

Father did it, and why it pleased Him to do it, by way of

example:

Imagine, one quiet August evening, innocent people

are sleeping soundly in a house, and a small group of

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people sent by their leader breaks in, and attacks the

residents. They beat, torment, shoot some in their faces,

stab repeatedly, one 16 times another 51 times, and on

and on; and mercilessly murder the people in the house

with knives. There is blood everywhere, and the murderers

even wrote evil words on the walls of the rooms in the

blood of their victims. Even more hideous, the woman of

the house was several months pregnant, they killed her

unborn baby too; a very, very violent scene. How does

that make you feel? Does it make you sick? It is a true

story.168 Many years ago this really happened. How do you

feel about the leader of that group who ordered it; or the

people who committed this act? Is he, are they worthy of

death? You would probably even take pleasure in seeing

him and them get the electric chair.

Now, let’s look at things from a different perspective:

God created man and Adam disobeyed His command not

to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and

sin entered the world, corrupting everything, and all

human-kind became evil: Evil creatures, corrupt, wicked,

and abominable:

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the

earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart

was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).

As a fallen human race, we kill whether in heart, in

mind, or in hand; we lie, we rape, we worship idols, we

steal, we covet, we fornicate, we are haters of God, proud,

selfish, drunken, revelers, full of hatred, use witchcraft,

are rebellious, vile, filthy, full of envy, despise the holiness

of God, are filled with all unrighteousness, and on and on

it goes! And in the sight of God, our wickedness, our sin,

our evil is appalling, abominable, and worthy of death.

Consider the many atrocities that are committed each day,

the rape, the incest, the abuse, the slaughter of people

and animals, the pillaging, the wrongdoing, the bloodlust,

the false religions, and the like. But God is purely holy,

and “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on

iniquity." 169 He cannot excuse sin. It is offensive, and

168 Charles Manson, L.A., 1969, Tate-Labianco Murders 169 Habakkuk 1:13

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abominable, repulsive, horrible, vile in His sight. It must

be punished. God hates sin.

We (mankind), God’s creation, have broken God’s laws

and gone against His holiness, and do evil and all manner

of wickedness. Which laws have you broken? Which laws

have you not broken? Break one and you are guilty of

them all.170 What evil have you done? What evil have you

thought? Our hearts are evil; We have unholy

imaginations; We are unrighteous in our behavior; and We

are naturally enemies of God.

It pleased the LORD to bruise him because:

The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will

magnify the law, and make it honourable (Isaiah 42:21).

God says that righteousness pleases Him and that He

will make sure His law is upheld, and not trampled,

because God is honorable. We have committed crimes

against holy God and are worthy of death, which is eternal

separation, in the Lake of Fire.

It pleased the lord to bruise him because the evil

which we have done, we do, and yes will do, was laid upon

Christ, and it delighted the Father to punish someone for

it! Not just any someone, but the Perfect Someone, Jesus

Christ, the only Person who could be punished for it and

yet still save men. The perfect way to pay for our sins

without destroying us: To administer justice yet show love.

It pleased the LORD to bruise him because it

meant the salvation of sinners. One day, God is going to

let loose his full wrath but He sent His only begotten Son

to save people from it by putting our guilt and shame upon

Him. It pleased the Lord to punish our evil, because it

pleased the Lord to provide a way to save us from His

wrath, all at the cost of his Son, who gave his life a

ransom for many. And you and I had no part in it. God

made all the plans in eternity past, 171 and God carried

them out.

170 James 2:20 171 Ephesians 3:11

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He hath put him to grief

The Father, made Christ to suffer for crimes that we

have done. Man’s sin, our need, was the cause, but the

Lord was the means: punishing Christ instead of us

brought us salvation.

When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin

Not just His body, but His soul was tormented, as

indicated by Matthew and Mark’s account. His whole being

was troubled from a sense of God’s wrath coming upon

Him:

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed,

saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from

me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew

26:39).

And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto

death: tarry ye here, and watch (Mark 14:34).

