1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,760 You are listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:06,760 –> 00:00:15,020 To contact us call us at 1 877 OPEN 365 or visit our website www.openthebible.org 3 00:00:15,020 –> 00:00:19,799 Let’s get to the message, here is Pastor Colin. 4 00:00:19,799 –> 00:00:23,799 Please open your Bible at Isaiah chapter 53. 5 00:00:23,799 –> 00:00:26,160 We’re looking today at verse 7. 6 00:00:26,160 –> 00:00:34,119 This is the last week in our Presence series on Isaiah and chapter 53 we will return God 7 00:00:34,119 –> 00:00:41,240 willing to this marvelous chapter sometime in the fall. 8 00:00:41,240 –> 00:00:48,619 Now, over these last weeks, we have seen that God will bring about a great restoration of 9 00:00:48,619 –> 00:00:55,000 everything that was lost through the entrance of sin into the world. 10 00:00:55,040 –> 00:01:01,180 Jesus bore our griefs and he carried our sorrows, and he did that so that we might 11 00:01:01,180 –> 00:01:08,199 live in a world of peace and love and joy, where grief and sorrow will be no more. 12 00:01:08,900 –> 00:01:15,739 We saw that Jesus purchased this restoration and he did it by means of substitution. 13 00:01:15,739 –> 00:01:23,400 He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our inequities, 14 00:01:23,459 –> 00:01:30,639 And Jesus endured all of this, because our sins were laid on him. 15 00:01:31,500 –> 00:01:37,639 Now this is what happened at the cross from the perspective of God the Father. 16 00:01:37,639 –> 00:01:41,720 What was God the Father doing when Jesus went to the cross? 17 00:01:41,720 –> 00:01:46,279 Well Isaiah tells us right here in verse 6 that we looked at last time, 18 00:01:46,300 –> 00:01:53,180 The Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all 19 00:01:53,180 –> 00:01:56,180 and we saw this is the language of transfer, 20 00:01:56,180 –> 00:02:02,099 this is God taking our sins from one place and putting them in another. 21 00:02:02,099 –> 00:02:05,839 He gathered together all of our transgressions, all of our sins, 22 00:02:05,839 –> 00:02:08,520 all of our iniquities, what did he do with them? 23 00:02:08,520 –> 00:02:14,699 He laid them on his own Son, Jesus Christ. 24 00:02:14,699 –> 00:02:21,100 God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us 25 00:02:21,100 –> 00:02:27,460 so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 26 00:02:27,460 –> 00:02:31,279 Jesus was our substitute. 27 00:02:31,279 –> 00:02:36,880 He stood in our place, our sins were imputed to him, 28 00:02:36,880 –> 00:02:41,360 they were laid on him, they were counted as his 29 00:02:41,360 –> 00:02:42,360 companions. 30 00:02:42,360 –> 00:02:43,979 And the sentence that would have been on us 31 00:02:43,979 –> 00:02:48,399 well it was on him and this is how we have peace with God 32 00:02:48,399 –> 00:02:55,740 upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. 33 00:02:55,740 –> 00:02:59,139 So we’ve been learning together that Jesus purchased 34 00:02:59,139 –> 00:03:04,479 our restoration and he did this by means of substitution 35 00:03:04,600 –> 00:03:06,039 and imputation. 36 00:03:07,759 –> 00:03:12,800 Now every doctrine in the Christian faith has come 37 00:03:12,800 –> 00:03:17,479 under attack and this will continue until Jesus Christ 38 00:03:17,479 –> 00:03:19,919 himself puts a stop to it when he returns 39 00:03:19,919 –> 00:03:21,679 in power and in glory. 40 00:03:22,820 –> 00:03:25,440 And the truth that we’ve been focusing on from Isaiah 41 00:03:25,440 –> 00:03:29,440 chapter 53 over these last weeks goes to the very centre 42 00:03:29,440 –> 00:03:33,080 and heart of the Gospel itself and so it should not come 43 00:03:33,100 –> 00:03:37,880 to us as any surprise at all that this doctrine has been 44 00:03:37,880 –> 00:03:41,759 a focus of sustained attack. 45 00:03:42,839 –> 00:03:45,559 Now the assault on this truth that we’ve been looking 46 00:03:45,559 –> 00:03:50,559 at from the Bible really comes in three successive waves. 47 00:03:50,679 –> 00:03:54,039 The first wave of the assault is to deny 48 00:03:54,039 –> 00:03:56,199 the severity of sin. 49 00:03:57,360 –> 00:03:59,679 See the biblical doctrine of sin tells us 50 00:03:59,679 –> 00:04:03,320 that there is something seriously wrong with us, 51 00:04:04,360 –> 00:04:08,600 our transgressions, our iniquities, 52 00:04:09,479 –> 00:04:13,639 our defiance, our twistedness. 53 00:04:14,600 –> 00:04:17,279 But you see this doesn’t fit well 54 00:04:17,279 –> 00:04:20,579 with a world of affirmation. 55 00:04:20,579 –> 00:04:25,119 So it’s very tempting simply to ignore the entrance 56 00:04:25,179 –> 00:04:29,799 of sin into the world and to replace original sin 57 00:04:29,799 –> 00:04:32,920 with original goodness. 58 00:04:32,920 –> 00:04:34,940 So you might hear someone say, 59 00:04:34,940 –> 00:04:38,260 well, the Bible says that God made everything good. 60 00:04:39,140 –> 00:04:41,160 I mean, sure, none of us are perfect, 61 00:04:41,160 –> 00:04:44,399 but is it not the case that at heart 62 00:04:44,399 –> 00:04:46,299 we are essentially good? 63 00:04:47,579 –> 00:04:51,559 And then what follows in the second wave of assault 64 00:04:51,600 –> 00:04:55,239 on this great truth that we’re looking at in the Bible 65 00:04:55,239 –> 00:04:59,679 is a denial of the reality of judgment. 