The Gospel of Isaiah

Behold Him today. See Him there, at Calvary.

Turn with me to… The first Gospel. The Gospel of Isaiah. It was written about 700 years BC. So Isaiah was not an eyewitness of Christ, as the other Gospel writers. He foresaw these events.

Experience… with me… the cross. Behold:
1. His SORROWS
His compassion for us. In other words, what we see is - your pain in His heart. Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Despised and rejected - hated, scorned, forsaken. A Man of Sorrows. Pains and anguish. Acquainted with grief - he was used to it. He knows your pain. Your anxiety.

We did not value or regard Him.

See Him, in the Bitterness of Gethsemane. The Olive press. See His tears. Jesus wept - for a world chained by sin. His breaking heart. His yearning love.

There was a sign on a garage: “We can mend everything but a broken heart”. Jesus can.

See His mother, weeping.

Treated with contempt. Treated as worthless. Unloved. Unwanted. Mankind still spits out His name as a swear word, thoughtlessly, blasphemously.

The horror of the cross. The place of Humiliation. Hatred.

Behold: His Sorrows.

Behold:
2. His SUFFERINGS
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

See His Bleeding. His spasms. His pain. His sufferings were a grotesque agony. The ordeal. The extreme weariness. The despair.

As a lamb slaughtered. As a leper avoided. As a victim hurt. As a criminal punished.

He carried our sorrows - our pains and torments. He endured the smiting of men, and the striking of God. He was stricken of God, afflicted.

Consider: The torment. The torture. The terror. The gloomy darkness.

That he should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9.

It was the cords of love that held Him there to the cross.

It was shocking. He was defaced. Mutilated. Disfigured. He looked no longer human.

He was made a curse for us. Galatians 3:13.

We cannot conceive the exhaustion. The weight. He bore it willingly, patiently. The horrific humiliation and shame.

Behold: His Sorrows.

Behold: His Sufferings.

Behold:
3. His SACRIFICE
His was a willing sacrifice. Isaiah 53:5-7 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

He was wounded - pierced, stabbed.

The iniquity of us all - our guilt.

We are healed - made whole.

He became sin for us. “Jesus became the greatest lair, perjurer, thief, adulterer and murderer that mankind has ever known - not because He committed these sins but because he was actually made sin for us” - so said Luther.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He carries the weight - He lifts it off us. Our pollution… laid on Him.

He has made full satisfaction. His work is sufficient for all. Efficient for all who call.

This great sacrifice was a sweet smelling savour. Strong smell of perfume.

It tells of the travail of his soul. Travail - as of the pain of childbirth - His body wracked with searing pain - it was especially painful.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He cried out: It is finished. This was the cry of victory. Payment has been made.

We Behold: His Sorrows.
Behold: His Sufferings.
Behold: His Sacrifice.

This avails today: For us: This gives to us…

Our reason for Purity. He has come to purify unto Himself a people. He makes us as clean can be. Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. The cleansing blood is our reason for Purity.

Also, it’s our reason for Peace - the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. We have Shalom today. Wholeness. Reconciliation.

And, this gives to us, our reason for Praise. Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. He shall be exalted. Extolled - lifted up - and honoured.

He who was an object of honour will be the One due praise. He is due our praise today. Behold Him.