The Holy fire of God was to come upon His soul on the

cross. Like the fire from heaven which consumed the

sacrifice on the altar in the Old Testament typified:172

And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and

consumed upon the altar the burnt offering… (Leviticus 9:24).

But His was the substance; the true and real: The end

of all sacrifices:

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are

sanctified (Hebrews 10:14).

All other offerings in the Old Testament were only

shadows of Christ’s sacrifice. 173 Only Christ’s offering

would suffice.

If you are not trusting Christ Dear Reader, do you

really think you can offer anything better than the Son of

God, to God, for your sins?

172 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 10. Thomas Scott Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain]. 173 Hebrews 10:1

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…if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in

vain (Galatians 2:21).

Why did Christ have to die if you could satisfy God’s

demands yourself; if you could offer something better than

Christ? What can a man give in exchange for his soul?174

Nothing we have can satisfy God. Nothing we can do of

ourselves can satisfy God’s righteous demands: not good

deeds, not money, not trying to follow the Ten

Commandments, not praises, not success, not reading ten

chapters a day in your Bible, not being a member of

church. Only Christ pleases the Father. Is there anything

better than Christ? However, though he was offered, Jesus

Christ would live again to see his seed . . .

He shall see his seed

He is Christ, the Lord, the Second Person of the Trinity.

His is Christ. His seed are the multitude of redeemed

resulting from His work. Compare with Psalm 22:30

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a

generation.

See is a reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He was dead, now alive, cut off out of the land of the

living; yet He shall see His seed. In other words, He will

see the fruit of His sacrifice. And what is that fruit?

Revelation 7:9-10 describes it:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man

could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and

tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,

clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (10) And

cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which

sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Jesus did not sacrifice Himself vainly. There was a

definite result from His selfless act. It was not a hail Mary.

Yet, everything WE do of the flesh is vanity.175 The Lord

bought a great multitude of redeemed, reconciled, saved

174 Mark 8:37 175 Ecclesiastes 1:2

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people, with his blood. This is His seed, this is the fruit of

His labor, and "in all labour there is profit."176 Christ’s was

the ultimate labor, for the ultimate profit, our profit.

He shall prolong his days

He is God. His is the risen Christ, raised to immortal

life, death having no more rule over Him, who shall reign

eternally:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no

more; death hath no more dominion over him (Romans 6:9).

And His kingdom shall have no end . . .

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of

his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:33).

And the pleasure of the lord shall prosper in his

hand.

What is that pleasure? The conversion and salvation

of sinners through Christ according to the pleasure of his

good will. 177 Therefore, Christ endured His passion and

passivity:

... who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the

throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

God delights in saving His people . . .

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will

save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his

love, he will joy over thee with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the

angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10)

And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His

hand, means that God’s will, and His salvation will not be

176 Proverbs 14:23 177 Ephesians 1:5

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thwarted. People shall be saved. None can resist His will.

He will save. Daniel 4:35 says that,

... he doeth according to his will ... and none can stay his

hand ...

So, who killed Jesus? . . . The Father did! Not men,

not Pilate, not the Jews, not the Romans. These were only

instruments. It was not an accident, it was not plan B, nor

was it “oops, what will I do now?” This all happened

according to God’s Divine plan. Why? Because our sin

MUST be punished, but God sent His only begotten Son to

be punished in our stead; when we could not help

ourselves, when we were without strength. And it was for

you and me that He was punished, for all who believe.

Justice met love, and Love made a way. First John

4:10 tells us:

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,

and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Propitiation is synonymous with appeasement, or

satisfaction, specifically towards God. Propitiation is a two-

part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended

person and being reconciled to him.

Love goes back to God

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we

were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Yet here means that we are worthy of death, because

we are still sinners178 when the Lord came to redeem us.

Reader, if you haven’t already looked to the Lamb of God

for your soul’s salvation, will you neglect, or will you

respond to the love of God, Jesus Christ, the manifestation

of God’s love, God’s expression of His love for us.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us

all … (Romans 8:32)

178 Sin is the transgression of the law, which the only penalty thereof is death.

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Dear Reader do not neglect the gift of God, Jesus

Christ, or one day you will experience the wrath of God

because you ignored the suffering of His Righteous

Servant for sinners. What a waste that would be, because

someday, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord.179 It’s better to do it now, than to

do it then.