66 00:05:00,540 –> 00:05:04,000 Jesus’ enduring punishment in our place, 67 00:05:04,000 –> 00:05:09,000 well, that tells us very clearly that there is a judgment. 68 00:05:09,100 –> 00:05:14,100 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. 69 00:05:15,480 –> 00:05:20,239 But you see, that points to the very disturbing reality 70 00:05:20,260 –> 00:05:24,579 that there’s a hell as well as a heaven. 71 00:05:24,579 –> 00:05:27,980 And the people who reject the Lord Jesus Christ 72 00:05:27,980 –> 00:05:29,320 will go there. 73 00:05:30,559 –> 00:05:33,279 So you see, it’s very tempting then 74 00:05:33,279 –> 00:05:36,720 to simply ignore all that the Bible says about punishment 75 00:05:36,720 –> 00:05:41,720 and then replace God’s judgment with God’s acceptance. 76 00:05:42,760 –> 00:05:44,839 So you might hear someone say, 77 00:05:44,839 –> 00:05:48,079 well, doesn’t the Bible say that God is love? 78 00:05:48,079 –> 00:05:50,480 And sure, we all need some sorting out 79 00:05:50,480 –> 00:05:53,399 but is it not the case that God in the end 80 00:05:53,399 –> 00:05:55,500 will welcome us all into his heaven? 81 00:05:57,079 –> 00:06:01,359 And then after denying the severity of sin 82 00:06:01,359 –> 00:06:04,040 and after denying the reality of judgment, 83 00:06:04,040 –> 00:06:07,279 the third wave in this assault 84 00:06:07,279 –> 00:06:10,720 is to deny substitution itself. 85 00:06:12,239 –> 00:06:15,799 And you may hear people say something like this. 86 00:06:15,799 –> 00:06:20,799 Well, this idea of Jesus being our substitute, 87 00:06:21,160 –> 00:06:23,339 is it not simply a theory? 88 00:06:24,239 –> 00:06:26,040 Him paying the penalty. 89 00:06:26,899 –> 00:06:29,399 Him paying the price. 90 00:06:29,399 –> 00:06:32,679 Him becoming the substitute and bearing our sins. 91 00:06:32,679 –> 00:06:36,059 That’s just one way of thinking about the cross 92 00:06:36,059 –> 00:06:38,239 and since it relates to sin and punishment 93 00:06:38,239 –> 00:06:39,760 in which we no longer believe, 94 00:06:39,760 –> 00:06:41,440 it’s a way of thinking about the cross 95 00:06:41,440 –> 00:06:44,320 in which we can now easily discard. 96 00:06:46,579 –> 00:06:50,100 But I want you to take in what Isaiah, 97 00:06:50,100 –> 00:06:52,679 the prophet actually says. 98 00:06:54,299 –> 00:06:59,299 He was pierced for our transgressions. 99 00:07:01,160 –> 00:07:06,160 He was crushed and it was for our inequities. 100 00:07:07,720 –> 00:07:11,640 Friends, that is substitution. 101 00:07:12,640 –> 00:07:16,140 And speaking under the direct inspiration 102 00:07:16,140 –> 00:07:18,040 of the Holy Spirit of God, 103 00:07:18,040 –> 00:07:23,040 Isaiah states it not as a theory, but as a fact. 104 00:07:23,959 –> 00:07:28,440 And when Isaiah says the Lord has laid on him 105 00:07:28,440 –> 00:07:30,619 the inequity of us all, 106 00:07:30,619 –> 00:07:34,679 he’s not speculating about what might happen at the cross. 107 00:07:34,679 –> 00:07:37,239 He’s declaring under the direct inspiration 108 00:07:37,239 –> 00:07:40,279 of the Holy Spirit what God has actually done. 109 00:07:42,359 –> 00:07:45,239 And when Isaiah speaks about the chastisement 110 00:07:46,700 –> 00:07:50,420 or the punishment that was upon Jesus, 111 00:07:50,420 –> 00:07:53,119 he is not announcing any theory. 112 00:07:54,160 –> 00:07:58,160 He is describing the brutal reality 113 00:07:58,160 –> 00:08:02,440 of what actually happened at the cross. 114 00:08:02,440 –> 00:08:07,440 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. 115 00:08:08,239 –> 00:08:09,359 Peace. 116 00:08:11,040 –> 00:08:14,679 Now friends, it is certainly possible 117 00:08:14,679 –> 00:08:19,679 for people to say that they don’t believe what Isaiah says. 118 00:08:20,640 –> 00:08:22,700 I mean, that would hardly be surprising 119 00:08:22,700 –> 00:08:24,559 because if you look back to verse one, 120 00:08:24,559 –> 00:08:26,619 the prophet himself begins the chapter 121 00:08:26,619 –> 00:08:30,440 by saying who has believed our message. 122 00:08:30,440 –> 00:08:33,280 No surprise if people don’t believe this. 123 00:08:34,280 –> 00:08:38,479 But the plain and obvious message of Isaiah 124 00:08:38,479 –> 00:08:43,320 is that Jesus became our substitute. 125 00:08:44,239 –> 00:08:46,380 He stood in our place. 126 00:08:47,260 –> 00:08:50,640 Our sins really were laid on Him 127 00:08:51,739 –> 00:08:54,539 and we have peace with God 128 00:08:54,539 –> 00:08:59,539 because the punishment that was due to us was on him. 129 00:08:59,919 –> 00:09:05,299 Now today we come to verse seven. 130 00:09:06,559 –> 00:09:11,559 He was oppressed and he was afflicted. 131 00:09:12,619 –> 00:09:16,239 Yet, he opened not his mouth. 132 00:09:16,239 –> 00:09:18,840 Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter 133 00:09:18,840 –> 00:09:22,580 and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent 134 00:09:22,580 –> 00:09:27,280 so he opened not his mouth. 135 00:09:27,359 –> 00:09:31,900 Now, very clearly, what this verse is telling us 136 00:09:31,900 –> 00:09:34,419 is that when Jesus went to the cross 137 00:09:34,419 –> 00:09:38,320 he did not object, he did not complain. 