March 29, 2015                        

Key Passage: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

Not only is the phrase “been there, done that” an extremely popular term in our contemporary lexicon, it also perfectly describes why so many people either don’t come to Christ – or live an incredibly joyless life dressed as a Believer.  And the irony behind that fact is……most people don’t really believe Christ can relate – that He hasn’t “been there, and done that.”  (Sure, we’ll all give the Sunday School answer on that one – but how many actually live like they believe it?!)  “Yeah, it says He was tempted in every way – but come on, He’s perfect.  How hard can it be when you’re perfect?  No one understands how I feel, and what I’m going through!”  Sound familiar?  Trust me, the blinders in life come flying off when you finally come to the realization that Jesus experienced more pain, temptation, irritation, frustration, sadness, calamity, brutality, ridicule, faithlessness, misunderstanding….do I need to go on?...than we can ever imagine.  To be honest, we do Him an incredible disservice when we even imply that “no one knows how I feel – or what I’m going through?”  Try the beatings, the torture, and the agony of the cross.  The reason we can approach His throne with confidence – literally, be ushered into the presence of Almighty God through prayer, is because we serve a Savior who has “been there….done that.”  And so much more…  

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 The clearest Prophecy / Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament…

• Isaiah 52:13-15….“As the centuries pass, the evidence is mounting that, measured by his effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.”  Historian Kenneth LaTourette

(see also Philippians 2:5-11)

• Isaiah 53:1-3…..We only have one verse in scripture that speaks of the physical appearance of Jesus, and all it tells us is what he DIDN’T look like: “He has no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).  That’s all we’re told throughout scripture, so it must be an important point – which is this: Jesus became an ordinary person to show ordinary people like us God’s extraordinary love!  (see also John 1:11-13)

• Isaiah 53:4-6…..Here’s the heart of the Gospel (smack dab in the middle of the Old Testament) – the Good News – that Jesus took our place.  Bon Jovi came out with their version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” several years ago called “It’s My Life.”  Both songs embody our main problem…that we’re consumed with “doing it our way” because “it’s my life!”  (see also 1 Peter 2:22-25)

• Isaiah 53:7-9…..It’s vital to note that Jesus “didn’t open his mouth” in all four Gospel accounts.  Know this – as servants of the Lord, we too will be subjected to oppressive judgment.  When someone suffers for a cause, people want to know the nature of that cause.  And if we care so much about others that we’re willing to suffer for them, people want to know why we care so much.  All their questions have one answer: Jesus.  (see also 2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

• Isaiah 53:10-12…..As hard as it is to believe, we’ve got to understand that God loved the lost race of mankind as much as he loved his Son, and was willing to deliver him up to death that we might find a way out of the disease and death of sin.  (see also Romans 8:32)

Q: Can you honestly say you hold a Biblical world view?  Why / why not?

Q: What are the ways you seek love, security and significance outside of a relationship with Christ?

Bottom Line: If we’re willing to lay down our rebellion, here’s what the Good News promises: instead of collapsing in grief over our rejection, he bears our griefs.  Instead of increasing our sorrows, he carries them.  Instead of avenging our sins, he’s pierced for them in our place.  Instead of crushing us for our iniquities, he’s crushed for them as our substitute.  With that in mind, let’s commit to giving up the thought that “no one knows how I feel,” ok?