Bible Study - Suffering (5) - Does GOD Really Understand My Suffering? - Isaiah 53 - February 9, 2020

Bible Study – Suffering (5) – Does GOD Really Understand My Suffering? – February 9, 2020


This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “When Life Gets Hard: Big Questions About Pain and Suffering.”


Our focus scripture is Isaiah 53:2-12.


JESUS willingly experienced pain and suffering for our salvation.

In John 17:1-5, 24: JESUS was praying


17 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you gave him authority over all flesh,^[a] so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. ³ This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent —Jesus Christ. ⁴ I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.


²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.


In John 1:1-5:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and that life was the light of men. ⁵ That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome^[b] it.


Why all of this lead-in scripture? The Word is JESUS and JESUS was with GOD and JESUS was GOD. JESUS revealed truth to the Prophet Isaiah as well as to all of HIS true prophets. 

As we read and study Isaiah 53 keep in mind that JESUS knew exactly how the people of earth would look at HIM, treat HIM and what they would think of HIM, yet HE came to earth in the flesh anyway. Why? It is because HE loved you personally; not collectively but individually. How do we know that JESUS knew what the Messiah would experience upon earth in the flesh? It is because JESUS was the author of scripture. What did HE know? Let’s explore!


Chapters 40-66 in The Book of Isaiah were likely written about 681 BC.

JESUS knew what was in store for HIM before HE came to earth in the flesh; yet HE came anyway! Why?


Dear JESUS, thank you for YOUR love that YOU came to earth just for me and all who place their faith and trust in YOU. Such love is unfathomable. HE came to earth just for you, as well. Does that mean you are automatically a Christian? NO! GOD made you with the freedom to choose, therefore all must choose.


Let’s read Isaiah 53:1-4:

53 Who has believed what we have heard?^[a]
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

In essence, this verse states, who believes our report on what we have heard from GOD? This prophesy reveals the coming of the promised Messiah, GOD in the flesh. GOD was coming to earth in the flesh to redeem mankind from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death. GOD would make Himself totally vulnerable by coming to earth as a human, yet GOD.

The Messiah will come to earth in a manner in which the people of earth will not be attracted to HIM because of HIS beauty, stature, winsome ways or as royalty but in humility, yet with power as revealed by GOD. The Messiah will not appeal to humanity because of HIS looks or the things that appeal to the human side of our nature but because HE is truth and does not want to give false impressions.

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.

JESUS suffered from rejection. JESUS grew up as a suffering servant. The people of earth judged JESUS as ordinary and insignificant. The people would look upon JESUS like an unwanted wild plant or “a sucker” or “a weed” that was a nuisance and takes up space, water, sunshine and nutrients away from more important plants.

The people of earth would not look upon JESUS with the same awe as they did kings, religious leaders, rulers, the physically wealthy, etc. Even the disciples of JESUS did not fully comprehend JESUS until after HIS crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and the return of the Holy Spirit to indwell them. Let’s continue to consider how the people of earth will look upon GOD in the flesh as written over 600 years before the birth of JESUS -----.

JESUS was not born in a kingly manner but HE was born in a very unassuming way, yet unique. HE was born in a stable whose mother came from an unassuming village. GOD does not desire any person to come to HIM for any other reason than seeing his or her need for Salvation from sin and the need for eternal life.

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;^[b]
he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

This alludes to how people would look upon a person who had leprosy. They were repulsed by HIM and turned away from HIM. Yet, HE came to earth for a purpose; a purpose no human could fulfill.

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.

JESUS took upon Himself our sickness and pain which comes from sin. Why? It is because of HIS self-giving love for each of us. Awesome!!

JESUS was “stricken” and “struck down.” HE suffered bodily for our sin. HE did this just for you and me, individually.

Keep in mind Ephesians 1:4 - ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c]

JESUS bore, means “to lift up and carry away.” JESUS did something NO PERSON CAN DO FOR himself or herself. HE paid, in full, for each of our sins, such that when a person places his or her faith in JESUS his or her sins are completely forgiven, washed whiter than snow, born-again Spiritually, receives eternal life, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, becomes a Son or Daughter of GOD, becomes a citizen of Heaven and so much more.

The people of the world and religious leaders rejected GOD’S redemptive plan of salvation through faith in JESUS. Have you placed your faith in JESUS and asked HIM to forgive you for your sins and asked HIM to come into your heart? If not, do that now because eternity is just one heartbeat away. JESUS gave HIS sinless life to redeem you from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death/Hell. You may say, “I do not believe in Hell.” Sorry, a person may not believe in gravity but gravity is present and so is Hell. It is not a place GOD desires for any person to go. That is why JESUS came to earth to redeem all who will place their faith in HIM from sin, eternal death and Hell.

Do you recall 2 Corinthians 5:21:

²¹ He (GOD) made the one (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him (JESUS) we might become the righteousness of God.

This was and is GOD’S redemptive plan through faith in JESUS, GOD’s only SON! This is GOD’S plan for all who will place their faith in JESUS.

No person can earn his or her way to heaven by works or good deeds.  

Our next scripture gives us an idea of what our sin did to JESUS. Notice the word “But,” in our next scripture. The conjunction continues the contrast between the Servant (JESUS) and the rest of mankind. JESUS suffered these things for each of us personally, therefore

 salvation is personal and individual ----.

