Scripture: Isaiah 53

Aim: To give the pupil a simple view of Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming of Christ.

Golden Text: “He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

Many prophecies concerning the coming and work of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the Jews, are given in the Old Testament.

The first is in Genesis 3:15 where the “Seed of the woman” (virgin born Son of Mary) shall “bruise the head of the serpent” (give Satan his death blow), and the serpent shall “bruise the heel” of the Seed (Jesus Christ). From this passage on through the Old Testament there are given many prophecies concerning Christ (Messiah), His coming, His ministry, His death on the cross for sinful man, and His resurrection.

Isaiah was led to write many things concerning the coming of Messiah and His ministry among and for men. Isaiah Chapter 53 is perhaps the clearest and most complete prophecy of the coming of Christ (Messiah) into the world to minister and die for the sins of men. Here in this chapter we have a simple outline of the coming of Jesus Christ, His work and the Heavenly Father’s approval and acceptance of His work at Calvary.

I. The birth of the Messiah is given in verses 1-2. Verse 1 asks a question: “Who has believed our report?” That takes us back to Isaiah 52:13 where we are told that Servant of Jehovah (Jesus Christ) will be exalted, extolled and be very high. Verse 14 tells that He will be brutally abused by men. As a result He will sprinkle many nations, including kings and people.

The Messiah (anointed one of God) was to be born and grow up in a spiritually barren land. He would have no special characteristics that would cause men to gravitate to Him. He would be like other men in His appearance (vs. 2).

II. His ministry on earth is given (vs. 3-6). Men will reject Him (vs. 3). “Despised,” “rejected of men,” “a man of sorrows,” “acquainted with grief,” men will depart from Him, and men will not give Him any plain civil acceptance. What a picture of men’s rejection of Jesus Christ!

He will bear the sins and sorrows of men during His stay on earth (vs. 4-5). He will be “wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities” (vs. 5). By His stripes men will be healed (vs. 5). What happened to Him was for men who are like sheep gone astray. The punishment for men was given to Messiah (vs. 6). His sufferings was for we sinful men!

III. He would give Himself, His life, for men (vs. 7-8). Here we have the awful judgment upon sin as He gave Himself and died “for the transgression” of the people (vs. 8). Christ died on the cross for sinful men, you, everybody and me! Verse 9 gives His time in the tomb.

IV. The Heavenly Father accepted the sacrifice for sin that Christ made on the cross (vs. 10-11). Here we have the result of His death. The Father accepted His Son as a substitute sacrifice for the iniquities of men (vs. 10-11). The little boy got the point. When asked, “What did Jesus do for us at the cross”? He said, “He got on, and I got off”! Jesus died for the sins of all who will repent. The Father now accepts all who are in the Beloved!

V. The Resurrection was proof of the Father’s acceptance of Messiah’s sacrifice (vs. 12). Jesus is exalted since He died for the sake of sinners, and He now makes intercession for them before the Heavenly Father.

In the light of the life of Christ in the New Testament, these verses come alive. They are very clearly the promise of Christ and His work of redemption on the Cross. It is wonderful! Now, every one who will make His soul and offering for his own sin shall be forgiven and made “sons of God” through faith in Christ!