138 00:09:39,299 –> 00:09:42,280 Jesus knew that what he suffered 139 00:09:42,280 –> 00:09:45,619 was in the will of the Father for him 140 00:09:45,619 –> 00:09:49,000 and his own will was completely aligned 141 00:09:49,000 –> 00:09:51,940 with the will of his Father. 142 00:09:51,940 –> 00:09:53,900 You remember in the Garden of Gethsemane 143 00:09:53,900 –> 00:09:55,979 how Jesus wrestled with us and then 144 00:09:56,039 –> 00:10:01,039 he prayed, not my will but yours be done. 145 00:10:01,539 –> 00:10:05,280 Shall I not drink the cup that the Father 146 00:10:05,280 –> 00:10:07,080 has given to me? 147 00:10:07,080 –> 00:10:09,820 You remember that when Jesus was arrested 148 00:10:09,820 –> 00:10:12,739 a short time later in that Garden of Gethsemane 149 00:10:12,739 –> 00:10:15,739 Peter was ready to resist, he drew his sword 150 00:10:16,719 –> 00:10:18,900 and Jesus said to him, put your sword 151 00:10:18,900 –> 00:10:21,460 back in its place for all who take the sword 152 00:10:21,460 –> 00:10:23,739 will perish by the sword and then 153 00:10:23,780 –> 00:10:26,599 Jesus said, do you think that I cannot 154 00:10:26,599 –> 00:10:30,000 appeal to my Father and he will at once 155 00:10:31,679 –> 00:10:35,559 send me more than 12 legions of angels? 156 00:10:38,539 –> 00:10:40,299 Well you see, Jesus could have stopped 157 00:10:40,299 –> 00:10:42,599 the process of his arrest, his trial 158 00:10:42,599 –> 00:10:45,280 and his crucifixion at any moment 159 00:10:45,280 –> 00:10:46,979 if he chose to do so. 160 00:10:48,659 –> 00:10:50,659 But he chose not to do that. 161 00:10:50,659 –> 00:10:51,500 Why? 162 00:10:52,479 –> 00:10:55,739 Because in all that Jesus suffered, 163 00:10:55,739 –> 00:10:58,320 his will was completely aligned 164 00:10:59,880 –> 00:11:02,200 with the will of his Father. 165 00:11:04,599 –> 00:11:07,020 And friends, that is the very clear point 166 00:11:07,020 –> 00:11:08,559 of this verse. 167 00:11:08,559 –> 00:11:11,979 Jesus was oppressed and he was afflicted. 168 00:11:13,559 –> 00:11:17,859 He was oppressed in his unwarranted arrest, 169 00:11:18,140 –> 00:11:22,859 he was afflicted in a supposedly legal process 170 00:11:22,859 –> 00:11:26,080 that was a flagrant abuse of power. 171 00:11:26,080 –> 00:11:29,919 And yet, Isaiah says, he opened not his mouth. 172 00:11:33,539 –> 00:11:36,460 When false witnesses testified against Jesus 173 00:11:36,460 –> 00:11:39,000 in the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, 174 00:11:39,000 –> 00:11:41,919 Mark tells us Jesus remained silent 175 00:11:43,320 –> 00:11:45,159 and he made no answer. 176 00:11:46,140 –> 00:11:49,559 Then when Jesus was accused before Pontius Pilate, 177 00:11:49,559 –> 00:11:52,479 Matthew tells us he gave no answer. 178 00:11:54,380 –> 00:11:57,440 Pilate was amazed, said to Jesus, 179 00:11:57,440 –> 00:12:00,940 do you not hear how many things they testify against you? 180 00:12:00,940 –> 00:12:05,119 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, 181 00:12:06,280 –> 00:12:09,299 so that the governor was greatly amazed. 182 00:12:09,299 –> 00:12:11,940 You can see Pilate looking at Jesus 183 00:12:11,940 –> 00:12:13,760 and he can’t make any sense of it. 184 00:12:13,760 –> 00:12:17,919 No one remains silent against accusations like these. 185 00:12:20,719 –> 00:12:23,640 Then Pilate sent Jesus off to Herod 186 00:12:24,500 –> 00:12:26,080 and it was exactly the same. 187 00:12:26,080 –> 00:12:29,719 Herod asked Jesus many, many questions 188 00:12:29,719 –> 00:12:33,299 and Luke records, but Jesus made no answer. 189 00:12:37,799 –> 00:12:40,979 He was oppressed and he was afflicted. 190 00:12:44,000 –> 00:12:46,340 Yet he opened not his mouth 191 00:12:47,580 –> 00:12:50,460 like a lamb that is led to a slaughter 192 00:12:50,460 –> 00:12:54,840 and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, 193 00:12:54,840 –> 00:12:57,000 so he opened not his mouth. 194 00:12:59,719 –> 00:13:02,559 Now notice that Isaiah says twice, 195 00:13:04,640 –> 00:13:06,640 he opened not his mouth. 196 00:13:09,659 –> 00:13:12,840 Now we know that Jesus spoke seven times 197 00:13:14,559 –> 00:13:15,799 from the cross. 198 00:13:17,260 –> 00:13:20,400 We know that Jesus told Pontius Pilate, 199 00:13:20,400 –> 00:13:23,299 my kingdom is not of this world. 200 00:13:23,299 –> 00:13:25,520 He said I’ve come into this world 201 00:13:25,520 –> 00:13:27,979 to bear witness to the truth 202 00:13:27,979 –> 00:13:32,520 and everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. 203 00:13:32,520 –> 00:13:34,859 So Isaiah is not saying here 204 00:13:35,719 –> 00:13:38,440 that Jesus never spoke during his trial 205 00:13:38,440 –> 00:13:42,460 or that he never spoke during his crucifixion. 206 00:13:42,599 –> 00:13:44,500 The point is 207 00:13:44,500 –> 00:13:47,159 that Jesus said and did nothing 208 00:13:48,099 –> 00:13:52,140 that would save him from going to the cross 209 00:13:52,140 –> 00:13:53,799 and why was this? 210 00:13:53,799 –> 00:13:55,119 Because 211 00:13:55,119 –> 00:13:57,299 the will of Jesus 212 00:13:57,299 –> 00:13:59,140 was completely aligned 213 00:14:00,200 –> 00:14:01,960 with the will of his father. 