WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 4, 2021

 

Over 266,000 readers worldwide

larrydalexander.blogspot.com

 

THE SUFFERING SERVANT

(GOD gives hope to all who suffer)

(Isaiah 53)

 

   The prophet Isaiah was born in Jerusalem into the family of Amos who was related to the Royal House of Judah. He spent his early years as an official of King Uzziah (Azariah) who reigned over Judah for 52 years (2 Chronicle 26:3). In the year that Uzziah died of leprosy, around 740 B.C. (2 Kings 15:5), Isaiah received his calling from GOD in a stirring vision while in the temple at Jerusalem (Isaiah 6).

     Isaiah was married to a woman described only as “the prophetess” in Isaiah 8:3. He was the father of two sons who bore highly symbolical names, “Shear-jashub” and “Maher-shalal-hash-baz”. Shear-jashub means “a remnant shall return” and is actually a prophesy concerning the return of the Jews to Judah following their 70-year captivity in Babylon.

    Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which is the longest word in Scripture, means “swift spoil, speedy prey”. It prophesies the doom of Damascus and Samaria, and the destruction of Syria and Israel, who had formed an ungodly alliance against Jerusalem.

    Isaiah 52:13-53:13 is the fourth and most compelling of all of the so-called “Servant Songs” of the Holy Bible. This passage contains the Old Testament’s clearest description of “the suffering of CHRIST” which would occur some 700 years later in Jerusalem. This forecasted “Passion Week” would culminate with JESUS’ “death walk to Golgotha”, and subsequent earthly expiration on the cross.

    In Acts 1:3 the word Luke uses for “passion” is “pascho” (pas-kho), and it means “to experience the sensation or impression of pain”. This is the only time in Scripture that this particular word is for “passion”, and there it describes “the suffering of CHRIST” that is depicted in the “Passion Narratives” of the four Gospels (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22, and John 19). These particular passages represent the fulfillment of the prophesy of this fourth Servant Song that was spoken and recorded here by Isaiah.

    Theologians of the “Post-Apostolic Age” often struggle to find an explanation as to “why” JESUS had to die. This passage by Isaiah gives us, perhaps the clearest explanation of “why”, that the Scriptures has to offer. Here Isaiah tells us, in effect, that, JESUS was offered up as a “guilt offering”, or “offering of atonement” for the sins of man, past, present, and future (53:10-12). It was the only offering that could be acceptable to GOD the FATHER in Heaven.

    And so, we see here in this passage, “a theology of atonement” being developed. Isaiah tells us in 52:13 that JESUS, the SERVANT, was so badly beaten and bloodied, that, one would have a hard time recognizing if HE was even a human being. He also tells us in 53:2 that there was already nothing physically beautiful or majestic about HIS appearance that would draw anyone to HIM.

    Isaiah also tells us in verse 3, that, in addition to JESUS’ physical suffering, HE would be rejected and despised, and would be a man of sorrow, all too acquainted with bitter grief. Sadly, we would not recognize that it is our weaknesses and sorrows that weighed HIM down in the first place (v.4).

    Isaiah says in verse 5 that we would think that JESUS’ troubles were a product of HIS OWN sins. However, we who are “on the road to salvation” now understand more clearly that HE was wounded and crushed for our sins instead. HE was beaten so that we might have peace, and HE was whipped so that we might be healed.

    In verse 7 Isaiah tells us that JESUS was oppressed and treated harshly, yet HE never said a word. HE was led as a lamb to slaughter, and as a sheep is silent before the shearers, HE did not open HIS mouth. And finally, the prophet says that JESUS would be buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave (see Matthew 27:57-60 regarding Joseph of Aramathea, the rich man who buried JESUS in his own tomb).

    Our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST’s suffering was a unique event in the annals of human history. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that HE is the SON of the LIVING GOD, and that HIS vicarious sacrifice was what won us our salvation. No one, and nothing else could have provided us with such a precious gift. HE was counted among sinners, but in reality, HE actually bore the sins of sinners, and interceded for every man in general, and everyone who follows HIM, in particular.

       

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

 

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

 

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

 

Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

 

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

 

Clinton Family Portrait - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia