We, the guilty sinners, have been declared righteous before God. 45:113), something else would have to be done to restore their relationship to God if they were never to be cast out again. The first three verses give us an overview of the section: through the humiliation of suffering the Servant of the LORD will be exalted. 1The Servants purpose is Gods glory. It is far more important for us to do his will, to please him, than to have a comfortable, carefree life. Pp. It was the will of God that this Servant experience suffering, for it was through the vicarious suffering of the Servant that my righteous servant will justify many (53:11) and bear the sin of many, making intercession for the transgressors (53:12). Theres a reason why the poem of Isaiah 53 is introduced with the phrase good news, and theres also a good reason why all four stories of Jesus in the New Testament were eventually called The Good News or The Gospel. Its the strangest good news you will ever hear, but also the best news. (2m 55s) 9055 Views SHARE But there is the application of profitable vicarious suffering on a limited basis, as Peter himself suggests when applying this passage (but only after he states what it fully means). Christ would be both priest and sacrifice! Gods response is what we find in Isaiah 41-47. Why was this Servant the unique sample of silence under suffering? As a disciple, his every day begins with obedient listening; he is in intimate communion with God, sharing God's own heart. Gods honor isultimate purpose of the servants ministry, Gods motivation for choosing and empower the servant. Of Whom Speaketh the Prophet This? WThJ 11 (1949):133-155. Now is the Son of man glorified. Finally, his suffering will bring justice, salvation, and blessing to all nations. One of the best ways to do this is to develop these 10 servant leadership characteristics: 1. The messiahs justice-restoring salvation is a means to the end goal of Gods name being rightly honored. 2:2). Sermon: God Speaks and Promises a Savior The earliest believers were totally disillusioned when Jesus was sentenced to die upon the cross. On you my favor rests (Mk. Thank you. People might see and say, God forsakes his own. We confess that we deserve it, or complain that we do not. Vicarious suffering is not a curse. He has insight. Very truly, I tell you unless a grain of what falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed. John 12 vs. 23-24. I loved what you said, However, in Jesus Christ, the fullness of Gods love is revealed. It is love alone that transforms us. Jesus rebukes him Get behind me Satan, for you are not judging as God, but as men do (Mk. It was Israel who rejected Gods servant, and they led him to his death and killed him (Isaiah 53:7-9). All of their messianic hopes seemed to be dashed to the ground. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. First, the Suffering Servant is sent on a mission from God. Your God reigns as king! What an irony in the word in Scripturewe are worthless and God reckons us righteous; the suffering Servant appeared worthless, and they did not reckon himthey wrote him off. Yes, God is lovewe know it because Jesus Christ came into the world as the Suffering Servant. Alder Calais add to the Alentejo is the only keto vs vegan for weight loss way, well informed, but never seen so loss many people in the team, just looking at the list of small service personnel will be able to enjoy the two, chef 222, 200 the palace guards, specially open drapes servant 70, custody silverware servant 103, a plurality of . Healing a Broken includes research articles Spirit: Role of Servant The Servant of the Lord fulfills God's will and is often presented in Scripture as someone chosen by God to hold a leadership position, to represent Him, and to accomplish a certain divine work. Murray, H. An Approach to the Fourth Servant Song. Compass 13 (1979):43-46. In thisstudy author, Michael Halcombwalks the reader through a vision of what a life of faith in Jesus Christ, Gods Son, can look like in the midst of a culture that directly contradicts our values. And the pain brought spiritual healing and peacethat is, the suffering was redemptive. Peter's description of Jesus as a "servant" is accurate for at least four reasons: 1) Jesus always did the will of the Father ( John 4:34; 6:38 ). strange design? Prophets told of one whose suffering borne in love would end our pain; For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The book of Isaiah was foundational for the early followers of Jesus and helped motivate their mission to bring good news to the nations (see Acts 13:47). The figure in Deutro-Isaiah who bears suffering in hope of redemption, perhaps an individual, but understood as Israel in exile. This is a picture of what God has done in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will never hate our sin enough to leave it. But, of course, the suffering of this Servant far outdistanced human vicarious suffering (and it is here the nature of the Servant begins to unfold): his suffering removes sin. Aslan knew a deeper magic from before the dawn of time. That knowledge was that if a willing victim who had committed no treachery offered up his life for the traitor, then death itself would be overturned. at the Synagogue in Nazareth (Lk. Nevertheless, our LORD says that the world hated Him, and if it hated Him, it will hate us as well. Who is God's Suffering Servant? The Rabbinic Interpretation of Isaiah Rembaum, J. E. The Development of a Jewish Exegetical Tradition Regarding Isaiah 53. HTR 75 (1982):239-311. Considering the bigger picture of Gods promises to redeem Israel from the shame of exile, one would expect Gods servant to likewise bear a similar fate to enact such a salvation. Bearing fruit in a repentant life honors God who has provided the Substitute to suffer in Moreover, it is particularly the image of the Suffering Servant, as described by the four Songs of the Suffering Servant of the Lord, (Is. Related Topics: Christology, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Dr Ross joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2002 as Beeson Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. At the conclusion of his public ministry, He gathers the disciples in the upper room for the Last Supper at which point He established the Holy Eucharist whereby His disciples would henceforth be able to understand the meaning of His entire life: that is on Good Friday, when He was to be crucified, God would speak his final and complete word about the meaning of love and the mystery of God to the human race. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, we know from reading the New Testament that when the incarnation actually happened, it caught everyone by surprise. 