214 00:14:01,960 –> 00:14:04,799 Shall I not drink the cup 215 00:14:04,799 –> 00:14:06,760 that the father 216 00:14:06,760 –> 00:14:08,400 has given 217 00:14:08,400 –> 00:14:10,260 to me? 218 00:14:10,299 –> 00:14:12,919 Suffering is in the will of my father 219 00:14:12,919 –> 00:14:14,539 for me. 220 00:14:14,539 –> 00:14:16,619 It is part of his purpose. 221 00:14:17,739 –> 00:14:19,380 He will use it to bring about 222 00:14:19,380 –> 00:14:21,179 my own ultimate good 223 00:14:22,039 –> 00:14:24,140 and the blessing of all who will 224 00:14:24,140 –> 00:14:25,760 believe in me 225 00:14:25,760 –> 00:14:28,000 and so I will not complain. 226 00:14:29,400 –> 00:14:30,820 I will not object. 227 00:14:32,260 –> 00:14:33,679 I will not fight. 228 00:14:35,320 –> 00:14:37,440 I will not resist. 229 00:14:37,440 –> 00:14:39,919 Like a sheep that before its shearers 230 00:14:39,960 –> 00:14:41,440 silence so 231 00:14:41,440 –> 00:14:42,320 he 232 00:14:42,320 –> 00:14:43,159 opened 233 00:14:43,159 –> 00:14:44,099 not 234 00:14:45,039 –> 00:14:45,880 his mouth. 235 00:14:48,280 –> 00:14:50,359 Now friends, I want to apply 236 00:14:50,359 –> 00:14:52,760 this very important verse 237 00:14:52,760 –> 00:14:54,780 of scripture to us in 238 00:14:54,780 –> 00:14:56,840 three ways today. 239 00:14:56,840 –> 00:14:58,919 The first is, I want us to see that 240 00:14:58,919 –> 00:15:01,619 the submission of Jesus 241 00:15:01,619 –> 00:15:03,520 that is the heart of this verse 242 00:15:04,559 –> 00:15:06,739 answers a pressing question. 243 00:15:07,679 –> 00:15:09,659 I want us to see that the submission 244 00:15:09,659 –> 00:15:12,039 of Jesus models 245 00:15:12,039 –> 00:15:13,380 a distinct calling. 246 00:15:14,400 –> 00:15:16,340 And I want us to see that the submission 247 00:15:16,340 –> 00:15:18,539 of Jesus opens 248 00:15:18,539 –> 00:15:21,659 a compelling prospect. 249 00:15:21,659 –> 00:15:22,780 First then, 250 00:15:22,780 –> 00:15:24,719 the submission of Jesus 251 00:15:24,719 –> 00:15:26,179 answers 252 00:15:26,179 –> 00:15:28,239 a pressing question. 253 00:15:29,239 –> 00:15:31,260 Now Isaiah says in verse five, 254 00:15:31,260 –> 00:15:34,340 Jesus was pierced for our transgressions 255 00:15:34,340 –> 00:15:37,140 and crushed for our iniquities. 256 00:15:37,140 –> 00:15:39,179 He tells us in verse six 257 00:15:39,219 –> 00:15:40,479 that the Lord 258 00:15:40,479 –> 00:15:42,940 laid on him 259 00:15:42,940 –> 00:15:45,760 the iniquity of us all. 260 00:15:47,419 –> 00:15:48,880 Now someone will say, 261 00:15:48,880 –> 00:15:51,520 and you may have heard this charge being made. 262 00:15:52,940 –> 00:15:54,700 Are you telling me 263 00:15:55,799 –> 00:15:58,200 that God the Father 264 00:15:58,200 –> 00:16:01,020 punished his dearly loved son Jesus 265 00:16:01,020 –> 00:16:03,159 for sins he did not commit? 266 00:16:04,619 –> 00:16:07,059 Isn’t that the most grotesque 267 00:16:07,159 –> 00:16:09,280 perversion of justice? 268 00:16:10,380 –> 00:16:13,299 What kind of father 269 00:16:13,299 –> 00:16:15,400 would do this 270 00:16:15,400 –> 00:16:16,599 to his own son? 271 00:16:18,619 –> 00:16:21,239 And you may have heard this question raised 272 00:16:21,239 –> 00:16:25,179 in regard, of course, to the story of Abraham and Isaac. 273 00:16:25,179 –> 00:16:27,719 You remember the story of how father and son 274 00:16:27,719 –> 00:16:31,140 went up the mountain and Abraham laid his son Isaac 275 00:16:31,140 –> 00:16:31,979 on the altar. 276 00:16:31,979 –> 00:16:36,419 He was ready to offer his son as a sacrifice to God. 277 00:16:36,419 –> 00:16:40,520 What kind of father would do that to his son? 278 00:16:42,260 –> 00:16:45,979 It’s a really important question. 279 00:16:48,559 –> 00:16:52,020 And I’ve been greatly helped on this 280 00:16:52,020 –> 00:16:56,479 by AW Pink who points out 281 00:16:56,479 –> 00:17:01,080 that Isaac would have been a young man 282 00:17:01,080 –> 00:17:03,799 when he climbed the mountain with his father, Abraham. 283 00:17:04,800 –> 00:17:08,939 So please try and forget any artistic impressions 284 00:17:08,939 –> 00:17:11,819 that you may have seen of a young child 285 00:17:11,819 –> 00:17:14,839 lying helplessly strapped onto an altar. 286 00:17:16,380 –> 00:17:21,000 Isaac was a man in the prime of life 287 00:17:21,000 –> 00:17:25,319 and he could easily have overpowered old Abraham 288 00:17:25,319 –> 00:17:28,020 who was more than a hundred years old at this time. 289 00:17:30,400 –> 00:17:32,000 But Isaac didn’t do that. 290 00:17:32,000 –> 00:17:32,839 Why? 291 00:17:33,839 –> 00:17:38,839 Because Isaac as a mature man, probably in his 30s 292 00:17:39,500 –> 00:17:44,339 was ready to lay down his own life. 293 00:17:46,020 –> 00:17:49,280 And what you have in that remarkable and disturbing story 294 00:17:49,280 –> 00:17:51,560 in Genesis and Chapter 22 295 00:17:51,560 –> 00:17:56,560 is the story of a father who is willing to give up his son 296 00:17:58,760 –> 00:18:03,760 and a son who is willing to lay down his own life 297 00:18:03,760 –> 00:18:08,459 and they’re at one in doing what is needed 298 00:18:09,660 –> 00:18:11,239 to bring blessing to the world. 299 00:18:12,719 –> 00:18:15,959 Now, of course, God did not allow Abraham 300 00:18:15,959 –> 00:18:17,920 to give up his own son, 301 00:18:19,640 –> 00:18:24,640 but God did what Abraham and Isaac could only illustrate. 