The Savior Suffered
Willingly but Unjustly: Was the Sinless Son of God
7He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He never said a word. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He stood silent before the ones condemning Him. 8From prison and trial, they led Him away to His death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that He was dying for—that He was suffering their punishment? 9He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave; but He had done no wrong and had never spoken an evil word.[1] (Isaiah53:7–9)
God’s Servant, The Savior, Suffered Unjustly, But
Willingly.
As the sinless
Son of God, Christ did not have to suffer. He had the foreknowledge
(omniscience) and the power (omnipotence) to avoid the cross and all that led
up to it. Yet He undertook the mission of His own free will, not only out of
obedience to God the Father but also out of love for the human race. He died
for the sins of the world, to save mankind from the penalty of sin, which is
death, eternal separation from God. Christ’s selflessness and humility are now emphasized by stressing three
facts: although He was the sinless Son of God …
·
He willingly suffered harsh treatment (v. 7)
·
He willingly endured an illegal arrest, trial,
and execution (v. 8)
· He willingly subjected to being buried with the wicked (v. 9)
A. Christ
Silently Endured Brutal Treatment (V. 7).
Throughout His
life, Christ was oppressed, afflicted, and treated cruelly by unbelievers. But
He never opened His mouth to take vengeance or to react violently toward His
oppressors. Even when they led Him like a lamb to the slaughter as sacrifices
for the people’s sins, He willingly went to the cross to die for the sins of
the human race. Just as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so Christ never
opened His mouth to object or retaliate against those who were mistreating Him.
Note this fact: just as in the Old Testament unblemished lambs were led
to slaughter, so Christ is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world (Jn. 1:29, 36; 1 Co. 5:7; Re. 5:6, 12; 13:8). Remember that a
lamb was sacrificed for each Jewish household at Passover (Ex. 12:1–13).
Christ is the Passover Lamb who died for the sins of the whole world (Jn.
1:29). Again, as a sheep is silent before her shearers, Christ was silent
as He endured the cruel punishment of His enemies. He was silent …
·
before Caiaphas (Mt. 26:62–63)
·
before the chief priest and elders (Mt. 27:12)
·
before Pilate (Mt. 27:14; Jn. 19:9)
·
before Herod Antipas (Lu. 23:9)
· before the soldiers who mocked, beat, and crucified Him (1 Pe. 2:21–23).
B. Christ
Willingly Suffered an Illegal Arrest, Trial, And Execution (V. 8).
After being
unjustly seized in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ was illegally tried before
all the officials mentioned above. False witnesses even testified against Him (Mt.
26:60–61). He was then unjustly executed. But note: Christ’s death
was misunderstood just as His life and ministry had been. When the enemies cut
Him off from the land of the living and put Him to death, they thought they
were through with Him and His claim to be the Savior, the Son of the living
God. But they completely misunderstood His death. Christ was being put to death
for the transgressions of the entire human race. He was being stricken by God Himself for those sins. It was for
that purpose that He knowingly and voluntarily surrendered Himself to God.
Note also the statements that Christ “was cut off” and “for … my people He was stricken.” The verbs are in the passive voice, which indicates actions that were taken by God Himself. It was God who cut Christ off, God who put Him to death for the sins of the people. As the New Testament says, “God made Him … to be sin for us” (2 Co. 5:21).7
C. Christ
Willingly Suffered a Burial with The Wicked, Even Though He Was the Sinless Son
of God (V. 9).
No act of
violence was ever committed by Christ, and no word of deceit ever flowed from
His mouth. He was, as Scripture declares time and again, without sin.
Nevertheless, He suffered the horrific penalty for sin, which is death.
Consequently, He was buried with the wicked, right along with mere men, sinners
of the earth just like you and me.
The actual burial of Jesus Christ is important, for it proves that He did indeed die (1 Co. 15:1–5). Remember that the Roman authorities released Christ’s body to Joseph and Nicodemus. They never would have released His body to them unless Christ was truly dead (Jn. 19:38–42; Mk. 15:42–47).
Thought 1. Christ’s Death Was Voluntary. He
Willingly Died for The Sins of People That They Might Become Acceptable to God.
V “Greater love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).
V “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might
deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our
Father” (Ga. 1:4).
V “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved
us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
savour” (Ep. 5:2).
V “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works” (Tit. 2:14).
V “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down our
lives for the brethren” (1 Jn.
3:16).
V “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Re. 1:5).
Thought 2. Jesus Christ Is the Sinless Son of
God.
V “And one of the malefactors which were hanged
railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other
answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the
same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily
I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lu. 23:39–43).
V “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I
say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” (Jn. 8:46).
V “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him” (2
Co. 5:21).
V “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is
for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and
hated iniquity; therefore God, even
thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (He. 1:8–9).
V “For we have not an high priest which cannot
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin” (He. 4:15).
V “Wherefore he is able also to save them to
the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than the heavens” (He.
7:25–26).
V “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pe. 1:18–19).
V “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Pe. 2:22–24).[2]
In the Old Testament, people offered animals as sacrifices for their sins. Here, the sinless servant of the Lord offers himself for our sins. He is the Lamb (53:7) offered for the sins of all people (John 1:29; Revelation 5:6–14). The Messiah suffered for our sake, bearing our sins to make us acceptable to God. What can we say to such love? How will we respond to him?[3]
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters
36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible.
Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
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