Dear Reader, if you are a sinner, not just someone who

does bad things sometimes; but if you see yourself as

someone whose sinful condition is beyond hope of self,

and you know your only hope is to look outside of

yourself. . . Jesus Christ died for you:

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… (1Timothy

1:15).

179 Philippians 2:10

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VERSE 11

HE… SHALL BE SATISFIED

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be

satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant

justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

He who was dead; He who was cut off out of the land

of the living; who made His grave with the wicked and the

rich in His death; who was led as a lamb to the slaughter;

He who was bruised of the LORD; who was offered for sin,

will live again to see the fruit from His travail. 180 The

blessed fruit from all His labors and sufferings (v10):

His seed (Believers from all generations)

The pleasure of the LORD (In fulfilling His purposes)

The salvation of sinners (The condemned shall be

redeemed)

The glory of the LORD (God is glorified – the ultimate

priority).

He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied

What was the travail of His soul you may ask? The

afflictions mentioned previously in Isaiah 53: (4) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

(5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was

bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was

upon him; and with 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 hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

It was of such anguish that, “He sweat … great

drops of blood…” before His arrest and subsequent

crucifixion.181

180 Painful work; toil; agony; labor 181 Luke 22:44

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It was travail as of a woman with child, ready to

give birth:

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her

hour is come: . . . but as soon as she is delivered of the

child,. . . she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy

that a man is born into the world (John 16:21).

This points to . . .

And be satisfied

The Lord came to earth, as a man, born of a virgin, in

humble beginnings, bore our griefs, carried our sorrows,

taught, preached, healed, saying, I have finished the work

in His High-Priestly prayer of John chapter 17 (verse 4);

and He bore our sins on the cross of Calvary declaring it

finished in John19:30.

The results: The salvation of all for whom Christ died:

Because He is satisfied and He will not be disappointed,

because none of His redeemed shall be lost: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me (John 6:37).

Christ’s satisfaction means that God the Father is

satisfied, so He is satisfied. And His satisfaction is

demonstrated in the eternal security of every believer:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish

(John 10:28).

By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify

many

By his knowledge. Knowledge in the biblical sense

means a personal, intimate familiarity; an understanding;

an awareness; a belief on. It is not a head knowledge but

knowledge applied by the Holy Spirit using Scripture to a

heart that has been granted faith. It is knowing Him as a

Person, as one intimate friend knows another friend. It is

not knowing about Him. Biblically, it is the same thing as

believing in him:

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And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only

true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3).

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2Corinthians

4:6).

And what is that knowledge? Peter said it well in

Matthew 16:16, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living

God." Quite simply, it is believing that Jesus Christ is

exactly who He says He is.

And how do we come to know Him? Through the

Gospel:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of

angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,

received up into glory (1Timothy 3:16).

His Gospel makes known his Person, His love, His

righteousness, His atonement, and His salvation; and thus,

by the knowledge of him, the Messiah would justify many.

And it is only the Gospel that God is pleased to use to

bring men to Christ for a personal saving relationship. That

is why Paul preached it, and why we need to share it as

well:

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord

(2Corinthians 4:5).

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save

Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1Corinthians 2:2).

But we preach Christ crucified (1Corinthians 1:23).

Whom we preach, warning every man (Colossians 1:28).

But the true Gospel can only be heard from the

Scriptures:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of

God (Romans 10:17).

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This is why we as Christians need to be sure that

wherever we share Christ, the Word of God must be

present. Believers can rejoice in true knowledge:

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us

an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and

we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This

is the true God, and eternal life (1John 5:20).

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth

and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise

lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:

for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 9:24).

And once saved, believers are not to just stop there:

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and

Saviour Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18).

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let

us go on unto perfection (Hebrews 6:1).

My righteous servant. Jeremiah 33:16, declares the

LORD our righteousness, and Isaiah 42:1 says of Him, “…

in whom my soul delighteth.” This was a statement made

to dispel false accusations182 of the Jews as well as show

the Lord’s fitness for this great work of justifying sinners

of all men:

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,

undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the

heavens (Hebrews 7:26).

Remember, He had no fault and no guilt. He carried

our sorrows; was wounded for our transgressions; he was

bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace

was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed; All we

like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to

his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity

of us all; for the transgression of my people was he

stricken; he had done no violence, neither was any deceit

in his mouth. He is, was, and ever will be righteous.

182 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 11. Matthew Poole Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain]

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Justify many. Justify is a legal term 183 meaning to

treat one as if he is legally righteous. In the court of God,

the believer has been declared not guilty; innocent

(justified); righteous (pure, holy), clean of any and all

crimes, in Christ. But if you are not in Christ, your are still

guilty, condemned. If you desire to be justified by your

good deeds, by following the commands of God, we cannot

be justified by the law trying to follow the Ten

Commandments:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be

justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin

(Romans 3:20).

The law will condemn you. It will lead to your

condemnation. Do not put your faith in the law to enter

heaven, because no one but Jesus Christ could ever fulfill

it: every jot and tittle. For all of us, all men and women,

boy or girl, born into this world, hell is before us, and

judgment upon us, condemnation sure. But Christ, the

Righteousness of God came that we might be acquitted

from the guilt of our sins, and all the dreadful

consequences thereof:184

… [we are] justified by his blood, [and] saved from wrath

through him (Romans 5:9).

… justified by faith, [and] have peace with God through our

Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

So who is he that condemns us? No one can, it is

Christ that died for you Dear Reader. 185 No one can

condemn you if you are in Christ. It is God who justifies.

The Judge has dismissed your case, because of what the

Lord has done for us. Now that is a Gospel worth sharing!

This is why we must be:

183 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 11. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 184 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 11. Matthew Poole Commentary. PowerBible CD [Open Domain] 185 Romans 8:34

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…found in him, not having [our] own righteousness, which is

of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the

righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).

And it’s why the LORD says, “seek ye first the kingdom

of God, and his righteousness” in Matthew 6:33, because

it is the most needful thing for all of us to do.

Many. This is clearly written here that Christ will not

justify all but, “all that believe are justified from all

things."186 There is a saying that I have heard over the

years which is applicable here:

One thief [on the cross next to Jesus] was saved that

none need despair, but only one, that none would

presume.

However, it was not a shotgun approach God used for

the salvation of sinners. We have a human responsibility

to respond to the Gospel in faith; but, without God’s gift of

faith, we cannot believe.187 This is why we must give God

the glory in every part of salvation. This statement also

tells us that the LORD already knew you before you even

responded to the Gospel. He knew who you were, because

He said many, and not all, indicating He already knew who

was going to respond to the message of salvation in Christ.

We love Him because He first loved us, and we know Him

because He first knew us. Which is why in Heaven we will

sing, “Thou art worthy …” because “salvation is of the

LORD."188

For he shall bear their iniquities

He shall satisfy the justice of God, by bearing the

punishment due to their sins;189 the sinner's Substitute of

Matthew 20:28, who came to, minister, and to give his life

a ransom for many. But who is their in “their iniquities?”

Those who have received knowledge of Him: The many:

[The] All that the Father giveth [Christ, who] shall come to

186 Acts 13:39 187 Ephesians 2:8-9 188 Revelation 5:9; Jonah 2:9 189 Comments on Isaiah 53 verse 11. John Wesley's Notes on the Old and New Testaments.

PowerBible CD [Open Domain].

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[Him] of John 6:37. For those visual, systematic,

mathematical readers, Isaiah 53:11 looks like this:

He shall see [His resurrection]

(+) Of the travail of his soul [His finished work]

(+) And shall be satisfied [His glory]

(+) By His knowledge [His Gospel, which people

will hear, know, and understand]

(+) Shall my righteous servant[His sufficiency]

(+) Justify many [His righteousness means that

many are made righteous]

(=) For he shall bear their iniquities [His suffering:

For those who received knowledge; those given an

understanding].