2:19-23). And so you will inherita double portion in your land, and everlasting joywill be yours. The Servant accepts vicarious and substitutionary suffering on behalf of his people (53:4-6, 12). Throughout the pages of Israels history, there was indeed a more subtle strand, a nuanced preparation for this unexpected revelation of Messiah that would only be understood in retrospect, as the early Christians looked back upon their own prophets message. The servant bears unspeakable shame from others. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, and greater spiritual service can no one do for others, than to suffer with them and for them that they might be healed spiritually. As Professor William Farmer notes in his book The Gospel of Jesus, this little passage is of the greatest importance because it defines the essence of the gospel in terms of salvation through forgiveness of sins according to the scripture. It is to Isaiah specifically that this phrase according to the scriptures refers; after all the gospels were not yet written. 18. The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:1353:12) | Bible.org MacRae, Allan. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Some New Testament References to Isaiah 53. The Expository Times 68 (1957):254-255. Human experience feels it has found its highest and holiest form of love when the innocent is willing to take the blame for others. We have heard of Spirit-empowered leaders before in Isaiah, the messianic King from the line of David, described as the shoot from the stump of Jesse in Isaiah 11:1. Click here to get yours free in your inbox each morning! They go beyond the typical survival skills list, since what matters most is what lies in your head and in your heart. Paul says that he made him to be sin (here, sin offering) for us that we might become righteous (here, justify) (2 Cor. As the nations live in right relationships, they will live in a world envisioned by the Ten Commandments. And so it was at this point, according to the prophecy, that the Servant, though brought so low, was nearest his exaltation; though in death, yet nearest life, nearest the highest kind of life, the seeing of a seed, the finding himself in others; though despised, rejected, and forgotten of men, most certain of finding his place of exaltation with God. God will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.. He acknowledges the call God has given to him from his birth and announces that the salvation of Israel is ordered not only to their own redemption, but indeed the deliverance of all nations. He reveals who he is through what he does. Experiencing the power, grace, and providence of their God should motivate the Israelites to become God's "servant" who will bear witness to God's justice and mercy before all of the nations. Only by a sovereign work could this kingdom be established (52:36, 10). But secondarily, it is also exemplary for all suffering that is accomplished for others. It is in the arms of His great embrace that we discover what it really means to be a child of God, adopted into His family. Advertise on Catholic Exchange John Calvin comments on today's passage as to why salvation through the Suffering Servant is so despised the world over: "The loftiness of the mystery is a reason why it scarcely obtains credit in the world. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.". No where is this clearer than in our salvation through the Suffering Servant of Yahweh. A servant is someone who carries out the will of another. 39; Hos. Jesus Himself identifies His mission as Suffering Servant by conforming Himself to what is described in the fourth oracle, Is. There was no preparation to consider the possibility that God Himself would come to earth as the Great High Priest and then offer Himself as the sacrifice before rising again as the victorious King. For your Maker is your husband,theLordof hosts is his name. Hopefully youll re-read the four Servant Songs (or the whole book of Isaiah!) It is part of Gods plan for the development of our faith. He experiences suffering and affliction (53:3). It spoke to me. Not so with the suffering Servant. One cannot say enough about the importance of this inspired book. . it found out me! 1The Servant's purpose is God's glory. 52:1353:12. VT 3 (1953):87-92. These texts are found in Isaiah 42:19; 49:16; 50:29; and 52:1353:12. 6. An Honor Christology reflects this significant biblical motif, and frames the portrait ofJesus in more digestible terms for Majority World contexts. A Consideration of Difficulties in the Text of Isaiah 53:11. Bib Trans 17 (1966):27-31. First, the infamous questionWho is the servant, Israel or Jesus? (Isa 54:4-5), Instead of your shame you will receive a doubleportion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. The Ethiopian was baptized, becoming not only the first African Christian, but also signifying the global, multi-ethnic reach of the redemption found in Jesus Christ. 3The Servant is divinely honored. The Servant of the LORD in Isaiah 53. The Evangelical Quarterly 11 (1929):193-206. Whether by attribution or by allusion, this book stands behind much of the New Testament. Nonetheless, the servant has a message of good news: God is going to fulfill his great promises and bring his kingdom over all nations (ch. The Servant's Rather, Christ came to proclaim a kingdom not of this world whose marks were not power, glory and wealth, but of God whose marks are justice, peace and joy that is given by the Holy Spirit (Rm. Not only this, but Gods going to lead the Israelite exiles back to their land: See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. How powerful a motivator it is that glory follows hot on the heels of shame, and is even somehow in the experience of shame. Not only is his suffering vicariousit is voluntary. in act 1, john has an affair with his servant, abigail williams. Third, although the Servant will suffer and be rejected, he will, in the end, be exalted and vindicated. The second stanza begins to trace the development of the theme of suffering, first showing that it raises disbelief and thoughtfulness in the people who observe it. Sheffield: University of Sheffield Press, 1978. There is no peace with God apart from the chastisement that he, the sinless Son of God, bore. Instead, God says hes going to do a new thing, hidden and unknown to you (48:6), and then, like a bolt out of the blue, we hear a new voice speak up in Isaiah 48:16: Behold, the sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit.. It is this that is at odds with the world. Characteristics of the suffering servant according to Isaiah's prophecy He comes to make right man's relationships to God, himself, his neighbor and the world, all of which have been disrupted by the first sin of Adam and Eve. 3 Facts about the Suffering Servant in Isaiah - Honor Shame The Suffering Servant speaks his response to his mission in the Second oracle. The second set of expressions clarify the purpose of this vicarious or substitutionary suffering as redemptive: The chastisement of our peace and by his stripes we are healed. All interpreters of this verse agree that the peace, the healing, is ours in consequence of the chastisement and scourging.