
Why was the Bible written? The answer transcends all those things. The question is, How can a sinner be forgiven fully and reconciled to a holy God and escape eternal hell by entering eternal heaven? The Bible was written to answer this question. As far as the OT is concerned, no place more clearly answers the question than Isaiah 53. Today, we will concentrate on v. 10-12 of Isaiah 53. What does it mean that the Father was pleased to crush Jesus severely? How will Jesus be the justifier of many? And what is so important about Christ’s intercession for us?
I. The Crushing of Jesus
A. Isaiah 53:10: “Yet the Lord was pleased to
him severely. When 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.”
Some versions (ESV/NASB) add “Putting him to grief.”
i.e., the debilitation of his entire being — excruciatingly painful — intense agony.
B. Why is the Lord pleased? Because Jesus was rendered as the guilt offering to provide full satisfaction, restitution, and propitiation. The debt would be fully paid; sinners would be set free.
- 1 John 2:2: “He himself is the
for our sins, and not only for ours but also for those of the whole world.” C. 53:10b - He would live to see his posterity.
- John 6:39: “This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should
on the last day.”
**II. God’s Righteous Servant Carries Our Sins
A. Isaiah 53:11: “After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities.”
B. “My
servant.” Jesus is the righteous one. C. “He will justify
and he will carry their iniquities.” D. “By His
.”
Those who know Him, His person, His work, and provision via his death and resurrection.
Romans 10:17: “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”
III. Jesus Intercedes for the Rebels
A. Isaiah 53:12: “Because he
submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.”
He let himself be included among the rebels. A reference to his incarnation.
Philippians 2:7: “he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of
.” He “
for the rebels.” The verb describes continuous activity. B. Hebrews 7:25: “Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he
to intercede for them.”
IV. As We Close…
A. Isaiah 53:12: “Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil,…”
B. Here, we have a foreshadowing of his life after his resurrection. This is powerful, royal imagery. Jesus is a conquering hero who has triumphed over all of his enemies.
C. He will receive the many as a portion. The many is us. The ones he justified.
D. He will divide the spoil with the strong. We, the many, are made great, and we, the weak, will be made strong. We will triumph through Him.
E. Have you been forgiven?