13See, my Servantb shall prosper; he shall be highly exalted. 14-15Yet many shall be amazed when they see him—yes, even far-off foreign nations and their kings; they shall stand dumbfounded, speechless in his presence. For they shall see and understand what they had not been told before. They shall see my Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall he cleansec many nations.[1] (Isaiah 52:13–15)
The Savior Came for
Four Very Specific Purposes
God, Himself is speaking here, and He says that He will send His Servant, the Savior, for four very specific purposes. Through Isaiah, God reveals exactly why He will send the Messiah into the world.
A. God’s
Servant, The Savior, Came to Live Wisely,
Which Means That He Came to Carry Out God’s Will on Earth.
God has a very specific purpose for the world, and His Servant came to make sure that purpose is carried out. The word prudently or wisely, means to be circumspect, intelligent, or to act with wisdom. But it can also mean to prosper or have good success. It is not surprising then that some translations of the Bible say that the Servant will act prudently or wisely, while others say that He will prosper, which means that He will succeed in carrying out God’s will on earth. Combining both thoughts stresses a significant truth: the Savior would act wisely in that He would do exactly what God sent Him to do, and He would accomplish His task. He would obey God perfectly, coming up short in nothing. As Isaiah predicted earlier, “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2).
Christ lived wisely. He obeyed God, did exactly what God wanted done, and accomplished God’s will on earth. Of course, God’s will is for all people to obey Him, to know and worship Him, living righteously as they walk through life. By never failing to obey God, Christ became the Ideal Righteousness—the very embodiment, the representative, the pattern of righteousness. Just like the pattern of any product, many copies are made from the pattern, each being exactly like the original. Because Christ is the Ideal Righteousness, His righteousness can stand for or cover all people who put their trust in Him. In other words, when people place their faith in Christ, God no longer sees them as sinners, but as righteous, covered by the righteousness of Christ.
V “Think not that I am come to destroy the law,
or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Mt. 5:17).
V “He went away again the second time, and
prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I
drink it, thy will be done” (Mt.
26:42).
V “Jesus saith unto them, My meat [food] is to
do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (Jn. 4:34).
V “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I
hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but
the will of the Father which hath sent me” (Jn. 5:30).
V “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide
in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his
love” (Jn. 15:10).
V “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have
finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (Jn. 17:4). “For as by one
man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
many be made righteous” (Ro. 5:19).
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 “For as many as are of the works of the law
are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in
the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the
sight of God, it is evident: for, The
just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth
them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Ga. 3:10–13).
V “But the scripture hath concluded all under
sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the
faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no
longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus” (Ga. 3:22–26).
V “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings”
(He. 2:10).
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. Let
us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need” (He. 4:15–16).
V “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience
by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (He. 5:8–9).
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 “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O
God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second” (He. 10:9, see v. 13).
V “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [conduct, behavior] 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).
B. God’s
Servant, The Savior, Came to Be Highly Exalted (V. 13).
As is seen throughout this Scripture, the Savior suffered and died, but He did not remain dead. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Because Christ lived wisely, obeying His Father in all things, He finished His ministry on earth both completely and perfectly. He achieved the greatest degree of success possible in that He wholly fulfilled and satisfied God’s purpose for Him on earth. He was then raised from the dead, lifted up, and highly exalted by God Himself, both “now and forever” (Jude 25; Re. 5:12).
Ø The Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, has been exalted to sit at the right hand of God.
V “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them,
he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God” (Mk. 16:19).
V “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the
right hand of the power of God” (Lu.
22:69).
V “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we
all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth
this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens:
but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know
assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both
Lord and Christ” (Ac. 2:32–36).
V “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of
Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered
up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go” (Ac. 3:13).
V “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Ac. 5:30–31).
Ø All power and authority have been given to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
V “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Mt. 28:18).
Ø All beings and all things have been put under the Savior’s feet, and He is head over all.
V “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things” (Ep. 1:20–22).
Ø All beings and all things will bow before the Savior and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
V “[Christ] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Ph. 2:6–11).
C. God’s
Servant, The Savior Was Sent to be Crucified, Suffer and Die for Our
Transgressions and Iniquities (V. 14; Also See 53:5).
The human mind staggers at the extreme severity of the sufferings inflicted upon and endured by Him. He was so beaten and bloody, so badly mutilated that His appearance was marred or ruined. And His body was disfigured, unrecognizable. He no longer looked like a man, no longer like a human being. Note that Scripture actually says this: that His form or body was so disfigured it was beyond recognition. People who saw Him were utterly horrified, shocked at His disfigurement. Most likely Scripture does not give a full account of the beatings and abuse inflicted upon the Savior. But what is shared causes the believer to cringe and feel sick at heart. The believer knows that the Lord Jesus Christ bore all these sufferings for his sins, as well as for the sins of the entire human race.
