Bible Study - CHRIST (1) - Promised Like No Other - Isaiah 53:1-12 - March 1, 2015

Bible Study – CHRIST (1) – Promised Like No Other – March 1, 2015

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Like No Other: The life of CHRIST.”

Our focus scripture is Isaiah 53:1-12.

JESUS is the promised Messiah.

Was JESUS really the Son of GOD? This is a question many ask, even Christians. Christians place their faith in HIM and their faith in HIM is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Often the realization of the presence of the Holy Spirit within comes through the process of sanctification, trusting and yielding to HIS leadership, guidance and direction. Some believe it is a second filling of the Holy Spirit but it is a yielding of our will to HIS will.

Satan still attempts to raise questions in our minds because his goal is to defeat and destroy Christians. Christians are in spiritual battle each day and that is why they must walk with CHRIST each day, maintain and remain in relationship and fellowship with HIM.

My hope and prayer in this next 6-week study, if any have questions regarding JESUS, that it will reconfirm that JESUS is truly the One and Only Son of GOD. HE came to earth as a baby, lived a sinless life and gave HIS life to pay in full the debt for sin by dying. HE was buried, resurrected, walked earth for 40 days and ascended into heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS Father. The Father, in turn, sent the Holy Spirit back to earth to indwell all who place their faith in CHRIST.

Looking on the New Testament side of the Bible there is a rational I went through years ago to satisfy my curiosity regarding JESUS:

CHRIST’S brothers before and after HIS resurrection:

Matthew 13:54-57 (JESUS had half-brothers and half-sisters. Since GOD was HIS Father all other children Mary birthed, Joseph was their father.)

54 He (JESUS) went to His hometown and began to teach them in their • synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him? 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does He get all these things?” 57 And they were • offended by Him.

John 7:1-5 (Attitude of JESUS’ half brothers before HIS resurrection.)

1 After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the • Jews were trying to kill Him. 2 The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 so His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 (For not even His brothers believed in Him.)

Acts 1:12-14: (After JESUS was resurrected from the dead. HE walked upon the earth for 40 days before HE ascended back into heaven. HE told those who witnessed HIS ascension to go to Jerusalem and wait for GOD to send the promised Holy Spirit in a few days.)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

Guess who was in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit? HIS brothers! The resurrection changed their minds about JESUS.

JESUS’ brothers went on to be witnesses for CHRIST. James became the head of the Christian church in Jerusalem.

Consider the Apostle Paul:

Paul had been trained in the best Jewish school and he was a Pharisee. He was a zealot for GOD. He did his best to stop this Christian movement called the “way.” He held the coats and watched as the Jews stoned a devout Christian named Stephen. He rounded up those who were followers of JESUS to treat them harshly, put them in prison and even kill some. He was intent in stamping out this group who worshiped this person called JESUS until he encountered JESUS as he was traveling to Damascus to round up more followers of JESUS.

Saul’s life changed the instant he encountered JESUS. His name was changed from his Jewish name “Saul” to “Paul” his Roman name.

Paul being the Jewish scholar he was did some study about the life of JESUS. He went to Jerusalem and met with James, the brother of JESUS as we see in Galatians 1:11-19:

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was 

preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

I think that the Apostle Paul was verifying everything and learning all he could about JESUS. He came to a conclusion; JESUS is real not only that HE lived physically but HE fulfilled prophesy that the scriptures recorded and HE dwelled within Paul’s heart. Paul was transformed.

We studied several weeks ago all of the hardships Paul encountered because

he was living and preaching the Gospel of CHRIST. Paul would not have given his life to follow a fraud.

JESUS’ brothers, disciples, Paul and many other faithful Christians knew the truth that JESUS was the true promised Messiah and gave their lives because CHRIST is real. Life upon this earth will soon be over but it is what we obediently do as GOD’S leads us through the Holy Spirit, that will be waiting as rewards for all who obediently serve HIM. Eternal life in heaven is just that eternal.

Now, let’s explore the Old Testament which will reveal prophesy regarding the coming of the Messiah, HIS birth and ministry as JESUS over 700 years before JESUS was born.

JESUS was both 100% human and 100% divine. HE was 100% human, because HE had to have the ability to sin and die; divine, because HE had to have the capability to call legions of angels to HIS aid. Since HE was completely obedient to GOD’S plans, HE fulfilled HIS ministry of redeeming all who will place their faith in HIM.

Have you placed your faith in JESUS? If not, why not? If you do not, it will be your loss. John 3:16-21 states it best:

16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Your birth upon earth is your opportunity to be born into GOD’S family and become a citizen of heaven for eternity.

