Behold the Suffering Servant

Crushed and Satisfied
April 13, 2025
Chris Seidman, Teaching Minister, The Branch

Isaiah 53:7-12 (NIV)
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
… he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities … .

Isaiah 53:12 (NIV)
For he bore the sin of many … .

Hebrew word for “sin”
The Hebrew word for “sin” (khata) is related to falling short – like falling short of a target or goal – like an arrow missing the bullseye.

Hebrew word for “inquity”
The Hebrew word for “iniquity” (avon) is related to the image of something being crooked or bent like a person’s spine.

Hebrew word for “transgression”
The Hebrew word for “transgression” (pesha) is related to the betrayal or violation of a trust, either with God or with someone else with whom we are in relationship.

Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer … .

Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin … .

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Isaiah 53:10-11 (NIV)
… he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied … .

Isaiah 53:11-12 (NIV)
… by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 55:7 (NIV)
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

What satisfies Him
Pierced for our transgressions (our broken trusts).

Crushed for our iniquities (our crooked ways).

He bore the sin of many (our falling short).

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”