I. When Christ stood trial before the High Priest Caiaphas, the Jews spat in His face and beat Him with their fists and the palms of their hands.
V “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted
him; and others smote him with the
palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that
smote thee?” (Mt. 26:67–68).
V “And some began to spit on him, and to cover
his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants
did strike him with the palms of their hands” (Mk. 14:65).
V “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him” (Lu. 22:63–65).
II. Pilate had Christ scourged. By law, the Jews limited scourging to no more than 40 lashes, but the Romans had no such limitation. The extreme mockery and abuse painted by Scripture seem to indicate that Pilate had Him lashed many more times in order to please the Jews.
V “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and
when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him
to be crucified” (Mt. 27:26).
V “And so
Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and
delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him,
to be crucified” (Mk. 15:15).
V “Then Pilate, therefore, took Jesus, and scourged him” (Jn. 19:1).
III. When Christ was turned over to the Roman soldiers, they not only scourged Him, but they also twisted together a crown of thorns and clamped it down on His head. The soldiers then beat Him with their fists, probably until He collapsed.
V “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands” (Jn. 19:2–3).
IV. Shockingly, the Roman soldiers even plucked off some, if not all, of His beard.
V “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Is. 50:6).
V. In His sufferings Christ was bearing sin for the human race. As Christ hung on the cross, He actually became “sin for us” (2 Co. 5:21). And in becoming sin and dying, Christ was experiencing all that was contrary to the nature of God, which is life and holiness. Thus, Christ had to face the very judgment of God against Him as He bore the sins of the world. The spiritual suffering that took place far exceeded the physical suffering. God Himself was forsaking His own Son, executing His holy judgment against the sins that Christ was bearing on behalf of the human race. (Mt. 27:46–49) Christ undoubtedly sensed very deeply the curse of separation from God that sin causes. We should always remember that sin is the only thing that causes God to separate Himself from anyone. And if He separated Himself from Christ due to the sins He bore for mankind, He will certainly separate Himself from any sinner.
V “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt.
27:46).
V “And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a
loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted,
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mk. 15:34).
V “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Is. 59:2).
D. God’s
Servant, The Savior, Came to Sprinkle (Cleanse) and Redeem Many People in
Many Nations (V. 15).
Sprinkling
refers to the sacrificial blood of animals that had to be shed and sprinkled on
the altar for forgiveness of sins (Le. 1:1–17; esp. vv. 5, 11, 15 also see Le. 3:2,
8, 13; 4:6, 16–17, 25, 30, 34; 5:9). Before Christ came, the blood of the
sacrificial animals brought atonement and reconciliation between the
worshippers and God. But now, since the coming of Christ, atonement for sin is
secured through the shedding of His blood. And through His blood, many people
in many nations are being redeemed, cleansed from their sins.
Although
Christ would be rejected and crucified by the people of His day, once His
mission and the gospel were understood, kings and citizens alike would stand
speechless before Him. While He walked upon earth, most people would consider
the Savior insignificant and unimportant. But after His death and resurrection,
many would stand in stark amazement, stunned at how wrong the world had been to
reject Him. In fact, their mouths would be shut, dumbfounded because Christ’s
coming had been misinterpreted so badly. As a result, many would hear the
gospel, understand it, and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. The apostle
Paul clearly said that this prophecy refers to the preaching of Christ to the
people of the world. Warren W. Wiersbe makes an excellent statement that is
well worth quoting:
“Many people have been tortured and killed in an inhumane way but knowing about their suffering does not touch our conscience, though it might arouse our sympathy. Our Lord’s sufferings and death were different because they involved everybody in the world. The Gospel message is not “Christ died,” for that is only a fact in history, like “Napoleon died.” The Gospel message is that “Christ died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1–4). You and I are as guilty of Christ’s death as Annas, Caiaphas, Herod Antipas, and Pilate.”3
V “For this is my blood of the New Testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28).
V “But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Ro. 5:8–9).
V “That I should be the minister of Jesus
Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of
the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have
therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which
pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which
Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that
from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the
gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ
was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is
written [in Isaiah], To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see, and they
that have not heard shall understand” (Ro. 15:16–21).
V “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (He. 9:14).
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 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:7–9).
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).[2]
We Should Always Remember That Sin Is the Only Thing
That Causes God to Separate Himself from Anyone. And If He Separated Himself from
Christ Due to The Sins He Bore for Mankind, He Will Certainly Separate Himself from
Any Sinner.
b 52:13
my Servant. The Servant of the
Lord, as the term is used here, is the Messiah, our Lord Jesus. This was the
interpretation of this passage by Christ himself, the writers of the New
Testament, and orthodox Christianity ever since.
c 52:15
cleanse, or “startle.” The
meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain.
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
3 Warren W. Wiersbe. Be Comforted, p. 135.
[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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