302 00:18:26,500 –> 00:18:31,500 God, the Father, gave up his dearly loved son for us. 303 00:18:34,680 –> 00:18:38,660 God, the son, gave himself 304 00:18:39,959 –> 00:18:41,099 for us. 305 00:18:42,079 –> 00:18:44,760 And that surely is the point of verse seven. 306 00:18:45,640 –> 00:18:48,719 And that’s why it comes here in Isaiah chapter 53. 307 00:18:48,719 –> 00:18:51,199 In verse six, Isaiah has told us 308 00:18:51,199 –> 00:18:52,680 what happened at the cross 309 00:18:52,680 –> 00:18:55,280 from the perspective of God the Father. 310 00:18:55,280 –> 00:18:58,680 The Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all. 311 00:18:59,680 –> 00:19:01,040 And then immediately, 312 00:19:01,079 –> 00:19:03,180 so that there’s no misunderstanding, 313 00:19:04,500 –> 00:19:07,479 Isaiah tells us what happened at the cross 314 00:19:07,479 –> 00:19:10,219 from the perspective of God the son, 315 00:19:11,680 –> 00:19:13,280 he was oppressed. 316 00:19:14,280 –> 00:19:15,739 And he was afflicted. 317 00:19:16,660 –> 00:19:19,719 Yet he opened not his mouth, 318 00:19:19,719 –> 00:19:22,199 like a lamb that is led to the slaughter 319 00:19:22,199 –> 00:19:26,119 and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, 320 00:19:26,119 –> 00:19:30,839 so he opened not his mouth. 321 00:19:32,040 –> 00:19:36,640 God, the father and God, the son were at one 322 00:19:38,000 –> 00:19:40,640 in doing what it took. 323 00:19:41,780 –> 00:19:45,520 To redeem you and to redeem me. 324 00:19:46,920 –> 00:19:49,160 And you may like to ponder this question, 325 00:19:49,160 –> 00:19:51,219 though you’ll never be able to answer it. 326 00:19:52,479 –> 00:19:53,959 Which is harder, 327 00:19:55,199 –> 00:19:57,000 to lay down your own life 328 00:19:57,420 –> 00:20:00,280 or to give up the life of one you love. 329 00:20:02,300 –> 00:20:07,119 God experienced both agonies at the same time. 330 00:20:08,400 –> 00:20:11,920 God, the father, did not spare his own son, 331 00:20:13,420 –> 00:20:17,079 but in an agony of heart he gave him up for us all. 332 00:20:19,500 –> 00:20:23,000 God, the son gave himself. 333 00:20:24,199 –> 00:20:26,479 The son of God loved me. 334 00:20:27,140 –> 00:20:31,479 And gave himself for me. 335 00:20:32,079 –> 00:20:35,060 He says, no one takes my life from me. 336 00:20:35,060 –> 00:20:36,599 I lay it down. 337 00:20:36,599 –> 00:20:37,959 He chose to do it. 338 00:20:39,339 –> 00:20:43,160 And he did it because father and son were at one 339 00:20:44,119 –> 00:20:46,400 in doing all that was needed 340 00:20:47,699 –> 00:20:52,119 for this great restoration to be brought about 341 00:20:52,119 –> 00:20:56,599 and for you and me to be part of it. 342 00:20:56,599 –> 00:20:59,739 The love of God is displayed at the cross 343 00:20:59,739 –> 00:21:02,260 because they’re at immeasurable cost 344 00:21:02,260 –> 00:21:04,560 to the father and to the son. 345 00:21:05,660 –> 00:21:09,739 God accomplished that which is of infinite value to us. 346 00:21:09,739 –> 00:21:11,839 He saved us. 347 00:21:11,839 –> 00:21:13,880 He redeemed us. 348 00:21:13,880 –> 00:21:16,579 He reconciled us 349 00:21:16,579 –> 00:21:17,599 to himself. 350 00:21:19,219 –> 00:21:22,280 So this submission of Jesus that we see 351 00:21:22,280 –> 00:21:26,280 so clearly in Isaiah chapter 53 in verse 7, 352 00:21:26,280 –> 00:21:29,859 it answers a very pressing question. 353 00:21:31,839 –> 00:21:36,239 And secondly, the submission of Jesus 354 00:21:36,239 –> 00:21:39,839 models a very distinct calling. 355 00:21:41,800 –> 00:21:46,099 Now, if you turn to 1 Peter chapter 2 356 00:21:46,099 –> 00:21:48,800 you will see that the end of that chapter 357 00:21:48,800 –> 00:21:51,000 in the New Testament is really 358 00:21:51,000 –> 00:21:55,479 an apostolic exposition or explanation 359 00:21:55,599 –> 00:21:58,439 of the verses that we are looking at 360 00:21:58,439 –> 00:22:01,599 in Isaiah and chapter 53. 361 00:22:01,599 –> 00:22:05,880 And in 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 21 362 00:22:05,880 –> 00:22:08,479 we read these words. 363 00:22:08,479 –> 00:22:11,520 For to this you have been called 364 00:22:12,640 –> 00:22:15,959 because Christ also suffered for you, 365 00:22:16,839 –> 00:22:19,359 leaving you an example 366 00:22:19,359 –> 00:22:23,000 that you might follow in His steps. 367 00:22:23,619 –> 00:22:27,939 Now, Peter is telling us here very clearly 368 00:22:27,939 –> 00:22:31,339 that the submission of Jesus 369 00:22:31,339 –> 00:22:36,339 stated so clearly in verse seven of Isaiah 53 370 00:22:36,619 –> 00:22:41,579 that this is actually a model for us. 371 00:22:41,579 –> 00:22:44,739 Jesus aligned Himself completely 372 00:22:44,739 –> 00:22:46,599 with the Will of the Father 373 00:22:46,599 –> 00:22:50,140 and God calls us to do the same. 374 00:22:51,140 –> 00:22:53,660 So Peter is writing to Christian believers 375 00:22:53,660 –> 00:22:58,040 and he says, to this you have been called. 376 00:22:58,040 –> 00:23:00,300 In other words, as a Christian, 377 00:23:00,300 –> 00:23:04,560 you have a distinct calling from God. 378 00:23:04,560 –> 00:23:06,339 We share this calling together 379 00:23:06,339 –> 00:23:10,979 to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ 380 00:23:10,979 –> 00:23:14,699 and to do it especially when we suffer. 