THE GREATEST PROPHESY EVER: Pt. 2 Isaiah 53
What Isaiah was inspired to write was to be “forever!” “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever & ever” (Isa 30:8; Psalm 119:89; 160; Matt. 5:18; I Pet. 1:25). Isaiah made his original Prophecies 740-686 B.C.
ISAIAH 53 is THE GREATEST PROPHESY EVER Because it Answers LIFE‘S GREATEST QUESTION: How can a sinner be “right” with a Holy God so as to escape eternal Hell and enter eternal Glory? (John 5:29; Daniel 12:2-3; Luke 3:7)
There is Great Archaeological Proof of the Truth of Isaiah’s Prophesy from 700 B.C. Archaeologists recently found the Isaiah & Hezekiah seal impressions in Jerusalem. Nelson Glueck, renowned Jewish archaeologist stated: “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference” (ref. “Rivers in the Desert” 1969). To this day there is not 1 unquestionable find of archaeology that proves the Bible to be in error at any point”
Prophesy is The Great IRREFUTABLE PROOF
THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF THE ONE TRUE GOD.
Isa. 52 & 53 has at least
36 distinct prophecies whose literal fulfillment is confirmed in over 150
different verses from 9 different O.T. books & 17 different N.T. books! [See the handout]. Such prophecy could only have been written by
a Sovereign, all knowing, eternal being outside our “time domain.” Fulfilled Prophesy is the Single Greatest
Test to determine if a Religion is True or not:
“…for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, &
from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall
stand” (Isa. 46:9-10; 41:23-24,26; 45:20-22; 48:3-5; John 13:19; 14:29)
I.) BEHOLD, THE LORD’s GREAT SERVANT: (Isa. 52:13)
“Behold!”- something unusual here to take note of. “My Servant”– Servants were poor. Jesus became poor for us (2 Cor. 8:9).
Behold: This servant Obtains the Greatest Glory: “Behold, my servant shall be… exalted & extolled, & be very high” (Isa. 52:13)
This is Fulfilled in Jesus Christ as God “raised Christ from the dead, & set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20-21). This is God’s promise to all His servants! (Eph. 2:4-6; John 14:1-3)
Behold: This servant obtains the Greatest Glory by means of the Greatest Suffering! “many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, & his form more than the sons of men” (Isa 52:14). This perfectly describes the suffering & glory of the LORD Jesus (I Pet. 1:10-11; Lk. 24:25-27; Acts 26:22-23; Phil. 2:5-11).
II.) BEHOLD OUR BLINDNESS TO THE GLORY OF
CHRIST
“He is despised & rejected
of men… & we hid as it
were our faces from him; he
was despised, & we
esteemed him not” (Isa 53:3)
We were blinded to the fact He was sinless & suffering for our salvation!
III.) BEHOLD THE GREAT REVELATION OF THE DOCTRINE
OF SALVATION BY SUBSTITUTION (53:4-6)
(53:4) Surely he hath borne… …our griefs, & carried our sorrows
(53:5) But he was wounded (pierced) …For our transgressions,
he was bruised… …for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace …was upon him; and with his stripes… … we are healed.
(53:6) and the LORD hath laid on him…… the iniquity of us all.
(53:8) for the transgression of my people {Israel}… was he stricken
(53:11) He shall bear …their iniquities
My Sins must lie somewhere! Either on me or on Christ! God alone can remove the guilt & consequences of my sin from me and place it on Christ. But How Could 1 Man die for the sins of the Whole World? (Isa. 53:11: Heb. 9:12-14; 10:12-14). Because Jesus is God incarnate, Creator of Heaven & Earth (John 1:1-3, Col. 1:14-17). “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Gen 18:14; Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26)
There are many Serious Implications of Being Created in the Image of God. Every person (male & female) is Created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27; 5:2; Isa. 43:7; Matt. 19:4; Mk. 10:6). Sinning against man created in God’s image proves we would sin against God Himself if He was here in person! (I John 4:20; 3:17; 4:12; Jer. 16:10-12)
Want Proof? Jesus was God incarnate & and look how everyone ultimately treated Him! (Matt. 25:40, 45; Prov. 19:17). Every wrong against our fellow man is ultimately against God Who Created us! (Gen. 9:6; 39:9; Deut. 20:18; I Sam. 12:23).
There are 3 Presuppositions
necessary to Understand Salvation
1. We
were Created by a Holy God: Because
God created us for His
eternal purposes we are obligated to Obey Him (Matt. 22:37-40). Being LORD He is our Owner! Our Creator rightfully holds us accountable for our thoughts, words & actions (Rom. 9:20; Isa. 45:9-10)
2. We have all failed to Obey our Creator:
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way…” (Isa 53:6; I Pet. 2:25; Rom. 3:10-12). God’s word & our Conscience makes it clear we have all failed to live up to God’s standard & sinned against our Creator (Rom. 1:19; 2:14-16; 3:23).
3. Because all sin is ultimately against God, our Salvation must begin
& end with God:
David confesses: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…” (Ps. 51:4; see Gen. 20:6; 39:9; Isa. 44:22).
