The death of The Servant. No greater love.

Last week we looked at whether Jesus is the Servant who suffers in Isaiah’s prophecies, and what the implications are if He is. Do Isaiah’s predictions accurately match Jesus death? Does Isaiah explain why the promised Messiah and almighty Son of God had to die? It’s uncomfortable to look at why it was necessary, but when we do, it’s a deep blessing to know every detail of how God rescues us from our own wickedness.

Scripture

Is the Suffering Servant Jesus, was He rejected as Messiah?

Isaiah 52:13-14 ESV  Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.  [14]  As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

Isaiah 53:2-4 ESV  For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.  [3]  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  [4]  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

John 19:14-15 ESV  Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”  [15]  They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Mark 14:61-64 ESV  But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”  [62]  And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”  [63]  And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?  [64]  You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

Will His people regret rejecting Him?

John 19:33-37 ESV  But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.  [34]  But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.  [35]  He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.  [36]  For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”  [37]  And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Zechariah 12:10-11 ESV  “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.  [11]  On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

Did Jesus suffer and die like the Servant?

Isaiah 50:6-9 ESV  I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.  [7]  But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.  [8]  He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.  [9]  Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Isaiah 53:7-9 ESV  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  [8]  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?  [9]  And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.Isaiah 53:7-9 ESV  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  [8]  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?  [9]  And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Mark 10:33-34 ESV  saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.  [34]  And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Matthew 26:62-63 ESV  And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”  [63]  But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Matthew 27:12-14 ESV  But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.  [13]  Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”  [14]  But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Who does the Holy Spirit and the Son say the Servant is?

Isaiah 52:15 ESV  so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

Acts 8:32-35 ESV  Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.  [33]  In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”  [34]  And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”  [35]  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

Luke 22:37 ESV  For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.”

Why did the Servant suffer and die?

It is God’s character to forgive iniquity, transgression ans sin. Sin (chata’) → Missing the target / general failure or shortfall (can be accidental or unintentional). Transgression (pesha’) → Willful rebellion / crossing the line on purpose. Iniquity (avon) → Twisted or perverted condition / the deep guilt and distortion that sin produces. But it He Holy and will punish the guilty.

Isaiah 53:4-6, 12 ESV  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [12]  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Exodus 34:6-7 ESV  The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,  [7]  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Psalms 51:1-2 ESV  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  [2]  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

He died like a perfect sacrificial lamb

Isaiah 53:7-9 ESV  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  [8]  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?  [9]  And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

What does His death mean for us?

Isaiah 53:10-12 ESV  Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  [11]  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  [12]  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

John 19:30 ESV  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.