381 00:23:15,640 –> 00:23:18,020 Now, we all suffer, of course, in many ways, 382 00:23:18,099 –> 00:23:20,739 but Peter is speaking especially about times 383 00:23:20,739 –> 00:23:24,640 when we, like Jesus, suffer injustice. 384 00:23:24,640 –> 00:23:28,060 Verse 19, he says it is a gracious thing 385 00:23:28,060 –> 00:23:31,640 when mindful of God, one endures sorrows 386 00:23:31,640 –> 00:23:35,780 while suffering unjustly, unjustly. 387 00:23:37,180 –> 00:23:40,459 Jesus suffered unjustly 388 00:23:40,459 –> 00:23:43,939 and that will be part of our experience, too. 389 00:23:45,180 –> 00:23:46,739 Now, here’s the question, 390 00:23:47,619 –> 00:23:50,319 what would it look like 391 00:23:51,180 –> 00:23:54,339 to follow the example of Jesus when we suffer? 392 00:23:55,420 –> 00:23:58,020 And I want you to notice that Peter identifies 393 00:23:58,020 –> 00:24:03,020 two temptations that come to us when we suffer unjustly. 394 00:24:04,459 –> 00:24:07,420 The first is the temptation to revile. 395 00:24:08,380 –> 00:24:11,660 When he was reviled 396 00:24:11,660 –> 00:24:14,739 he did not revile in return. 397 00:24:15,579 –> 00:24:18,420 Now this word revile, of course, 398 00:24:18,420 –> 00:24:21,699 is where we get our word revulsion, 399 00:24:21,699 –> 00:24:23,939 which gives you a sense of it. 400 00:24:23,939 –> 00:24:27,500 To revile another person is to treat them 401 00:24:27,500 –> 00:24:31,060 with absolute disdain and contempt. 402 00:24:31,060 –> 00:24:36,060 To renounce them, to view them with absolute disgust. 403 00:24:36,739 –> 00:24:38,119 To revile. 404 00:24:38,119 –> 00:24:41,859 And if you suffer unjustly, 405 00:24:41,859 –> 00:24:45,859 you will be tempted 406 00:24:45,859 –> 00:24:50,020 to revile the person who caused you to suffer. 407 00:24:50,020 –> 00:24:53,439 Anger and resentment will come knocking 408 00:24:53,439 –> 00:24:56,140 on the door of your heart 409 00:24:56,140 –> 00:24:57,959 and bitterness, 410 00:24:57,959 –> 00:24:59,099 hardness of heart 411 00:24:59,099 –> 00:25:01,680 and even hatred will not be long behind. 412 00:25:03,040 –> 00:25:06,400 That’s the first temptation that will come to you 413 00:25:06,420 –> 00:25:08,479 when you suffer unjustly. 414 00:25:09,640 –> 00:25:12,920 And notice the second that Peter makes very clear. 415 00:25:12,920 –> 00:25:14,819 It is to threaten. 416 00:25:14,819 –> 00:25:18,959 When Jesus suffered, he did not threaten. 417 00:25:19,880 –> 00:25:22,199 Now think about how Jesus 418 00:25:22,199 –> 00:25:24,280 could have threatened the soldiers 419 00:25:24,280 –> 00:25:26,560 who nailed him to the cross. 420 00:25:26,560 –> 00:25:28,800 You’re doing this to me now 421 00:25:28,800 –> 00:25:30,599 but the day of judgment is coming 422 00:25:30,599 –> 00:25:32,300 just you wait. 423 00:25:33,280 –> 00:25:38,599 But Jesus didn’t do that or anything like it. 424 00:25:38,599 –> 00:25:42,599 Instead, as they nailed him to the cross 425 00:25:42,599 –> 00:25:46,520 he said, Father forgive them. 426 00:25:46,520 –> 00:25:49,640 They do not know what they are doing. 427 00:25:52,920 –> 00:25:55,739 Jesus was repeatedly wronged. 428 00:25:57,219 –> 00:26:00,400 He suffered one injustice after another 429 00:26:00,400 –> 00:26:04,359 and he was innocent more than any of us could ever be. 430 00:26:05,640 –> 00:26:10,420 But he did not threaten and he did not revile. 431 00:26:11,500 –> 00:26:16,400 And Peter says, to this you’ve been called 432 00:26:17,459 –> 00:26:19,420 because Christ suffered for you, 433 00:26:19,420 –> 00:26:24,420 leaving you an example that you might follow in his steps. 434 00:26:26,699 –> 00:26:28,300 Now here’s the obvious question. 435 00:26:29,219 –> 00:26:32,520 How in the world is that possible? 436 00:26:34,000 –> 00:26:37,079 How is it possible for a person 437 00:26:37,079 –> 00:26:40,300 who has suffered serious injustice 438 00:26:40,319 –> 00:26:45,319 not to be filled with anger and bitterness, 439 00:26:46,619 –> 00:26:48,380 a desire for revenge. 440 00:26:48,380 –> 00:26:53,380 How is it possible for ordinary people like us 441 00:26:54,300 –> 00:26:56,859 to become like Jesus 442 00:26:57,280 –> 00:26:59,219 in his suffering? 443 00:27:01,339 –> 00:27:03,219 And that takes us to the last thing 444 00:27:03,219 –> 00:27:06,579 that I want us to see in this remarkable verse today 445 00:27:06,579 –> 00:27:09,239 that the submission of Jesus 446 00:27:09,239 –> 00:27:13,719 opens a compelling prospect. 447 00:27:15,819 –> 00:27:18,420 And friends, it’s on my heart 448 00:27:18,420 –> 00:27:22,739 that if ever there was something needed 449 00:27:22,780 –> 00:27:24,420 in our world today 450 00:27:24,420 –> 00:27:28,819 as a distinctive witness to Jesus, this is it. 451 00:27:31,420 –> 00:27:36,420 If you were to pick one word 452 00:27:37,300 –> 00:27:41,000 that described the mood of our times, 453 00:27:41,000 –> 00:27:42,520 I wonder what word you would pick. 454 00:27:42,520 –> 00:27:45,540 I think I would choose the word angry. 455 00:27:47,300 –> 00:27:49,660 And I want you to imagine this for a moment. 