Bible Study - God's Story - GOD Promises the Messiah - Isaiah 53 - July 28, 2013

Bible Study – God’s Story – GOD Promises the Messiah – July 28, 2013

This is lesson nine in our series entitled “GOD’S Story.”

Our scripture is Isaiah 53:2-12.

We have the opportunity to see the complete plan GOD had for redeeming the people of earth from sin and its consequence, eternal death. We have mentioned the “line of promise” since we began our study in Genesis. In our lesson today, GOD will reveal more about the promised Messiah through HIS prophet Isaiah. The promised Messiah is revealed as the “suffering servant.”

The Book of Isaiah is the most quoted book of the Old Testament in the New Testament.

The ministry of the Prophet Isaiah spanned 40 years from 740 B.C. to 700 B.C. The Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 721 B.C. GOD’S message for a Messiah was being presented before the Northern Kingdom fell. It was a message of hope for GOD’S ultimate redemptive plan for mankind, which would come through faith in the Messiah. It would still be 700 years before JESUS would be born as a human, live as a human and begin HIS ministry on earth, as 100% human, yet 100% GOD for the redemption of all who accept HIM by faith.

Most people thought The Messiah would come as an earthly king to physically deliver the Israelites from their enemies. Even the disciples of JESUS believed this version. It took the resurrection, ascension and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit before full understanding came to HIS disciples and those who placed their faith in CHRIST. This is true today.

We try to figure out Christianity before we become a Christian. We may try to live as a Christian to test the water and we fail. We may even become discouraged. Then we decide to take that step of faith and instantly darkness is dispelled and the light of truth shines brightly.

As one who tried to figure it out, we cannot. It requires a step of faith. LORD, here I am, as I am, take me as I am and make me into the Christian You want me to be. That comes close to the prayer I prayed after struggling for years to try to figure out Christianity. When I stopped struggling and placed my life into HIS hands only then did I understand and comprehend what it means to be a born-again Christian.

It has been an exciting journey but not without struggles along the way. But GOD is patient, loving and kind. HIS desire is for us to know HIM and the fullness of HIS presence in our lives. The only way to really get to know HIM is through an intimate, loving relationship with HIM. HE needs to be our best friend as we walk together through life. We must be honest with HIM because HE already knows our heart.

The Prophet Isaiah had a special calling from GOD to reveal HIS ultimate plan for the redemption of mankind. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Isaiah 6:1-13:

Isaiah’s Call and Mission

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of • Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. 4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of • unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for. 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me. 9 And He replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. 10 Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed. 11 Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And He replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate, 12 and the Lord drives the people far away, leaving great emptiness in the land. 13 Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again. Like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled, the holy • seed is the stump.

The prophet Isaiah had a unique experience. GOD called Isaiah in a very graphic way. I think GOD wanted Isaiah to know that what was being revealed to him was truth and vital to those then and throughout the ages. This is the way GOD called Isaiah. It does not mean that GOD calls all HIS servants in the same way. GOD calls those who are to serve HIM anyway HE chooses.

GOD prepared Isaiah for revealing the plan and purpose of the Messiah by touching or anointing his lips, removing his wickedness and atoning for his sin. Before HE revealed the prophesy, HE purified Isaiah. The shackles of sin had to be removed from the mind and heart of Isaiah before HE could reveal the message of truth regarding the Messiah. GOD cleansed him to serve. CHRIST shed blood cleanses every Christian for service, which the Apostle Paul revealed in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The shed blood of JESUS atones for the sins of all who place their faith in HIM, so they might be righteous before GOD and can come into HIS very presence. Our faith in CHRIST prepares us for obedient service to our LORD, as the Holy Spirit leads us.

This scripture focuses on the LORD’S servant, who is CHRIST. This was written over 700 years before CHRIST was born. GOD revealed that some bad things were going to happen to Israel before the Messiah would come.

