Title: With His Stripes
Text: Isaiah 53: 5
Date: March 7, 2010
Place: Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, Princeton, NJ
Isaiah 53: 5: 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.
I. HE WAS WOUNDED FOR SOMEONE ELSE
He suffered in the place of others.
1. For OUR transgressions--HE was wounded
2. For OUR iniquities--HE was bruised
3. For OUR peace--HE was chastised
Glorious Substitution is the hope of the believer.
Who is this for whom he died?
Usually I would say it plainly: the elect, the chosen of God, those given him before the world began, those blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places according as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, the sheep and not the goats--but lest the pious stiffen their neck, and cry not fair--let's see if you fit the bill.
He took the place of those whose "wickedness was great in the earth, [whose] every imagination of his heart was ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY" (Gen 6:5.); those "conceived in sin, who came from their mother's womb speaking lies"; Christ died for those who were not righteous, who had no understanding, who did not seek God, those gone out of the way, unprofitable, no good, whose throat is an open grave, under whose tongues is the poison of snakes, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, whose feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery in their ways, who knew not the way of peace, who had no fear of God before their eyes (Rom 3: 10-18.) Isaiah 53: 3:…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. 4: Surely he hath borne OUR griefs, and carried OUR sorrows: yet WE did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him.
Romans 5: 7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
II. WHAT DID HE SUFFER FOR US?
Isaiah 53: 5: But he was WOUNDED for our transgressions, he was BRUISED for our iniquities: the CHASTISMENT of our peace was upon him;
WOUNDED, BRUISED, CHASTISED
Wounded means to profane, to pollute, to defile, to break, to slay. He was scourged--the law called for 40 stripes.
Matthew 27:30: And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Psalm 22:16: For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
YET, THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE AND TORTURE GIVES US BUT A GLIMPSE OF THE SUFFERING OF HIS SOUL.
Bruised means to be crushed. Like corn is put into a mill and ground to powder. Chastisement here does not mean the chastisement of a loving father, correcting his son in love. It is the vengenance of justice. The wrath of God taking vengeance on him in the room and stead of others. He said, "Now is my soul troubled…he made his soul an offering for sin."
III. WHY DID HE SUFFER SO?
Isaiah 53: 7: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8: He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken 9: And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; [here is why?]…because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
HE SUFFERED VOLUNTARILY BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS A FIT SACRIFICE FOR HIS PEOPLE.
because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
Only the Just One could take the place of the unjust. The law foreshadowed that Christ, the Lamb of God, would be without spot and without blemish. He was conceived of the Holy Ghost--that holy thing in the womb of the virgin. Like the law was placed into the ark of the covenant so the law of God was in Christ Jesus
Psalm 40: 7: Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8: I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
HE SUFFERED BECAUSE IT WAS THE WILL OF THE FATHER, HIS OWN WILL, TO MANIFEST HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Isaiah 53: 10: Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief
1. It pleased the LORD to provide Himself a Lamb--v10: when THOU shalt make HIS SOUL an offering for sin.
2. It pleased the LORD for the glory in saving his chosen children to go to his own darling Son--v10: HE shall see his seed, HE shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in HIS hand.
3. It pleased the LORD to declare his righteousness--he is just and he is the justifier, a just God AND a Savior--v11: He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: [propitiated] by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
HE SUFFERED FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM BY THE FATHER FROM BEFORE THE WORLD WAS MADE.
Isaiah 53: 12: Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great,
He is raised King of kings and Lord of lords…
Ephesians 1: 20: [The Father raised him from the dead and] set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Psalm 2:8: Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
The desire of our King is to have that joy set before him--his people.
Isaiah 53: 12:…and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
Have you ever noticed the very next word after Ephesians 1?
Ephesians 1: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all….2: 1: AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND IN SINS
IV. WHAT DID HE ACCOMPLISH BY HIS SUFFERING UNTO DEATH?
Isaiah 53: 5:…WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.
Romans 8: 33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
The words of our Redeemer are our words brethren!
Isaiah 50: 8: He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9: Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
How can I be sure?
Isaiah 53: 12:…because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Application:
To the believer he says:
Isaiah 50: 10: Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
To everyone else he says:
Isaiah 50: 11: Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Brethren,
Hebrews 12: 1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You who believe, come now to the Lord's table and do this in remembrance of him!
AMEN!