Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm - Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
Session Twenty-three: The Suffering Servant
1) GATHERING and OPENING PRAYER
2) READ / LISTEN to Isaiah 52:1 – 53:12
a) What are your initial impressions? Questions? Notable differences in translations?
3) IN A NUTSHELL:
These two chapters bring to a climax the teaching about God’s Servant. For a third time God calls Jerusalem to wake up and be ready for His redemption. No longer will God’s name be blasphemed by peoples and nations. Instead, they will know that He is the only One who can foretell historical events. The messengers of good news, peace, and salvation are praised as they come to proclaim God’s victory over the nations. God calls Israel to leave exile and return home under His protection.
Then God introduces anew His servant Who was so scarred and ugly that His appearance was appalling. God promises to exalt Him. The insignificant, rejected Servant knew human suffering and sorrow. But His suffering had purpose, because He bore the punishment for our sins to bring us peace. Every one of us has strayed like sheep, but God put our punishment on Him. The Servant endured it all without complaint. He endured the death penalty even though He was innocent. All of this fulfilled God’s purpose, making the Servant an offering to cover our guilt. Death and burial are not the end of the story. The Servant will live anew and receive a magnificent portion from God. The reason for this is because He bore the sins of many and made intercession for transgressors.
Isaiah 52 and 53 contains what has to be the scripture that is the easiest application anywhere to the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth. No other person has arisen to lay claim to being a Messiah who would suffer for mankind. Chapter 53 is cited by all Jew and Gentiles alike as a chapter that must be fulfilled by the Messiah.
4) THE SUFFERING SERVANT SAVES: (52:1-12)
a) (vv. 1-3) The Assurance of Grace.
b) (vv. 4-6) The Assurance of Power.
c) (vv. 7-10) The Call to Praise. (see Romans 10:11-17)
d) (vv. 11-12) The priests encouraged to leave and prepare. (see Ezra 1:2-11)
5) ISAIAH’S PROPHESIES: (52:13-53:12)
a) John 12:37-41; Acts 8:26-40; Philippians 2:5-11
b) The assessment of the Messiah and how he is to be received by his own people actually begins in verse 52:13. It contains the following evaluations and incidents which are the very contradictions that caused his own people to reject Jesus. Only Jesus of Nazareth has laid claim to every one of these prophetic qualifications. No other person has ever tried to meet the contradictions of disgrace and glory fused in these messianic predictions.
1. He is to be a person of great importance. 52:13
2. He will be abused to the point of extreme physical damage. 52:14
3. Kings of foreign nations will give attention to this news with astonishment. 52:15
4. But his own people, in general, will not believe nor recognize him. 53:1
5. Nothing noteworthy about his personality nor appearance will stand out. 53:2
6: He will know the pain of rejection. 53:3
7. His punishment is to be considered as God's justice. 53:4
8. He is not to suffer for himself but to heal us with his wounds 53:5
9. Our sins are to be laid on him by God. 53:6
10. He is to suffer and offer no defense. 53:7
11. He is to be imprisoned and sent to death from trial. 53:8
12. During the trial he is to be beaten for the nation's sin. 53:8
13. Even though innocent he is to die among the wicked. 53:9
14. He is to be given a grave among the wicked and the rich. 53:9
15. God's will is that he see his offspring when his life is made a sin offering. 53:10
16. God is pleased and his life is prolonged by his death. 53:10
17. After the travail and anguish he is to see himself as completed. 53:11
18. Many will be saved by the knowledge of his righteous act. 53:11
19: He will bare his soul to death and thereby be insured a place of historical greatness. 53:12
20. Wealth will be his because he faced death as a sinner bearing the sins of sinners and interceding for them. 53:12
6) APPLICATION:
a) God’s salvation brings joy into the hearts of every believer. (Psalm 95:1-3)
b) Thank God for sending the Suffering Servant to die for your sins. (1st Peter 2:24-25)
c) Commit to Take up your Cross daily and follow Jesus. (Mark 8:34-35)
7) WRAP UP and CLOSE IN PRAYER
NEXT LESSON:
Covenant of Comfort and Compassion - Read Isaiah 54:1 – 55:13 to prepare.