However, the opposite is true:

[The Lord will] Pour out [His] wrath upon the heathen that

have not known [Him], and upon the kingdoms that have not

called upon [His] name (Psalm 79:6).

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,

and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9)

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the

presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power

(2Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Dear Reader, if you haven’t already, go to Jesus

Christ. Humble yourself before God. Become as a little

child, a helpless sheep and seek the mercy of God in the

face of Jesus Christ: the WAY of God; the TRUTH of God;

the LIFE from God.190 And believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

and be saved.191

190 John 14:6 191 Acts 16:31

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VERSE 12

HE… SHALL DIVIDE THE SPOIL

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he

shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath

poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered

with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and

made intercession for the transgressors.

It is the END of the matter. The conclusion of what

began in verse one. God reached out to man: when we

were yet dead in our sins, separated from God because of

sin, in the kingdom of Satan, without hope of ourselves.

We saw the PAST. His incarnation: the Word became

flesh.

The PRESENT, our condition: All we like sheep have

gone astray. How we as sheep follow sin, flock to evil, and

go the way which seemeth right but ends in death, like

sheep getting food on a slippery slope.

And the FUTURE: He shall be satisfied: the glory of

God in the salvation of sinners.

All as it relates to Jesus Christ. And now our final verse,

twelve, wraps it all up, and it begins with His glory.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great

Portion. What do great people receive? Glory, honor,

riches, and praise.192 That’s their portion. However, it is a

temporal, fading portion for them. Where is Alexander

now? Where is Julius Caesar? They are dead. Michael

Jordan’s time in the limelight has passed. But this clause is

speaking of eternal glory, honor, and praise unto Jesus

Christ our Lord and Saviour:

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and

under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are

in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and

power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto

the Lamb for ever and ever (Revelation 5:13).

192 e.g. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Michael Jordan

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This is Christ’s portion for His awesome work, which no

man can approach. So, why will the Father divide Him a

portion with the Great? Therefore. When you see a

therefore, stop and see what it is there for. It is going to

refer to a preceding statement. Here, it refers to the end

of the previous verse: “He shall bare their iniquities” (v11).

But it is also the result of all the previous verses; the

whole of the chapter.

We see the same idea in Philippians 2:9, “Wherefore

God hath highly exalted Him.” Why? Because He made

Himself of no reputation, He humbled Himself, and became

obedient unto death… on the cross.193

And he shall divide the spoil with the strong

Spoil is a term that relates to war, the riches of the

enemy, his treasures, valuables, important items, are his

spoil. The LORD did not come the first time for physical

warfare which is what the Jews expected, liberation from

Roman rule. First was spiritual the more needful, because

though our outward man dies, our soul lives on. Spoil

referred to here are spiritual spoils. Satan had the

treasures because of the consequences of man’s sin:

Death is our curse for eternity, and the fear of death

troubles us; Fear of hell torments us; Depravity ruined us,

causing us to do unspeakable things.

These things are the consequence of sin, our fall,

which put us into the kingdom of Satan, because we

naturally cannot be with God. And the Devil is glad. These

are his treasures, his pleasures, his valuables, because

these things keep us from a right relationship with God,

our Creator. But God made a way and set us free and we

see it in Isaiah 53 through Christ’s sacrifice. Christ came

to proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to

them that are bound, 194 freeing us from the Devil’s

kingdom. That’s the Good News. That’s the Gospel.

The Father was satisfied with Christ’s sacrifice,

and we no longer have to live in the fear of death and hell,

193 Philippians 2:5-8 194 Isaiah 61:1

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and suffer from the effects of sin because those people in

Christ are no longer a part of the kingdom of Satan.

God could not have us the way we are naturally,

and the Devil had free reign over us, because we were

dead in trespasses and sins,195 but God took His people

out of the kingdom of Satan and translated them into the

Kingdom of His dear Son:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath

translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians

1:13).