456 00:27:50,500 –> 00:27:55,339 Imagine a community of people 457 00:27:55,339 –> 00:28:00,339 who follow the example of Jesus in how he suffered. 458 00:28:01,300 –> 00:28:04,079 Imagine the impact of that. 459 00:28:05,199 –> 00:28:08,239 Imagine the impact of a community of people 460 00:28:08,239 –> 00:28:11,619 who, when they suffer, do not become bitter. 461 00:28:13,420 –> 00:28:16,800 When they’re treated unjustly they don’t revile. 462 00:28:17,300 –> 00:28:19,300 They don’t threaten. 463 00:28:20,859 –> 00:28:24,920 They choose to love rather than hate. 464 00:28:26,839 –> 00:28:29,719 You say, how is that possible? 465 00:28:31,380 –> 00:28:36,380 And the answer surely is twofold in the scriptures here. 466 00:28:36,439 –> 00:28:41,439 It’s possible when the Holy Spirit lives within you. 467 00:28:43,180 –> 00:28:45,079 Following the example of Jesus 468 00:28:45,140 –> 00:28:48,540 is not something that any of us can do in our own strength, 469 00:28:49,459 –> 00:28:50,979 but you know it is possible 470 00:28:50,979 –> 00:28:53,439 when the Holy Spirit lives within you. 471 00:28:54,800 –> 00:28:58,300 Peter uses a very striking phrase 472 00:28:58,300 –> 00:29:00,079 and he uses it twice here. 473 00:29:00,079 –> 00:29:02,020 First in verse 19 he says, 474 00:29:02,020 –> 00:29:07,020 “‘This is a gracious thing, a gracious thing. 475 00:29:08,260 –> 00:29:10,140 When mindful of God, 476 00:29:10,140 –> 00:29:14,040 one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 477 00:29:15,280 –> 00:29:16,880 He says, it’s a gracious thing. 478 00:29:16,880 –> 00:29:19,939 Now that’s more than simply you being gracious. 479 00:29:19,939 –> 00:29:23,599 It means that something has been given to you 480 00:29:23,599 –> 00:29:25,660 that you did not have in yourself. 481 00:29:25,660 –> 00:29:29,040 The Holy Spirit is reproducing in you 482 00:29:29,040 –> 00:29:31,280 the very likeness of Jesus.’ 483 00:29:32,400 –> 00:29:33,760 And then this is so important 484 00:29:33,760 –> 00:29:37,239 that Peter says it again in the very next verse, verse 20. 485 00:29:37,239 –> 00:29:40,380 “‘For if when you do good and suffer for it, 486 00:29:40,380 –> 00:29:44,939 you endure, this is a gracious thing!’ 487 00:29:44,959 –> 00:29:47,719 In the sight of God, it’s something that’s given to you, 488 00:29:47,719 –> 00:29:49,560 you’ve received something 489 00:29:49,560 –> 00:29:52,819 that you would not have had simply in and of yourself. 490 00:29:52,819 –> 00:29:57,359 When you act like Jesus, you give evidence 491 00:29:58,459 –> 00:30:01,099 that the Spirit of Jesus, 492 00:30:01,099 –> 00:30:06,099 the Holy Spirit of God Himself lives in you.’ 493 00:30:08,959 –> 00:30:11,660 And the compelling prospect 494 00:30:12,660 –> 00:30:15,660 of a community of people 495 00:30:15,660 –> 00:30:18,900 who follow the example of Jesus 496 00:30:18,900 –> 00:30:23,900 is possible, not only when the Holy Spirit lives in you, 497 00:30:24,040 –> 00:30:29,040 but secondly, when you know that God is just. 498 00:30:29,219 –> 00:30:31,280 If you’re going to follow the example of Jesus, 499 00:30:31,280 –> 00:30:32,699 this is what you need to know. 500 00:30:32,699 –> 00:30:37,540 You have to know, in a world of so much injustice 501 00:30:37,540 –> 00:30:40,400 that there really is a God who is just. 502 00:30:41,260 –> 00:30:43,420 And do you see that that’s what Peter says 503 00:30:43,420 –> 00:30:45,959 right here about Jesus? 504 00:30:45,959 –> 00:30:49,699 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. 505 00:30:49,699 –> 00:30:54,280 When he suffered, he did not threaten, how? 506 00:30:54,280 –> 00:30:59,239 He continued entrusting himself to him, 507 00:31:00,099 –> 00:31:02,280 who judges justly. 508 00:31:03,780 –> 00:31:05,000 You see what Peter is saying? 509 00:31:05,000 –> 00:31:09,500 How was it that Jesus did not revile? 510 00:31:10,660 –> 00:31:12,560 How was it that he did not threaten? 511 00:31:12,560 –> 00:31:16,520 How was it that he overcame the dark powers of anger 512 00:31:16,520 –> 00:31:19,719 and bitterness and resentment and hatred 513 00:31:19,719 –> 00:31:22,579 that threatened to possess our souls 514 00:31:22,579 –> 00:31:24,900 when we are treated with injustice? 515 00:31:26,300 –> 00:31:30,780 Well, he overcame it because he knew that God is just, 516 00:31:31,819 –> 00:31:36,540 and he entrusted himself to him, 517 00:31:36,540 –> 00:31:39,400 who judges justly. 518 00:31:40,680 –> 00:31:43,099 And notice this was not like a decision 519 00:31:43,099 –> 00:31:45,119 that was made in one point of time 520 00:31:45,119 –> 00:31:46,920 and then it was all fine there afterwards. 521 00:31:46,920 –> 00:31:48,640 No, Peter makes it very clear. 522 00:31:48,640 –> 00:31:50,880 He continued to do this. 523 00:31:50,880 –> 00:31:53,439 He had to do it again and again and again. 524 00:31:53,439 –> 00:31:57,400 When he was betrayed by one of his own disciples, 525 00:31:57,400 –> 00:32:02,400 Jesus trusted himself to the father who judges justly. 526 00:32:04,239 –> 00:32:06,479 And when he was falsely accused, 527 00:32:07,400 –> 00:32:10,880 he trusted himself into the hands 528 00:32:10,880 –> 00:32:13,040 of the father who judges justly. 