Week of Monday January 6 – January 12
Suffering Servant – Man as Instructor
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. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- Isaiah 53:3-6 ESV
Most guys enjoy hearing predictions about sports. We want an expert opinion on how our team will perform in an upcoming game and which teams have the best chances of winning a championship. However, unlike sports prognosticators (who only get it right some of the time), God’s Word contains predictions that always come true. For example, Isaiah 53 contains a prophecy detailing the sacrificial and substitutionary death of the “Servant of the Lord,” Jesus Christ.
The chapter opens with the prophet Isaiah describing the common appearance of the Servant, who will be “despised and rejected” (verses 2-3). Isaiah prophesies: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (verse 4a). The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus’ healing of many people fulfilled these very words: “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases’” (Matt. 8:17).
Next, Isaiah makes this startling statement: “[Y]et we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (verses 4b-5). The Gospels recount the brutal treatment that Jesus endured during his crucifixion when he was beaten, flogged, and pierced (Matt. 26:67–68, 27:26–37; John 19:31-37).
Isaiah describes us as wayward sheep who stubbornly pursue a path away from God. Despite this, God graciously placed the burden of our sin on the Servant: “[T]he Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (verse 6). Isaiah further describes the Servant as “a lamb that is led to the slaughter” and foretells his silence (verse 7). In the Gospels, Jesus is called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) and remained silent before his accusers (Matt. 27:12–14; Mark 14:60–61; Luke 23:8–9).
Isaiah predicts the Servant’s death “for the transgression of my [God’s] people” in verse 8 and his burial with the rich in verse 9, which was fulfilled in the Gospels (Matt. 27:57–60). In verse 10, Isaiah reiterates God’s sovereign purpose behind all the Servant’s suffering: to serve as a guilt offering, not for His own sins, but for the sins of others. Isaiah says the Servant will miraculously “see his offspring; he shall prolong his days.” This alludes to Jesus’ resurrection (Matt. 28:1-10; John 20:1-29).
We could go on because there’s much, much more! However, don’t miss the main point. These prophecies were made some 700 years before Jesus was born! As Instructors, it’s our responsibility to help those in our charge understand the connection between these prophecies and their fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Fulfilled prophecy should give us confidence in the truthfulness of God’s Word and inspire us to share the Good News about Jesus, the Suffering Servant. As we walk further into the New Year, this is a great resolution to make.
- Do you have a plan to read the Scriptures with your family and discuss the many amazing fulfilled prophecies like the ones in Isaiah 53? If not, text the word Bible to 67742 or click HERE to find and download the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan.
- How can you engage more intentionally in conversations about fulfilled prophecies as evidence of the truth of God’s Word? How can you use these discussions as a lead-in to talking about Jesus and the gospel?
- Thank God for the miracle of the Scriptures that accurately foretell events far in advance. Ask for His help in sharing the message of Jesus with others in this New Year.
Suffering Servant – Man as Instructor
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. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- Isaiah 53:3-6 ESV
Most guys enjoy hearing predictions about sports. We want an expert opinion on how our team will perform in an upcoming game and which teams have the best chances of winning a championship. However, unlike sports prognosticators (who only get it right some of the time), God’s Word contains predictions that always come true. For example, Isaiah 53 contains a prophecy detailing the sacrificial and substitutionary death of the “Servant of the Lord,” Jesus Christ.
The chapter opens with the prophet Isaiah describing the common appearance of the Servant, who will be “despised and rejected” (verses 2-3). Isaiah prophesies: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (verse 4a). The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus’ healing of many people fulfilled these very words: “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases’” (Matt. 8:17).
Next, Isaiah makes this startling statement: “[Y]et we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (verses 4b-5). The Gospels recount the brutal treatment that Jesus endured during his crucifixion when he was beaten, flogged, and pierced (Matt. 26:67–68, 27:26–37; John 19:31-37).
Isaiah describes us as wayward sheep who stubbornly pursue a path away from God. Despite this, God graciously placed the burden of our sin on the Servant: “[T]he Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (verse 6). Isaiah further describes the Servant as “a lamb that is led to the slaughter” and foretells his silence (verse 7). In the Gospels, Jesus is called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) and remained silent before his accusers (Matt. 27:12–14; Mark 14:60–61; Luke 23:8–9).
Isaiah predicts the Servant’s death “for the transgression of my [God’s] people” in verse 8 and his burial with the rich in verse 9, which was fulfilled in the Gospels (Matt. 27:57–60). In verse 10, Isaiah reiterates God’s sovereign purpose behind all the Servant’s suffering: to serve as a guilt offering, not for His own sins, but for the sins of others. Isaiah says the Servant will miraculously “see his offspring; he shall prolong his days.” This alludes to Jesus’ resurrection (Matt. 28:1-10; John 20:1-29).
We could go on because there’s much, much more! However, don’t miss the main point. These prophecies were made some 700 years before Jesus was born! As Instructors, it’s our responsibility to help those in our charge understand the connection between these prophecies and their fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Fulfilled prophecy should give us confidence in the truthfulness of God’s Word and inspire us to share the Good News about Jesus, the Suffering Servant. As we walk further into the New Year, this is a great resolution to make.
- Do you have a plan to read the Scriptures with your family and discuss the many amazing fulfilled prophecies like the ones in Isaiah 53? If not, text the word Bible to 67742 or click HERE to find and download the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan.
- How can you engage more intentionally in conversations about fulfilled prophecies as evidence of the truth of God’s Word? How can you use these discussions as a lead-in to talking about Jesus and the gospel?
- Thank God for the miracle of the Scriptures that accurately foretell events far in advance. Ask for His help in sharing the message of Jesus with others in this New Year.