The Majestic Mystery of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
Isaiah
records some wonderful and precious teaching and insights surrounding the
Messiah. We have been given a brief and simple study of the Messiah as the
Suffering Servant. To me, this passage has captivated me with its majestic
concept of the Suffering Servant. It has also made me aware of a mystery of
grace which will never be plumbed or exhausted in the telling.
By
placing the description of the affliction suffered by the person in Isaiah 53 with
Roman torture (Matthew 27.) we have an insight to the suffering endured. What astounds me is
the statement that He opened not His mouth. Why did the soldiers inflict such
brutality before crucifying Him? I think this arose from various factors. They
would have been feeling embarrassed by retreating and falling before Him in
Gethsemane. There could possibly a sense of Jesus being innocent of the
charges and to cover this they smashed Him the more. Being soldiers they had their orders which they
must carry out.
They did
their work thoroughly and professionally. I tend to think Satan was there
exciting them and stirring their blood lust. Another reason could be that He
had to pay the full price of sin covering all time and the worst of sinners.
Isaiah 53:14 says His visage was marred more than any man. On the cross, when
the sin of the world was on Him, Jesus became the vilest of the vile. This was
too much for the Father. He turned His eyes away and cast darkness over the
scene. What this means is that no one is beyond the power of forgiveness obtained by the substitutionary death of Christ.
Remember Paul’s words. He was the worst of sinners, but not beyond the reach of
grace.
When
Jesus became the fulfilment of Isaiah 53 He incorporated ever so much more than
paying the redemption price of your salvation. To limit the sacrifice of the suffering Servant to our personal redemption is to rob Him of His glory and power.
1.
As Creator he redeemed creation from its bondage.
Romans 8:20
2.
As the Son of God, He stood in the death sentence
imposed on Israel, also called the Son.
3.
As the husband of Israel Jesus paid the penalty
for her spiritual adultery.
4.
As the land owner of Israel, the country, His
death cleansed it from iniquity.
5.
As the Servant He redeemed those He served, the
nation of Israel.
6.
As the 2nd Adam He ransomed the 1st
Adam and his progeny.
7.
As Eternal Life, He clothed Himself in mortality
to destroy Death.
8. As the Commander of Israel’s Army He paid for their
insubordination.
All of
this is verified by His resurrection from the tomb. We endorse it by faith and
allegiance. One day it will be proclaimed by sight when He, the risen Lord,
returns in glory to rule. This underscores why He hasn't cast off the Nation ofIsrael. Yes, it s sidelined for the present, but in the day of His choosing, they will be re-instated.
There can
be no mystery to the reason we declare Jesus to be King of kings, Lord of
lords, with a Name above very name in heaven, on earth or under the earth. What
a privilege will be ours when we see Him and worship Him to the honour and
glory of the Father! That's the culmination of the magnificent mystery of the Messiah in Isaiah 53.
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