Isaiah wrote the book of Isaiah about 700 B.C. Chapters 40-66 may have been written about 681 B.C. Isaiah was an active prophet for about 60 years. He was likely born in Jerusalem in a family related to the royal house of Judah. Tradition has it that Isaiah’s father was brother to King Amaziah, which would make Isaiah a cousin of the kings during his ministry. One thing for sure, he did not hold back on preaching truth.

He married a “prophetess” and she gave birth to two sons. GOD instructed Isaiah what to name each son, which reflected prophesy regarding Israel. 

Isaiah ministered in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His name means “Yahweh saves.” He was called to ministry in 740 B.C.

Many reading this will know the life and ministry of CHRIST and can relate to this prophesy regarding JESUS, others will need to read and study the New Testament to see the relationships.

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.

When studying this scripture usually the first question people ask is who is this person Isaiah is talking about? Opinions vary from the nation of Israel, several individuals to Isaiah himself. Over time the speaker had been identified as the prophet Isaiah speaking on behalf of the people of GOD. However the Servant is the Messiah whose is JESUS CHRIST. In Acts 8:26-40 Philip enlightens the Ethiopian eunuch regarding this very scripture.

The Jews had a preconceived notion of the Messiah. HE would be an individual of royal standing, of military might and would look the role of a mighty leader. The Jews were looking for a physical deliverer from their earthly circumstances because they had their Spiritual needs under control.  

Isaiah sets the stage by stating the real attributes of the Messiah. What do most of us do when we have our minds made up? We usually say, “Don’t confuse me with the facts because I know what is true.”

Isaiah was reporting what GOD told him. GOD’S thoughts are above our thoughts and HIS ways are not our ways. People love and respond to the handsome, well built person, well spoken person of kingly descent. Who would ever believe that the Messiah would be a very unassuming person? Oh, see the majesty of GOD! Who would even imagine such a plan therefore what Isaiah was about to reveal is strictly from GOD and NOT from the mind of man.

The coming Messiah will grow up out of a Spiritually dry ground. The people of that day, even though looking for HIM, would never consider that an ordinary looking person, coming from a humble background, whose mother was a peasant girl and earthly father a carpenter, would be the promised Messiah. They will have to look beyond HIS appearance and look to the fruit HE produced. HIS miracles would reveal HIS true identity and draw others to place their faith in HIM.

GOD did not want people to be drawn to the Messiah for any other reason than to be obedient to GOD and desire an intimate relationship with HIM.

The Messiah was depicted as a tender young plant or a plant which has a “shoot.” A “shoot” grows at the base of another plant which can be plucked off and thrown away. GOD sent JESUS first of all to HIS chosen people. For the most part HIS chosen rejected HIM as the Messiah. GOD knew that they would but HE fulfilled HIS promise to HIS chosen to send them the Messiah. It was the Gentiles who saw JESUS as the promised Messiah because they did not have preconceived notions about HIM. So they recognized HIM based upon the identifying credentials of the promise Messiah, they accepted HIM as their Messiah.

The Messiah would come from the line of Judah which produced Jesse, the father of King David, which Isaiah recorded in Isaiah 11:10:

10 On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His resting place will be glorious.

The Messiah knew sickness. There are a couple of ways to consider this statement. The Messiah will feel the pain of others because HE will have empathy for all suffering both physically and Spiritually. When you know you have the solution or cure for a problem it hurts you when others refuse to listen and respond. HIS heart would be broken because HE saw the Spiritual condition of so many sick people who would not seek the cure that HE knew would heal them.

HE was despised or HE was held in contempt. HE was rejected carries the idea of being forsaken. Many especially the religious leaders turned a blind Spiritual eye to the truth of the scriptures.

GOD did not want HIS chosen to be drawn to HIM based upon HIS charisma but upon HIS manifestation of GOD’S power as the promised Messiah, which was revealed in the scriptures. The scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees prided themselves in knowing the scriptures. 

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.

The Messiah will give HIS life to cure everyone who will place their faith in HIM. HE will relieve those who place their faith in HIM of their pain due to sin.  But those who are Spiritually sick and are racked with the pain resulting from sin will not recognize that HE is the solution because HE does not look like the person who could help them.

HE was pierced, crushed and punished for us. Because HE took the punishment and was wounded for those who will place their faith in HIM, they are healed from the ravages of sin and are reconciled to GOD through faith in CHRIST. Those who place their faith in CHRIST are redeemed from the consequence of sin which is eternal death and indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

The Jews looked upon anyone who suffered, had a disease, financial problems, defects, etc. as having done something to cause GOD to punish him or her. This is the beauty of GOD’S plan, CHRIST had to die physically. HE kept it hidden from the rulers of this world so HIS plan would be carried to fulfillment as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8:

7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

GOD was coy to make sure HIS redemptive plan was not thwarted. 

