Grow With Pastor Joe

For the twelfth and final time we turn to Isa. 53. These twelve weeks have challenged me as a believer, a pastor, and an expositor. This passage could be compared to the Marianas Trench in that it plums the depths of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it dives into the depths of prophesying both Christ’s first and second coming. Within this chapter we could see the great expanse of the Milky Way that seems to go on forever with more of it unexplored, yet all of it breathtaking and awe inspiring. These truths are like Mount Everest in that many know about it, but few know what it means to climb its heights. As we come today to the end of our study of Isa. 52:13-53:12 on this Easter Sunday, we are reminded of God’s providence in preserving His word and such a passage as this for the day that we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. Truly, we celebrate the resurrection every time that the saints gather on the Lord’s Day (Sunday), but we also should rejoice and rest in the resurrection of Christ each day as believers. His resurrection not only gives proof of the redemption that He has provided, but it provides for us the rest that one day we too shall rise in resurrection when He returns for His people when He will remake a new heavens and new earth where sin is banished forever (1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4; Rev. 19-22). The reality of His resurrection is the reality of our redemption and the process of our future resurrection unto glory.

            Today, we will finish our study as we look at the final two verses of this passage. Isa. 52:13-15; 53:11-12 show us summarizing statements that are coming from God Himself as He speaks of the eternal persona and work of His Son, the Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. Isa. 53:1-10 serves to show us the future confession (and present confession of believers) of the repentant remnant of Israel upon Christ’s return in glory and power with His Bride by His side. When we think of this monumental chapter we typically think of the sufferings of Christ. We should, but we must not forget that the primary focus is not just the sufferings of His first coming, but equally focus on the exaltation and reign when He comes again. This chapter is not just about His sufferings, but the purpose of His sufferings as the substitutionary sacrifice for sins is His glory to be displayed in His redeemed throughout eternity. This chapter is more than His execution; it is the exclamation of His person and work and the exaltation of His name for His work of redemption and sovereign rule. Throughout the chapter, we have seen an exposition of the person and work of Christ. To put it another way, we have seen the offices and operations of Christ. He is the sovereign servant who came to silently submit as a satisfactory substitute to save sinners by His sacrifice and suffering. If we aren’t careful, we can miss the great truth that we will end our study with today. Jesus Christ is the sovereign servant who functions as the great Prophet, Priest, and King for His people. As the Great Prophet on behalf of God, Jesus is the full and final revelation of God. No man can know God or enter into God’s presence apart from knowing Christ (this is seen in Isa. 53:11 – “by His knowledge”). Furthermore, He is the Great Priest who acts as a mediator on behalf of man to God. Only the God-Man, the Man, Christ Jesus, can be the mediator that is sufficient to reconcile God and Man. Jesus is as well the Great King of Kings who is exalted above all and rules over all. His rule and reign are righteous. He is coming again to rule and reign over the world with His redeemed. He is a good and gracious King because He is a good and gracious Prophet and Priest. Today we will see Jesus as the Sovereign Servant who is not only sovereign over His people, but that He still yet serves us today through His continual faithfulness to His redeemed Bride. Isa. 53:11-12 says, “¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” The One who is the Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief is the One who is eternally mighty and sovereign who will receive His glory forever.

            First, let’s see Christ as our Sovereign Redeemer. The work of redemption is throughout every line of this passage, but it is as well the thread that runs through the Bible. If we are to be mindful of His three offices, Jesus, being the Great Prophet, points us to Him being the Sovereign Redeemer. A prophet acted on behalf of God to go and present His message. Isaiah was a prophet of God. However, Christ is superior because not only does He act on behalf of God, but He is also God. Jesus is not just God’s messenger with the message. Jesus Christ is God as a messenger who is Himself the message and means of redemption. He didn’t just come to announce redemption, but to accomplish it. He did what no other prophet could do. There are two things that we will see in Isa. 53:11-12 that declare His sovereign redemption.

