Bethesda Chapel 2002
SG Bible Study #5
The Prophecy of Christ’s Suffering and Death in Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Attn: BS leaders – for additional reading, please refer to http://www.themoorings.org/apologetics/suffering/Is53.html
Warm up song
Select a
song that is appropriate to the above theme
Quiet Contemplation
(3 minutes)
Each year, Good
Friday and Easter Sunday invoke fresh memories of the death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. We should be
reflective of these facts. We ought
to feel for the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
More than that we must anchor our thoughts and feelings on God’s sure
Word in His Holy Scriptures.
Above all, remember why we are redeemed and obey Christ’s commission.
Recall the challenge by Dr. Gary Choong on Easter Sunday 31 March 2002 from John 20:21:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Sharing
Open topic
(optional – limit to two or three)
Read
the selected passage
Text: Isa
52:13-53:12
Structure
5 stanzas in 3 verses each (Kidner)
1. Isa 52:13-15
- Exaltation
2. Isa 53:1-3
- Rejection
3. Isa 53:4-6
- Suffering
4. Isa 53:7-9
- Rejection
5. Isa 53: 10-12
- Exaltation
Notes
1. Isa 52:13-15
- Exaltation
v13 - He
will deal prudently/act wisely
His exaltation:
he shall rise up
he shall be lifted up
he exalt exceedingly
v14 - As many as were astonished, horrified, appalled at him:
Why: his appearance was
truly disfigured more than any man,
and his form more than the
sons of men:
v15 - So
shall he sprinkle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths
at him:
for that which had not
been told them shall they see;
and that which they had
not heard shall they consider/understand.
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Sprinkle –
a)
priestly-sacrificial
meaning Exod 29:20-21; Lev 16:14-15
b)
from
Arabic naza (to leap), with the sense “to cause to leap in amazement”;
many nations will be amazed
c)
startle
cf v14
2.
Isa 53:1-3
-
Rejection
v1 Who has believed our report/message?
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been
revealed/uncovered.
Metaphorically from nature - ugly
v2 He grew up before him as/like a tender plant,
and as/like a root (sheresh) out of a dry
ground:
he had no
form no comeliness;
and when we see him,
there is no
beauty (sight/appearance) that we should desire him
In Reality - ugly
v3 He is being despised and rejected of men;
a man of sorrows/pains, and the one being acquainted
with grief/suffering/sickness
and we hid as it were our faces from him;
he was the one being despised, and we esteemed him not.
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v2 Isa 11: 1 – And there shall come forth a rod
out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch (netzer) shall grow out of his roots
(sheresh)
3.
Isa 53:4-6
-
Suffering
The propitiation/atoning sacrifice for our sins (I Jn
2:2)
v4 Surely he (emphatic) carried our griefs
and he has borne our sorrows:
yet we (emphatic) esteemed him as being stricken,
being smitten of God, and being afflicted.
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and
not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 Jn 2:2)
5 But he (emphatic) was the one fatally wounded
for our transgressions,
he was the one being
bruised/crushed for our
iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray
we have turned each man to his own way;
and the LORD had laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
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v4b Yet, onlookers came to a grievously wrong
conclusion that the Servant was suffering for his own sins at the hands of God
v1-3, V4-6 plurals “we” and “our” and v15 –
refer predominantly to Gentiles
v5 Crucifixion:
Pierced/bored through – literal
Crushed/contrite/broken – figurative
4.
Isa 53:7-9
-
Rejection
v7 He was being oppressed/under pressure
and he (emphatic) was the one being afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth:
as a lamb he is brought to the slaughter,
and as an ewe before her shearers is dumb,
so he did not open his mouth.
v8 from prison and from judgment he was seized:
and which of his generation shall ponder?
for he was cut off out of the land of the living:
for the transgression of my people he was a
plague.
v9 And he made his grave with the wicked (ones),
and with the rich (one) in his death;
because he had done no violence,
and no deceit in his mouth.
5.
Isa 53: 10-12
- Exaltation
v10 Yet the LORD delighted to bruise him; he caused him
grief:
when you have made his soul an offering for sin,
he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
v11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall
be satisfied:
by his knowledge my righteous servant shall justify
many;
for their iniquities he (emphatic) shall bear.
v12 Therefore I will divide
for him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil
with the strong (ones);
because he has poured out his
soul unto death:
and he was numbered with the
transgressors;
and he (emphatic) has carried
the sin of many,
and he will intercede for the
transgressors.
Discussion questions (for next lesson)
Q1 Rejection: Isa 53:1-3; 53:7-9
What difficulties would you face if you tell someone about “the
message” in Isaiah 52:13-53:12?
Rom 10:16
Q2
Suffering: Isa 53:4-6
Why
should God Himself die for the sins of men?
Is
there another way for men to atone for their sins?
Q3
Exaltation: Isa 52:13-15; 53: 10-12
Is
it worth your while to share the message in Isaiah 53:13-53:12?
Why
and why not?
John 20:21
Applications
a) Reflect on what the Lord has done to make you whole.
b) List the names of people who are open to you and pray that you may share the message of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 with them and see their response.
Closing Prayer
Alternatively: Break into twos or threes and share one possible application and pray for one another, and dismiss quietly.
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