GOD recognizes and understands that every human goes astray and he or she goes through times when they care nothing about having a relationship with HIM. Rather than punishing humans for their sins, HE sent HIS only Son to take the punishment humans should experience because of their sin. Because CHRIST had no sin, HE was the perfect, acceptable sacrifice for our sins to be placed upon HIM as the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 For our sake he (GOD) made him (CHRIST) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we (All who will place their faith in HIM) might become the righteousness of God.

CHRIST was not being punished for anything HE had done but HE was punished for what we have done.

The Messiah would voluntarily and quietly allow those with religious and legal authority, who had authority to punish HIM and even kill HIM to take HIM. HE did so in obedience to GOD, HIS Father and out of love for every person who will place their faith in HIM to pay, in full, their sin debt.  JESUS said it best as recorded in John 15:13-14:

13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.

CHRIST desires all to receive HIM as their Savior and make HIM the LORD of their lives. HE did it all for you. Will you accept HIS invitation to have eternal life and dwell with HIM in heaven? It is your opportunity to either accept or reject HIM as your Savior.  

Who considered HIS fate? This question begs for the reply “no one.” The word “fate” refers to the result of HIS unjust trial. HE was “cut off” or killed because of HIS peoples rebellion.

Those in authority intended for HIM to be buried as a wicked person in disgrace but instead we know that a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea claimed HIS body for burial along with another person of influence as written in Luke 23:50-53 and John 19:39

50 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the • Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.

John 19:39:

39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, 

bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

The Messiah had “done no violence” meaning HE had not done anything wrong including using hurtful language.

When you consider that JESUS was both 100% human and 100% divine, HE could have used HIS divine power to ZAP those who would do HIM harm but HE chose not. If HE had, HE would have aborted the very purpose of HIS mission and we would still be in our sins and offering animal sacrifices, if anything. But because of CHRIST’S faithfulness to the end, all who place their faith in HIM are reconciled to GOD and experience the miracle of rebirth to live with HIM for eternity in heaven.

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 statement “Yet the Lord was pleased to crush Him severely” seems to depict GOD as enjoying punishing HIS only Son JESUS but let’s put into context. GOD took no delight in the suffering of the Messiah but HE was delighted in the willingness and faithfulness of the Messiah to voluntarily give HIS life for those who will place their faith in HIM. HIS sacrifice is out of love. Also, CHRIST had to trust GOD, HIS Father to resurrect HIM after HE died. HE did and this reveals the absolute confidence CHRIST had in HIS Father and the confidence those who place their trust have in CHRIST.

The Messiah is a restitution offering. By giving HIS 100% human life and willingness to be crushed unto death provided the opportunity for all who will place their faith in HIM to be restored to GOD’S original intent for HIS ultimate creation, mankind, which is eternal life with HIM as HIS children or seeds.

HIS seed refers to the descendants of the Messiah. Since the Messiah was not married, HIS seeds are of Spiritual origin which is rebirth.

HE will “prolong HIS days” carries the idea of life extending beyond the physical death of the Messiah. This suggests resurrection which would complete GOD’S plan of full redemption for those who place their faith in the Messiah. GOD would demonstrate the restoration of eternal life to those who place their faith in the Messiah by the resurrection of JESUS and confirmation by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Verse 11 – The Messiah giving HIS life to atone for the death sentence placed upon mankind, by GOD, many people will have the opportunity to be reconciled with GOD. It is because the Messiah will carry their iniquities and in doing so justifies those who place their faith in the Messiah. This, in turn, gives them direct access to GOD 24/7 as HIS children.

Verse 12 – The Hebrew word “portion” refers to a share of the spoils of victory in war or to a parcel of land allotted to or possessed by people. GOD’S Messiah would be victorious, and HE would be rewarded for HIS faithfulness to GOD’S redemptive purpose. (page 15, Leader Guide published by LifeWay, Spring 2015.)

The Messiah will fulfill GOD’S plan and purpose for the redemption and restoration of all who place their faith in HIM.

The manner that the Messiah dies, crucifixion, gives the impression that HE died like a rebel but the secret is that in doing so HE broke the sin barrier that separated GOD from mankind. In breaking the sin barrier, the Messiah opened the path between GOD and mankind for all who will place their faith in HIM to be redeemed and eternally restored as GOD’S Sons and Daughters. All because HE was faithful unto death the final frontier to be conquered and HE DID because HE HAS RISEN!!! HAPPY EASTER!  Blessings!!!