The Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53

The Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53: A Prophet Has Been Among Them

Jul 7, 2024 – 7th Sunday after Pentecost | Mark 6:1-13

The Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 and the Path to the Cross

He was despised and rejected, a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. Do you recognize those words? They come from Isaiah 53, describing the suffering servant who bears our iniquities and is stricken for us. The path to the Cross begins with rejection, as all God's prophets were treated.

In our reading from Ezekiel this morning, God says, "I am sending you to speak to them, but they are a stubborn and rebellious house." All of God's prophets were despised by Israel, their calls to repentance ignored.

A Brief Exegesis of Isaiah 53

The Book of Isaiah is divided into three main sections, and Isaiah 53 is part of what scholars call "Deutero-Isaiah" (chapters 40-55), which addresses the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. This period was marked by deep despair and a longing for deliverance. The figure of the suffering servant is introduced as a source of hope and redemption, representing the ideal servant of God who would bring justice and salvation through suffering and sacrifice.

Verses 1-3: The servant is described as one who is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Despite his lowly appearance, he carries a significant burden.

Verses 4-6: The servant bears the griefs and sorrows of others, suffering in their place. This substitutionary suffering is central to the passage, highlighting the servant's role in bearing the sins of many.

Verses 7-9: Despite being oppressed and afflicted, the servant does not open his mouth in protest. He is led like a lamb to the slaughter, emphasizing his submission and willingness to suffer.

Verses 10-12: The suffering of the servant is part of God's plan. Through his suffering, he will see the light of life and justify many, bearing their iniquities and making intercession for transgressors.

The New Testament writers saw Isaiah 53 as a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. For instance, Matthew 8:17 references Isaiah 53:4 to show that Jesus' healing ministry was part of fulfilling the prophecy. In Acts 8:32-35, Philip explains to the Ethiopian eunuch that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 refers to Jesus. Peter, in 1 Peter 2:24-25, highlights Jesus' role as the one who bore our sins on the cross, directly speaking to the language of Isaiah 53.

The Rejection of Jesus: The Prophet's Struggle for Acceptance

Now, here comes Jesus, another prophet, who says, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." Imagine someone you grew up with becoming famous. You might think, "Come on, buddy, I grew up with you. You're still just like us. You're not that special." If it were one of us, it would be true.

That's what's happening here. Jesus is in His hometown, His Fatherland. Despite His love for His people, they reject Him. Even His own family doesn't believe in Him. Back in chapter three, when Jesus began attracting large crowds and appointed the Twelve Apostles, His family started to worry. They thought, "He's lost it. It's all gone to his head." His mother and brothers even tried to intervene, but Jesus rejected them.

In chapter four, Jesus calmed the wind and waves. In chapter five, He raised a girl from the dead. In chapter six, the stakes are even higher.

What kind of man can do this? Either Jesus is exactly who He says He is—the prophet, the Son of God sent to save the world—or He's mad, and it's all a lie. There is no middle ground. You can't accept Jesus as your friend or brother while rejecting His teachings.

Do you believe this? Most people in our country do not. Many claim to be Christians, but few accept everything Jesus says without reservation. Jesus goes too far for most people, and their unbelief can't handle it.

Why Do Jesus‘ Teachings Offend?

Our story today is clear: it is Jesus' teaching that offends the people, not Him personally. When He began teaching in the synagogue in His hometown, they questioned, "Where did He get these things? Isn't this the carpenter's son?" and took offense at Him.

Today's reading doesn't detail His teachings, but we know from the Gospels. Jesus said, "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." He also declared, "Not one jot, not one iota, will pass from the law until everything is fulfilled."

In Luke 4, Jesus reads from Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor," and then says, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." He even stated, "If you love parent, sibling, child, or spouse more than Me, you don't deserve Me."

The first issue with Jesus' teaching is that He raises the stakes, making the already impossible law even harder to fulfill while asserting, "Here I am. It's all being fulfilled right in front of you. I'm the one you need." The bigger issue is the new spiritual kingdom and reality Jesus brings. He says, "If you forgive anyone their sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven," and "Go and make disciples by baptizing and teaching. For unless one is born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." The most offensive words of all are, "Take, eat; this is My body. Take and drink; this is My blood."

High Stakes for True Christian Belief and the Perils of Unbelief

Do you see it now? The stakes are incredibly high for both the law and the gospel. To be a true Christian and believe in Jesus' teachings, you must accept everything He says:

The law of God demands perfect righteousness, which even its most ardent followers cannot fulfill.
Not one word of the law or the Old Testament is to be dismissed as mere history or outdated custom.
Jesus of Nazareth is the one sent by God to fulfill divine righteousness, answer the prophecies about an eternal kingdom and high priest, and serve as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He must be the most important person in your life.

Furthermore, you must believe in the ministry of the gospel: the apostles' mission to teach this message and bestow divine healing through Jesus. This healing comes through the preaching of the word, baptism, and communion. You must believe—unlike many Christians who claim to take God's word seriously—that baptism regenerates you as a disciple in the kingdom of God, and that the Lord's Supper is truly Jesus' body and blood given for the forgiveness of sins.

These are Jesus' teachings, and a true Christian must believe them. Unbelief cannot handle this and often concludes that these teachings are mad.

Many Christians in our country who confess Jesus but reject these teachings are essentially rejecting Jesus. This doesn't mean they can't be saved—no one can confess Jesus without the Holy Spirit—but it does mean unbelief has crept into their church's confession. This is the devil's work, aiming to pull them away from Christ. Their souls are in danger because they have embraced a fundamental tenet of unbelief: "I don't understand. It can't possibly be true."

Let True Faith in Jesus Define Your Life and Eternal Hope

Dear Christians, don't reject Jesus. Lay aside your reason and stubborn unbelief, and let Christ define what is true and real in your life. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; right understanding comes from faith. This is personal—it affects you and your relationships. Jesus calls you to confess Him and His radical teachings, even at the cost of family and homeland.

As the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 53. Jesus suffered rejection on the path to the Cross. Take hope in that. You belong to Him. Any rejection or scorn you face for your faith is nothing compared to Christ's sufferings for you. When you suffer for the true confession of faith, He draws you closer to Him and His sufferings. He promises that through the gospel, your sins are forgiven, you are raised to new life, and you are fed with the bread of life. You will live forever.

Take hope and be of good cheer. Do not fear when the world rejects your Lord. You know the truth, and He will keep you safe forever. All glory be to God on high and to His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!