A quick overview of our scripture regarding the Messiah reveals:

-         HE was ignored and rejected – verses 1-3.

-         HE bore our grief and carried our sins – verses 4-6.  

-         HE gave HIS life as a sacrifice for others – verses 7-9.

-         Because of HIS great sacrifice, GOD will exalt HIM – verses 10-12.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Isaiah 53:1-3:

1 Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? 2 He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.

GOD’S revelation of the coming Messiah is astounding. GOD is reaching down to mankind to redeem all who will place their faith in the Messiah after HE completes HIS mission. This revelation, redemption and salvation would come through the lineage of Judah.

GOD revealed the characteristics and attributes of the coming Messiah. HE will be like an unassuming plant growing in a desert. When people look at this lonely plant, they will conclude that the root will never survive. GOD was clear that the Messiah would grow as a human and GOD would be pleased. The Messiah would have a free will to choose but HE would stay focused upon GOD’S mission and plan. As the Messiah grew, HE would not appeal to the people as a rock star or a superhero by world standards. Instead, HE would be a very ordinary, unassuming person because GOD’S desire was for all to come to HIM in faith, recognizing and acknowledging their need for salvation from sin and eternal death. The wisdom of GOD to me is astounding.

The mission of the Messiah was all about redemption, the heart, sacrifice and not hype. GOD looks upon the heart, which is expressed in 1 Samuel 16:7:

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

The Messiah knew that the consequences of sin would mean eternal doom for those without a Savior and HE voluntarily did something about it. HE knew that sin was the sickness of the heart and that HE was the only cure. HE knew the attraction to HIM had to come from the heart and the need for salvation and not HIS physical appeal. So HE was despised, rejected and society did not value HIM.

This is something we have to be careful about today. Christians can get caught up in the hype of worship, preacher worship and fail to truly worship our living Savior. It is CHRIST in us that make us a Christian and not some emotional feeling that will fade.

I am reminded of a person many years ago who had a beautiful voice and sang at a certain meeting I attended. She did all the spiritual things of praising the LORD and I thought to myself, “Now, this lady has a wonderful relationship with our LORD.” A few months later, our paths crossed and I told her about the time I heard her at this certain meeting and what a wonderful voice she had. We chatted and she asked if she could talk with me. I said, of course. She revealed that she was not sure she was a Christian. Sure she could do the things Christian do and say but she was not sure she was saved. We can get caught up in the hype and miss the blessing. We went through the plan of salvation and the assurance of salvation. This is not to criticize her or pin a rose on me. I rejoice that she had the boldness to make sure of her salvation.    

Let’s read Isaiah 53:4-9:

4 Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment; and who considered His fate? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was struck because of my people’s rebellion. 9 They made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man at His death, although He had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully.

Notice the number of times “our” appears in this scripture. The suffering servant, the Messiah, was sinless. HE did not have to suffer for HIS sins. HE suffered for our sins. The Messiah bore our sickness or sin and our pain from the consequence of sin.

According to the worlds’ standards the Messiah was a loser. HE suffered pain, stricken, struck down, afflicted, pierced, crushed, punished and wounded. This not a pretty picture but HE did it because of HIS Love for those who will accept HIM as their Savior. HE suffered where we should have suffered because of our sins toward GOD and our fellow man.

HE did this willingly because from HIS vantage point HE knew the end result was eternal punishment unless mankind had a Savior and redeemer.

In that period of time the rich were looked upon as evil. When we read the prophetic revelation regarding verse 9, we know that JESUS was crucified between two criminals and a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea provided the tomb for JESUS.

CHRIST took our sin upon Himself so that HIS righteousness could be placed upon all who place their faith in HIM. Salvation is a free gift but as with any gift offered, we have to reach out and receive it. Have you received CHRIST as your Savior? If not, why not ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your heart? Eternity is but a heartbeat away. It is not to frighten you but it is a fact.