The Lord spoiled the strong man’s house, Satan’s

domain, the god of this world , the prince of the power of

the air as well as his powers and principalities, angels and

authorities and powers were all made subject to Jesus

Christ as a result of His sacrifice.196

He made a show of them openly,197 putting them to

shame, removing their power, their control, their authority

over us. Christ ended the power of death, despair, and

fear over His people, and set His people, believer, sinners

saved by grace, free. And the best thing is that He did it

alone. That’s why He gets the glory. If you or I had

anything to do with it, we would have messed it up. But

Jesus Christ became our Hero, the Hero of every believer.

And the Lord not only got the spoils, but He shared the

blessings.

He shall divide the spoil

Ephesians 4:8 says,

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led

captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

He not only put under His subjection evil powers, but

He also gave gifts unto men; that is He shared the

benefits, and treasures. He divided the spoil with His

people. What are those benefits you may ask?

195 Ephesians 2:1 196 Matthew 12:29; 2Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 1Peter 3:22 197 Colossians 2:16

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In Christ believers have: Instead of death, life; instead

of eternal death, eternal life; instead of hell, heaven;

instead of condemnation, justification; instead of

corruption, incorruption; instead of transgression and

iniquity, righteousness; instead of being enemies of God,

a personal relationship with Him; instead of being

children of the Devil, children of God; instead of being

lost in sin, found in Christ; instead of religiousness,

worship in spirit and truth; And the list could go on and

on!

Strong. Who are they? The strong in the Lord are

those who are more than conquerors through him that

loved us.198 First John 4:4 tells us:

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them [the

spirit of antichrist in the world]: because greater is he that is

in you, than he that is in the world.

First Corinthians 15:57 says:

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through

our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why did the Lord have these spoils? They were His

portion. Because He hath poured out his soul unto death:

and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare

the sins of many, and made intercession for the

transgressors. Because he gave all that he could give: His

holy life, a ransom for many. Because He became a man

and He was identified with transgressors: He did not avoid

publicans and sinners; He died on a cross between two

thieves;199 He grew up in Nazareth of Galilee;200

From the beginning to the end of His life, He was

associated with, identified with, counted with

transgressors, lawbreakers, US, for all men are

lawbreakers; but He was not one of them; Because He

became the sinner’s Substitute; Because He rescued,

made intercession for His people.

198 Romans 8:37 199 Mark 2:16; Mark 15:27; Isaiah 53:2 before Him as a tender plant… 200 See chapter two for more explanation of Nazareth of Galilee.

101

Intercession means that He came to our rescue. The

Lord came between us and an angry, holy God. He stood

in the gap made by sin201 when wrath was ready to come

upon us. When we were yet without strength, Satan’s

trophies, rotting in prison, waiting to be executed, one

heartbeat away from final damnation, in the fullness of

time, Christ died for the ungodly. And He still intercedes

for the believers today, at the right hand of God:

…if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus

Christ the righteous (1John 2:1).

… who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh

intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

He rescued us (our position) and now He intercedes for

our sanctification, because we still sin while we are in this

flesh. When we sin, the nail prints in His hands and feet

are there, for us.

Dear Reader, if you are not in Christ, you must

know your situation right now: NO ONE is standing

between you and God’s wrath, and you are a heartbeat

away from it. NO ONE is interceding for you before God

right now. Flee to Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 53:12 says this:

Therefore [for all He endured for OUR sake]

will I divide him a portion with the great, [His

glory, His praise]

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; [He

will share His treasures with His people]

because he hath poured out his soul unto death:

[He gave ALL that He could give]

and he was numbered with the transgressors;

[He became a man among wicked men]

201 Compare with Isaiah 59:2

102

and he bare the sin of many, [He became OUR

Substitute – the sinners’ Substitute]

and made intercession for the transgressors. [He

delivered His people AND His present ministry].

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CONCLUSION

We have come to the end of a very precious chapter in

the Bible. May it be that we have seen a clearer glimpse of

the beauty of the Lord, His value, and worthiness. We

have seen the Gospel written in the Old Testament, 700

years before it happened: A testimony to its inspiration. It

is also quite an evangelistic, and poetic account of the

Lord Jesus Christ and what He endured for every sinner,

sufficient of itself to be used of the Lord to bring a person

to saving faith.