One, we must see His work. Our redemption is not based upon our work, but His. Ours is stained with sin, but His removes our stain. The work of Christ alone is satisfactory. We see this in the first half of Isa. 53:11 which says, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” Christ’s work satisfied the Father’s wrath against sin, but Christ is also satisfied in His sufferings because He knew that after the cross, He would be exalted and crowned in glory. What is Christ’s work? It is that He came to be the satisfactory substitutionary sacrifice for sin to “justify many.” Jesus’ work actually accomplished something. He is the “righteous servant” who imputes His righteousness to repentant sinners whereby justifying them through imputation. How can His work be applied? It is only by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone so that His redeeming work is to His glory alone. The application of redemption is “by his knowledge.” In the Hebrew expression, this can be understood that Jesus had full knowledge of His redeeming work or that it is through the knowledge of Him that redemption is applied. I believe the answer is both. The Bible is clear that Jesus, being eternally God, knew completely what He had come to do, what He would accomplish, and the future exaltation that He would enjoy. It is true as well though, that His redemption is only applied to those who know Him. Jesus demonstrates the duality of this statement in John 17:1-10 saying, “¹These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ² As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ⁴ I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ⁶ I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. ⁷ Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. ⁸ For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. ⁹ I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. ¹⁰ And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” Furthermore, Paul later confirms that redemption is only applied to those who know Christ through repentance and faith in the gospel in Rom. 3:21-25; 5:1-11; 10:9-21. Jesus’ work through His “travail” upon the cross is how He sovereignly redeems sinful man.

Two, we must see His willingness. Jesus not only accomplished the work of redemption, but He is willing to redeem. Throughout Isa 52:13-53:12 we see a continual theme that Jesus is the vicarious volunteer. He willingly and lovingly gave Himself to be rejected, humiliated, abused, crucified, and buried so that He would then pick up His life in resurrection to offer redemption to all who will believe. His willingness to redeem is seen in several words in Isa. 53:11-12. The word “bear” which was previously used in the Hebrew gives the idea of one who willingly carries the weight of another. Jesus bore the penalty and punishment which was due to us. He as well would “pour” Himself out upon the cross as He dies in our place. He left nothing. He poured Himself out as He drank of God’s cup of wrath until it was empty. We are filled because He was emptied on the cross. We see His willingness as well in that He was willing to be “numbered” with the transgressors. Jesus who knew no sin died in the stead of sinners between two sinners as sinners cursed and mocked Him. He was counted with them and as one, yet without sin. He was treated as a sinner in His death so that we who are sinners might have life from His death.

            Second, let’s see Christ as our Sovereign Representative. As we remember His office as our Great High Priest, we see that He acts on behalf of man to God. He can do this because He is the eternal Son of God who put on flesh (John 1:1-18; Phi. 2:5-11). In the Old Testament, priests had to come from the line of Levi, Jesus came from the line of Judah, which was the kingly line. In those days, one could not be a priest and a king; but we see Jesus is worthy because He is a truer and better Prophet, Priest, and King. Under the sacrificial system, priests worked in the Tabernacle or Temple to offer sacrifices unto God on behalf of man. However, each priest, including the one who served as a high priest, had to make an offering for his own sins first. The Lord Jesus Christ had no sin to atone for except ours. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices continually or stay on the cross for His priestly work is satisfactory because He Himself is the sacrifice for sin. As our Sovereign Representative we see that He does two things for His redeemed people.

One, Jesus interposed for sinners. To interpose is to intervene for the sake of another. How did He interpose as the Sovereign Representative? Christ came to “bear their iniquities” as the spotless Lamb of God. We see this incredible truth previously in Isa. 53:4-9. He interposed as our representative through the shedding of His own blood for the remission of sins (See Eph. 1:7; Col 1:18; Rev. 1:5). No other blood or sacrifice will do. Jesus alone is the perfect representative for God and Man because He is the God-Man who died in our place. The book of Hebrews covers this wonderful truth throughout its entirety and helps solidify the truth that Jesus is the perfect representative to interpose on our behalf because He comes from a better line and is the only sufficient sacrifice for sin.