Let’s read Isaiah 53: 10-12:

10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush Him severely. When You make Him a • restitution offering, He will see His • seed, He will prolong His days, and by His hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 He will see it out of His anguish, and He will be satisfied with His knowledge. My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive the mighty as spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.

The Messiah was crushed because of our sin and all have sinned. GOD was not pleased to crush HIM but HE was pleased with HIS obedience to be crushed to pay, in full, the debt for sin. The basic sin of mankind is turning from GOD and following their desires and the will of the flesh.

GOD speaks to every heart to get him/her to turn to HIM. The unpardonable sin happens when a person resists the wooing of GOD so much that he/she hardens his/her heart to block any attempt for GOD to get his/her attention. Sin is missing the mark of perfection according to GOD’S standard. The term “sin” refers to an archer who aims at a target and misses. Every person misses that mark of perfection and righteousness. That is why every person needs CHRIST as his/her Savior. Every person gets to heaven on the credentials of CHRIST through faith in HIM and HIS shed blood. The Bible is clear that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins. No human can be good enough to earn his/her way to heaven.

GOD required the sacrifice to be perfect and CHRIST was the sinless Lamb Who gave Himself, freely, to pay in full the debt for sin. Every person has a decision to make - either to accept CHRIST or reject HIM as his/her Savior.

Verse 10 reveals the promise of the resurrection of the Messiah. The disciples of JESUS did not comprehend HIS resurrection because they were looking for a political messiah, as did the Jews. The Jews wanted deliverance from Roman rule, which would have been for a season. Salvation is eternal. Once a person receives CHRIST as his/her Savior, he/she is born into the family of GOD and will never be unborn.

Once the Messiah gave HIS life to atone for sin, as a restitution offering, HE will see HIS seed or offspring. JESUS was the first fruit of those to be physically resurrected from physical death as proof that HE paid the price for sin. HIS resurrection was proof that HE conquered sin and death with the promise of a bodily resurrection for all who place their faith in HIM. HE received HIS glorified body, which is eternal and so will those who place their faith in HIM.

So why don’t Christians receive their glorified bodies the instant they receive CHRIST as their Savior? Why would a person come to CHRIST? It would be for the wrong motive – I want one of these forever bodies, rather than, I want forgiveness for my sins. I want my relationship with GOD to be restored as HE originally intended before sin robbed me of the relationship.

We must see our need for salvation and then the promises of GOD and the spoils of victory over sin and death become ours to enjoy by faith, as assured by the indwelling Holy Spirit. CHRIST defeated Satan, his forces and the rulers of the world. HIS victory over sin and death is imputed to all who place their faith in HIM. It is a mystery.

Some things GOD kept hidden from the world rulers as we read in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8: Spiritual Wisdom

6 However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a • mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

After HIS resurrection over 500 people physically saw JESUS before HE ascended into heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of The Father. Those who place their faith in HIM are HIS seed or offspring and receive eternal life through the miracle of the rebirth in the Spirit.  

The Messiah intercedes for all of HIS offspring. Christians are at war. It is a Spiritual war. Satan is the great accuser and stands ready to accuse every Christian the instant he/she sins.

CHRIST stands in the presence of GOD interceding for all Christians because their sins are covered, removed and blotted out by HIS shed blood. Christians have a great heritage through their LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST and their loving FATHER. The victory of CHRIST is for all who will place their faith in HIM. Enjoy the spoils of the greatest Spiritual battle ever to be fought. CHRIST won the victory and in CHRIST so did all who place their faith in HIM because HE was faithful unto death.

Let’s read Second Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Our faith in CHRIST results in salvation from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death. GOD has deemed that the righteousness of CHRIST is imputed to all who place their faith in HIM. CHRIST freely gave HIS life so that all who place their faith in HIM will have life everlasting because of the miracle of rebirth. If you have never asked CHRIST to be your Savior, now is the moment. Blessings!!!