Because Jesus is God incarnate, He can forgive sins on behalf of God! (Matt. 9:2-7: Lk. 5:20-25; 7:47-50). Thus God can forgive ALL my sins when i believe Christ died on the Cross as my “sin bearer” (Rom. 3:24-6).
IV.) BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD (Isa. 53:7; Gen. 22:8, 14).
“He was oppressed, & 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” (Isa 53:7).
7 Times it is revealed that this Lamb is really a man! This is the cause for which Christ came into the world (Mk.10:45; John 1:29)
V. BEHOLD THE LAMB DIES IN THE SINNERS PLACE (53:7-9)
(8) “He was taken from prison & from judgment… for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
This Lamb is irrefutable Proof of the Bible’s Supernatural Inspiration. The Doctrine of Salvation by Faith in a perfect substitutionary sacrifice is supernaturally & progressively revealed throughout the Bible from Genesis (written 1500 BC) to Revelation (written 90 AD). 66 different Books; 40 human writers; 1600 years; yet the Lamb consistently reveals the same eternal plan of salvation! (read Rev. 13:8: I Peter 1:19-20)
VI. BEHOLD THE ONLY PERFECT SINLESS SACRIFICIAL
LAMB
Every Sacrificial Lamb of
the Law must be perfect without Blemish (Ex. 12:5; Lev. 4:23; 5:15; 22:19;
Num 6:14). Isaiah reveals God’s
righteous servant (53:11) has no sin
of His own! He is the Perfect sin offering Who bears the sins of others (53:4, 5, 6, 8, 11). Jesus alone fulfills every amazing detail of
this extraordinary Prophesy!
“In Jesus is no sin” {no sin nature} (I John 3:5; I Pet. 1:19).
“Jesus did no sin, (I Pet. 2:22). He never sinned in word or deed.
“Jesus knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21). He never had a sinful thought.
This explains why Jesus alone could die
for all the sins of the entire human race! {Oh the value of a
Sinless Man!} Jesus is God’s
“righteous servant who shall justify many” (Isa. 53:11). “…Jesus Christ the righteous: he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world” (I John 2:1-2, 23; Ps. 14:1-3)
Illustration: Redeeming things with money: why is a penny a penny? Why is a nickel a nickel? Why can a nickel redeem 5 pennies?
Why can 1 Perfect Christ redeem every lost sinner from their sin?
Behold The Gospel: Messiah’s Death Burial & Resurrection (53:7-12)
VII. BEHOLD THE LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER & THE SON
Some falsely perceive God the Father to be cruel & abusive: “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him” (53:10; 53:4). Why? It was impossible to save us any other way (Matt. 26:39). The Father had to lay our sins on Jesus (53:6). But God was in Christ reconciling the world (2 Cor. 5:19; John 10:38; 14:10-11, 20; 17:21, 23; 8:29; 16:32).
Illustration: Father jumping into the fire to save his son.
VIII) THE DOUBLE BLESSING OF THE LAMB!
He takes my Sin & Gives me His Righteousness!
(Isa 53:10) “… thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin (asham)”
(Isa 53:11) “…by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:20-24; 5:1)
Every sinner needs a “sin offering” to remove their sin (vs. 10-12)
Every saint needs a “burnt offering” to impart God’s righteousness (vs. 11; see 2 Cor. 5:21; Daniel 9:24). Illustration: The sinner & the Lamb
“Justify many” = literally “the many” hinting at “multitudes” (Rev. 5:9; 7:9). Enough are saved to make his suffering worthwhile
I know I am included in “the many.” Have you made sure you are one of the many? You can make sure right now! (Rom. 10:9-10; I John 5:10-13).
IX.) AFTER DEATH & BURIAL – RESURRECTION LIFE!
“…he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isa 53:10; Rev. 1:18).
When we believe this O.T. Gospel we become “His seed” by being “born again” (I Pet. 1:23-25; John 3:3-7)
The resurrected Servant fulfills God’s purposes. “Prosper” implies progressive advancement (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:14; Lk. 1:32-33)
ETERNAL SATISFACTION: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, & shall be satisfied” (Isa 53:11). Will you be able to look back on your life with all its travail & sorrow and say “I am satisfied?” You will if you have given your life to Jesus (read Rev. 21 & 22)
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great” (Isa 53:12).
Who are these “great?” Believers in Jesus (Matt. 11:11; Lk. 7:28)
“& he shall divide the spoil with the strong.” Do you know what Jesus has obtained for you? (I Cor. 2:9; 3:21-23; Rom. 8:32; Rev. 21:7)
This Great Salvation obligates us to fulfill the Great Commission
Christ’s tomb is opened & empty. Death has no more power over Jesus, or the justified believer in Jesus! (Heb. 2:14-15) Hallelujah! Christ’s Resurrection is a total triumph (Col. 2:13-15; Eph. 4:8). Remember the intro to Isaiah 53. A runner bringing great news of a great victory after a devastating battle? (Isa. 52:7-10). We are witnesses to the greatest Victory in History! Run and tell the whole World the good news!