Isaiah’s wonderful Picture – Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

Scripture: Isaiah 53:7-12.

This is our final study in this series. It will bring our studies to number 126. The series started in September 2015.

There is no better place to finish than in the verses before us.

1. Here is the substitutionary death of Christ emphasised again.

This is the very heart of the gospel! “For the transgression of my people was he stricken,” V 8. The Saviour died for a specific people. His elect, His sheep. See Rom 8:32; Gal 3:13; Eph 5:2; 1 John 4:10.

2. The character of the Saviour displayed as He suffered.

He was a most uncomplaining Redeemer. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth,” V 7.

I believe this shows the utter willingness of the Lord Jesus to suffer and die for His people. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” Rom 5:6-8.

3. The chief sufferings of the Saviour came from Jehovah.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, 10.

God punished His dearly beloved Son for the sins of the people He had made His. How wonderful this is!!

Here is how much we are loved.

4. The sufferings of Christ accomplish wonderfully the eternal purpose of God.

Isaiah 53:10-12.
“He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.”

“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.”

Note this verse highlights once more. VICTORY, SUFFERING, PRAYER.

Remember the words of the Saviour in Luke 24:25-27. “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself,” Luke 24:25-27.