529 00:32:14,560 –> 00:32:19,060 When there was no justice for him in the court of Pilate, 530 00:32:19,060 –> 00:32:19,900 what did he do? 531 00:32:19,900 –> 00:32:23,640 He trusted himself into the hands of the father 532 00:32:23,640 –> 00:32:25,000 who judges justly. 533 00:32:25,000 –> 00:32:30,000 And when he endured unimaginable physical pain, 534 00:32:30,760 –> 00:32:31,939 what did he do? 535 00:32:31,939 –> 00:32:36,939 He trusted himself into the hands of the father 536 00:32:37,939 –> 00:32:41,319 who judges justly. 537 00:32:41,319 –> 00:32:45,260 There will be justice for me. 538 00:32:47,260 –> 00:32:48,719 And there was. 539 00:32:50,180 –> 00:32:53,420 On the third day, the father raised him up from the dead 540 00:32:53,420 –> 00:32:58,420 and exalted him to the highest possible place. 541 00:32:58,920 –> 00:33:03,420 Now, as we bring this to a conclusion today, 542 00:33:03,420 –> 00:33:06,540 let me ask you this very practical question. 543 00:33:07,719 –> 00:33:12,239 What is going on in your life 544 00:33:13,300 –> 00:33:16,479 that might tempt you to become angry, 545 00:33:16,479 –> 00:33:21,479 resentful, or even bitter, 546 00:33:21,839 –> 00:33:25,619 toward God or towards another person? 547 00:33:25,660 –> 00:33:28,160 What is there going on in your life 548 00:33:28,160 –> 00:33:31,319 that may face you with these temptations? 549 00:33:33,199 –> 00:33:35,199 We all suffer in various ways, 550 00:33:36,280 –> 00:33:40,560 and we all face injustice at various points in our lives. 551 00:33:40,560 –> 00:33:43,540 Now, how are you going to respond? 552 00:33:45,280 –> 00:33:49,660 God calls you to do what Jesus did. 553 00:33:51,040 –> 00:33:55,339 He aligned himself with the will of the Father, 554 00:33:55,500 –> 00:33:57,380 and that’s why he did not revile, 555 00:33:58,380 –> 00:34:00,739 and that’s why he did not threaten. 556 00:34:01,640 –> 00:34:03,479 Shall I not drink the cup 557 00:34:03,479 –> 00:34:06,520 that the Father has given to me? 558 00:34:08,100 –> 00:34:11,340 God’s Holy Spirit 559 00:34:11,340 –> 00:34:13,580 is given to you so that you may 560 00:34:13,580 –> 00:34:16,580 follow the example of Jesus. 561 00:34:17,540 –> 00:34:21,060 And here’s how you gain victory 562 00:34:21,159 –> 00:34:23,360 over the dark powers 563 00:34:23,360 –> 00:34:25,219 that threaten your soul. 564 00:34:26,399 –> 00:34:29,159 You trust your suffering 565 00:34:30,159 –> 00:34:33,120 into the hands of God. 566 00:34:34,199 –> 00:34:36,840 You believe that he is just, 567 00:34:37,979 –> 00:34:40,340 that he will do what is right, 568 00:34:41,280 –> 00:34:44,000 and you leave him to deal 569 00:34:44,000 –> 00:34:47,300 with those who oppress and afflict you. 570 00:34:48,020 –> 00:34:51,780 And then you ask that by his Holy Spirit, 571 00:34:51,780 –> 00:34:54,540 he will give you all that you need 572 00:34:55,500 –> 00:34:59,340 so that you will be able to shine 573 00:34:59,340 –> 00:35:02,500 like a light in this dark and angry world 574 00:35:02,500 –> 00:35:07,500 because you follow the example of Jesus. 575 00:35:10,219 –> 00:35:11,219 Let’s pray together. 576 00:35:12,040 –> 00:35:15,040 Our father, how can we begin 577 00:35:15,939 –> 00:35:19,879 to measure the breadth and length 578 00:35:19,879 –> 00:35:24,879 and heights and depths of your great love towards us 579 00:35:27,379 –> 00:35:32,179 that father and son and Holy spirit united as one 580 00:35:34,820 –> 00:35:39,219 would plan our salvation and bring it about 581 00:35:39,219 –> 00:35:44,219 you are Holy father giving up at unfathomable cost 582 00:35:46,340 –> 00:35:49,080 your own dearly loved son for us 583 00:35:51,360 –> 00:35:54,479 your dear son giving himself 584 00:35:56,479 –> 00:36:01,219 in immeasurable suffering 585 00:36:02,780 –> 00:36:04,320 that we might be redeemed 586 00:36:05,159 –> 00:36:06,520 that we might be redeemed 587 00:36:08,199 –> 00:36:13,199 we bow before you in worship and in awe 588 00:36:15,120 –> 00:36:19,159 and in thanksgiving and in praise 589 00:36:21,060 –> 00:36:22,159 we are your people 590 00:36:23,600 –> 00:36:26,260 and we bow before you recognizing 591 00:36:26,260 –> 00:36:31,260 that we have a very distinct calling in this world 592 00:36:31,399 –> 00:36:35,219 Father make us more like Jesus 593 00:36:36,459 –> 00:36:39,159 especially when we suffer, we pray 594 00:36:41,219 –> 00:36:45,419 And grandfather that therefore we may shine like lights 595 00:36:46,719 –> 00:36:51,100 because there is evidence of your spirit in us 596 00:36:52,459 –> 00:36:56,719 and of living faith that trusts you 597 00:36:56,820 –> 00:37:02,360 that trusts you even in the hardest things of life 598 00:37:03,520 –> 00:37:06,179 So glorify your own name in and through us 599 00:37:06,219 –> 00:37:09,719 And hasten the day when faith will be turn to sight 600 00:37:10,060 –> 00:37:14,719 and all that Jesus died to accomplish for us will be ours 601 00:37:15,159 –> 00:37:17,060 forever and forever 602 00:37:17,760 –> 00:37:20,379 For these things we ask, in Jesus’ name 603 00:37:21,379 –> 00:37:22,580 Amen 604 00:37:23,560 –> 00:37:25,919 You’ve been listening to a sermon with pastor Colin Smith 605 00:37:26,280 –> 00:37:27,560 of Open the Bible 606 00:37:28,020 –> 00:37:33,560 to contact us call us at 1-877-open 365 607 00:37:35,020 –> 00:37:37,020 or visit our website, openthebible.org