Two, Jesus intercedes for sinners. Jesus is our sympathetic High Priest who knows our temptations and struggles. He was touched by sinners and sin throughout His life and death; yet He Himself never sinned. He would not and could not sin or else He could not be the Sovereign Representative that sinners need to be reconciled to a holy God. At the cross, Jesus interposed on my behalf, but now He intercedes for His redeemed. Notice the phrase in our passage that closes out this incredible portion of scripture saying, “and made intercession for the transgressors.” In the Hebrew, this is in the imperfect tense which means that the action has continual outworking. To simplify it, this means that not only Jesus interceded for us at the cross but continues to do so as He is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus interceded for His redeemed in His High Priestly prayer in John 17. He interceded for sinners in Lk. 23:34 while on the cross saying, “³⁴ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” The Lord Jesus Christ still intercedes for us according to Heb. 7:22-28 says, “²² By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. ²³ And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: ²⁴ But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁶ For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷ Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” Jesus is the Sovereign Representative for His redeemed. Could you ask for anyone better to be on your side?

            Third, let’s see Christ as our Sovereign Ruler. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He was King before His incarnation and He’ll be King forevermore. Christ came to offer the kingdom to Israel, but they rejected Him as their King. Jesus’ kingship is not just dealing with His coming Kingdom, but we see that He is the King who came to suffer as a servant to bring us into His eternal Kingdom where He rules with righteousness. Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah and His Kingship throughout His ministry. Isaiah speaks much of the coming King and Kingdom, but the Jews missed their King, rejected Him, but when the King returns, they will bow along with all the world. Revelation 1 describes Christ as the triumphant Prophet, Priest, and King who has all authority and power throughout eternity. As Phil. 2:11 tells us, every knee will bow and tongue confess Christ as Lord. The closing verse of this incredible passage of scripture begins with the word “therefore.” Because Christ is the Sovereign Redeemer and Representative, He is the Sovereign Ruler. The reward of His redeeming work is not just that He receives a redeemed people as His own, but that in His resurrection we see Him as the King over death. Death is defeated and Satan is crushed under the King of Kings. Sin and death which acted as rulers are now cast out by the risen King. The Man of Sorrows went into the grave but resurrected as the Mighty Sovereign Ruler of eternity! There are three quick things that we see about Christ our Sovereign Ruler. One, Jesus alone has the right to rule. We see this in Isa. 52:13-15. Two, we see the reach of His rule is unending. Everything does and will forever fall under His infinite authority. Three, we see Jesus’ return in Isa. 53:12 which says that He will “divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong.” The words “great” and “strong” are both used to reference the “many” that He has justified. He is the glorious King who will one day return with His Bride. The remnant of Israel will repent, and the earth will receive her King. This in and of itself is incredible, but upon Jesus the King’s return, He will share His riches with His people. We see that we are not only redeemed, but recipients of His riches and wealth that will be experienced in His Kingdom (See Rom. 8:17; Eph. 1; 1 Pt. 1:3-5; Rev. 1:19-22). What other King would share His wealth? None. This King will share His riches with His redeemed Bride who will enjoy His glory forever.            

As we bring this to a close, I must ask, have you been redeemed? Have you confessed Christ? He is the Sovereign Redeemer, Representative, and Ruler. Have you bowed your heart to Him? Does your heart rest in His satisfactory work? Today, as we remember His resurrection, our hearts can rejoice and find rest for He has redeemed us. The incredible passage that we’ve studied these past twelve weeks don’t just explain to us our redemption, but they exalt the redeemer. They remind our hearts that He is coming again and that the Man of Sorrows is the Mighty Sovereign who rules over our hearts today. I want to end this series by revisiting the beautiful hymn, “Hallelujah, What a Savior” by Philip Bliss which says, “1 Man of sorrows what a name for the Son of God, who came ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah, what a Savior! 2 Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood, sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior! 3 Guilty, helpless, lost were we; blameless Lamb of God was he, sacrificed to set us free: Hallelujah, what a Savior! 4 He was lifted up to die; “It is finished” was his cry; now in heaven exalted high: Hallelujah, what a Savior! 5 When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring, then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah, what a Savior!” Isn’t that Isa. 52:13-53:12 in song form? This is an eternal song that expresses the exaltation of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Think about these things. What else can be said, but “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”