Bible
Study (2 - Mar 14, 2024)
THE
SUFFERING SERVANT
Isaiah predicted that the Servant of
the Lord would deliver the world from the bondage of sin. In the beginning
initially identified God’s servants as the people of Israel (Is 41:8; 44:1–2),
as God’s witness (Is 43:10), and as a light to the Gentiles. And Israel could
not fulfill: Israel was deaf, blind (Is 42:19), and in need of God’s
forgiveness (Is 44:21–22). Israel failed again and again.
Although, it clearly identifies the
“suffering servant” in Isaiah 53 as the nation of Israel, who suffered as a
humiliated individual at the hands of the gentile nations -– but realized only
in Jesus.
By contrast, God’s Servant, the
Messiah, faithfully accomplished all the work entrusted to him (Lk 13:32; Jn
17:4). The Servant of the Lord is God’s faithful and true witness to humanity.
(1) Isaiah 42:1–9: The
Servant of the LORD
You are my
servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." (Is 49:3 = Mt
12:18–2 “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”)
(2) Isaiah 49:1–13: “Before
I was born the Lord called me” = (Jer 1:5). The Messiah displays God’s splendor
(verse 3), restores God’s people (verse 6), and is honored in God’s eyes (verse
5). Significantly, the Messiah feels a great loss: “I have labored in vain; / I
have spent my strength for nothing at all” (verse 4), yet He receives worldwide
acclaim in the end:
“To him who was
despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of
rulers:
‘Kings will see
you and stand up,
princes will see
and bow down’” (verse 7).
BUT
“It is too small a
thing for you to be my servant
to restore the
tribes of Jacob
and bring back
those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make
you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation
may reach to the ends of the earth” (verse 6).
In this way, God’s salvation is
brought to all people. Christ Jesus is “the light of the world” (Lk 2:30–32; Jn
8:12; 9:5
(3) Isaiah 50:4–11: Israel’s Sin with the Servant’s Obedience
He is not rebellious (v 5), even when
his obedience to God results in suffering:
“I offered my back
to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those
who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my
face
from mocking and
spitting” (verse 6).
The Servant of the Lord expresses his
confidence that God will help him and that he will be found innocent (verses
7–9). In this confidence, the Messiah resolves to see his task to completion,
no matter how difficult the road becomes (cf. Luke 9:51).
His back was beaten, his face was
hit, and he was spit upon ( Jn 19:1–3; Mt 27:30). The Lord Jesus was obedient
unto death (Phil 2:8), and the Father vindicated his Suffering Servant by
resurrecting Him. “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be
disgraced” (Is 52:7).
(4) Is 52:13—53:12: This Climactic
fourth Servant Song
Describes the suffering and triumph
of the Servant of the LORD.
It is also one of the most detailed
passages in the OT concerning the death and resurrection of the Messiah.
A promise that the Servant will be
exalted (Is 52:13), but then immediately turns to a description of extreme
violence:
“His appearance
was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form
marred beyond human likeness” (Is 52:14).
The Messiah will be “despised and
rejected by mankind” (Is 53:3). When he is brutally punished, people will
assume that he is being afflicted by God (verse 4). But the fourth Servant Song
makes it clear why he endures such persecution:
“He was pierced
for our transgressions,
he was crushed for
our iniquities;
the punishment
that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds
we are healed” (verse 5).
Isaiah 53:10 Why should
the Suffering Servant Die?
“It was the Lord’s
will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and...the Lord
makes his life an offering for sin.”
This is the
substitutionary atonement. His life for ours. The death of the Messiah
accomplished the will of God concerning our salvation.
Peter calls Jesus the
“servant” of God (Acts 3:13):
1) Jesus always did the will of the
Father (Jn 4:34; 6:38).
2) Jesus always pleased the Father
(Jn 5:30).
3) Jesus finished the work
entrusted to him (Jn 17:4).
4) Jesus glorified the Father (Jn
13:31; 17:4).
Ancient
Scriptures of Hinduism
Rig Veda 10.90.7,
15:
“The sacrificial
victim is to be crowned with a crown made of thorny vines”
Yajur Veda 31:
“Before death, He
should be given a drink of Somarasa”(an intoxicating herbal juice)."
Sama Veda, part 2
(Thandiya Maha Brahmana):
“God is the ruler
of people. He will offer His body as a sacrifice, for His people; for the
remission of their sins.”
Brhadaranyaka
Upanishad 3.9.28:
“His hands and
legs are to be bound to a yoopa (a wooden pole) causing bloodshed”
Ithareya Brahmana
2.6:
“None of His bones
be broken”
Ithareya Brahmana:
“After death, His
clothes are to be divided among the officers.”
-
One supreme sacrifice known as the Purush
Prajapati and the name is translated from Sanskrit as “the Lord of all
creation who became Man” (Sathpatha Brahmana 10.2.2.1_2; Rg Ved Purushasukta
10:19).
-
The only purpose of the Purush
Prajapati is to sacrifice His life-blood to pay our penalty for sin and
to impart to us eternal life. It is the only way to Heaven and the only way of
escape from eternal hell (Rg Ved 9:113.7_11; Rg Ved 4.5.5; 7.104.3)
·
Is anyone matching to above said
points except JESUS?
·
Who is Today’s Suffering Servant?
Anawim (the
“poor ones” who remained faithful to God in times of difficulty); Mt 5
Beatitudes.
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