Let’s read Isaiah 53:5-9:

⁵ But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
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^[c] 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?^[d]
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
but he was with a rich man at his death,
because he had done no violence
and had not spoken deceitfully.

As you read these verses think back over the life of JESUS:

JESUS was pierced on the cross, HE was beaten, a crown of thorns was thrust upon HIS head, HE was humiliated, HE hung on the cross naked, etc. The burden of sin crushed HIM. Consider that JESUS knew that all who rejected HIM would go to Hell/eternally separated from GOD. JESUS is the only way to eternal life and to Heaven. JESUS willingly went to the cross to be crushed and suffer because of sin and for all who will place their faith in HIM.

There are a number of things that have to be crushed before they release their fragrance. JESUS was crushed and suffered these things because HE loved us and willingly gave HIS physical life that all who place their faith in HM will have eternal life and be born Spiritually into GOD’S Family. If JESUS remained dead after HIS crucifixion, then HE would be like any other morally great person who lived a good life upon earth. So, what is different about JESUS?

GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to reveal to all who place their faith in HIM that JESUS is the true promised Messiah Who takes away our sin. When anyone places their faith in JESUS, they are instantly born-again in their spirit and become a child of GOD. Once they are born Spiritually that never changes. Once we are conceived as a human, we cannot ever be unborn. The same is true once we are born-again Spiritually.

We have all gone astray, thus we all need to be saved from our sin.

Being crucified upon the cross caused intense pain and suffering. It was a cruel way for a person to die. Why do you think JESUS was crucified?

Keep in mind that Satan wanted JESUS to fail. JESUS had the power to say, “This is enough and come down from the cross.” If HE had, then the purpose of HIS coming to earth in the flesh would have failed. But JESUS remained faithful to death upon the cross, just for you and me. It was GOD’S plan. What do we read in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16?

⁶ We do, however, 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, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.^[c]

¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts^[d] except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. ¹³ We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.^{[e] 14} But the person without the Spirit^[f] does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated^[g] spiritually. ¹⁵ The spiritual person, however, can evaluate^[h] everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. ¹⁶ For

who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct him?^[i]

But we have the mind of Christ.

Have you ever thought, if you were GOD in the flesh upon earth and earthlings did the things to you that they did to JESUS? Keep in mind that JESUS was both 100% human and 100% GOD. As JESUS, HE chose to limit HIS power to that which accomplished the plan, purpose and will of GOD. The temptation was for HIM to use HIS GOD power when HE was personally attacked but HE didn’t. JESUS only used HIS power according to the plan. I would have failed but HE knew that and gave HIS life for me.

Upon the death of JESUS, HE was buried in a borrowed tomb made available for the body of JESUS by a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea and assisted by Nicodemus. (John 19:38-42)

JESUS was 100% obedient, sinless, shed HIS blood and died physically which GOD required to pay the sin debt in full. HIS purpose was to carryout GOD’S plan, will and purpose to accomplish HIS objective which put into place the eternal plan to save people from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death. GOD’S plan is available to all people but each individual must either accept or reject JESUS as his or her Savior.

JESUS/GOD willingly gave HIS physical life and died upon the cross by the shedding of HIS blood for the remission of sin. JESUS/GOD in the flesh died but the Good News is that only GOD can give life to that which is dead. JESUS had to trust GOD to raise HIS physically dead body from the dead to eternal life. GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to give HIM life eternal as an example to all who place their faith in JESUS. All who place their faith in JESUS also receive eternal life at the instant of their salvation and to confirm salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells those who receive JESUS as their Savior.

Let’s read Isaiah 53:10-12:

¹⁰ Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.^[e]
When^[f] you make him a guilt offering,
he will see his seed, he will prolong his days,
and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
¹¹ After his anguish,
he will see light^[g] and be satisfied.
By his knowledge,
my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will carry their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give him^[h] the many as a portion,
and he will receive^[i] the mighty as spoil,
because he willingly submitted to death,
and was counted among the rebels;
yet he bore the sin of many
and interceded for the rebels.

This prophesy reveals that GOD’S redemptive plan through the passion of JESUS will be accomplished. When GOD stated that the “LORD was pleased” did not mean in a cruel way but in an expression of accomplishment. This assurance was revealed by GOD over 600 years before it took place. Satan’s desire was to prevent it but GOD’S wisdom would prevail because of the resurrection of JESUS after HIS death (anguish) and resurrection (light) and this will result in being Spiritually born-again (HIS Seed) into the eternal family of GOD - ¹¹ After his anguish,
he will see light^[g] and be satisfied.
By his knowledge,
my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will carry their iniquities.

JESUS will be crushed (death) and be made a guilt offering but after this anguish JESUS will be resurrected and rejoice that GOD’S redemptive plan is eternally established. The Good News is that through GOD’S redemptive plan, eternal salvation will come to all who place their faith in JESUS. JESUS will see that GOD’S redemptive plan is established evidenced by those who are born-again, through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth (HIS seed) into the family of GOD. The passion of JESUS paid, in full, for the penalty for sin for all who will place their faith in JESUS.

When a person places his or her faith in JESUS it brings unspeakable joy to GOD.

JESUS suffered these things just for you and me. The Apostle John wrote in John 3:16-19:

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

Does JESUS really understand my suffering? What say you?

Blessings!!!