In verse 1 we saw the arm of the LORD (His Deity)

and to whom He reveals it (by grace are ye saved…).

In verses 2-3 we saw His lowly entrance into this

world from His home in glory (His PERSON) a tender plant

(human frailty), a root out of a dry ground (not wealthy,

from Nazareth), no form or comeliness (not impressive),

no beauty that we should desire Him.

In verses 4-6 we saw how He suffered for us (His

PASSION) bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, wounded,

bruised, chastised, whipped.

In verses 7-9 we saw how He did not condemn (His

PASSIVITY) opened not His mouth, as a lamb to the

slaughter.

In verses 10-12 we saw His reward for all these

things; the fruit of His labor, and His future (His PORTION)

His seed, the pleasure of the Lord, prolong His days; and

that even though He died, He would see His seed. In other

words, He would rise again!

Isaiah fifty three ends on the twelfth verse. After that,

is an eternal bliss for those who have trusted the Lord,

those who have believed on Him, His name, His work, His

blood.

And May it be a refreshing reminder to every believer

of His beauty that we might come to adore Him more than

ever before, and cause us to return to our First Love, and

a sweet fellowship with Him once again. It is not a duty

but a joy to tell someone about a person you adore, a

person whom you spend so much time with. How many

people these days spend their time talking about the news,

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current events, gossip, a famous movie star or singer they

don’t even know, but how little time is spent talking about

the Lord whom we are supposed to love and adore more

than all others.

Isaiah 53 tells us of the Person who died on the

cross for sinners 2,000 years ago: What He ENDURED for

sinners; The WORK that He did for sinners; His BEAUTY; It

tells us the MESSAGE He gave for believers.

Isaiah 53 paints a detailed picture of the work of

the Lord. And o, may it be such a beautiful picture in our

hearts of Jesus Christ the Righteous, and may He be so

adored in our hearts that we would burst if we could not

share Him with someone! That it would be a pleasure, not

an obligation; that it would be our blessing, not a duty;

that He would be adored so much in His people that we

would NOT want to break fellowship with Him over sin;

that our eyes would be upon Him, not this life or its

worldly pleasures.

Dear Reader, Jesus Christ endured all of this for

you. Is He not praiseworthy? He left glory for you. He

suffered for you. He suffered and died for you. He rose for

you. Rejoice dear Christian in the beauty of the Lord!

And if you haven’t already, He says come:

Come. … let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let

him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).

Lay aside your pride, your enjoyment of worldly

pleasures, bitterness, laziness, business, that which keeps

you from Christ. Bring your sinful self, and your sinfulness

which burdens you with great conviction and grief, and

come, look to the Lamb of God, “which taketh away the

sins of the world.”

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About the Author

Jerry Smith is an American missionary pastor-teacher

with Faith Missionary Church, Gruetli-Laager, TN USA.

currently serving in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines; and

an evangelist of Creation-Ed Ministry. His ministry is

working with local churches and Bible schools to train

church leaders and edify all brethren. He has been active

in ministry as a layman for six years, and pastor for four,

and has authored three Christian books: Where Is the

Beauty That We Should Desire Him, Why Use the King

James Bible, and Christ Ed. in the Church; all available

from Lulu.com. He supports his family and ministry as an

English Language Teacher-Trainer and TESOL Trainer and

as an English language teacher (offline & online). Dr.

Smith is an adjunct faculty member with three Bible

schools and holds a PhD in Christian Education and a ThD

(Apologetics). He is also a guest lecturer in colleges and

universities, a public speaker, writer, and a seminar

speaker on a variety of topics such as leadership, ministry,

education in churches and schools, Bible & science,

teacher-training, and more.

Please visit his blogs at:

http://c-ed.blogspot.com/

http://fmcoutreach.blogspot.com/

http://ptrjerrysblog.blogspot.com/

http://meditationsfromscripture.blogspot.com/