Title: The True Messiah / Isaiah 53:1-12
Content True Messiah / Isaiah 53:1~12
The True Messiah / Isaiah 53:1-12
Although we celebrate Christmas every year, we often spend Christmas without thinking deeply about Jesus. Who really is Jesus? Why did Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, who came to us have a luxurious house and choose a stable to be born? Today, I want to think deeply about Jesus in the 2003 Christmas service.
without beauty to admire
In Isaiah 53, the main text, we would like to examine the appearance of the Messiah.
First, in verses 1 to 3, it says that the appearance of the Messiah is “like a tender shoot, like a stem from dry ground, without a fine appearance or appearance, and there is nothing beautiful in our eyes that we can adore.” This is the Messiah. The Messiah was not an attractive person. He wasn't even welcomed by people. Rather, they were ignored, despised, and rejected by people. At first glance, he did not have an attractive figure to be admired enough to think that this man was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, and it was Jesus who had nothing to offer.
When Jesus was born, no one welcomed him. Only the shepherds and the animals in the stables welcomed the birth of Jesus. The Magi came from afar, but King Herod killed all the children under the age of two. Because Jesus was born, there were cries of a child and tears of a mother's mourning.
The magi, the angels, and the shepherds welcomed it, but overall, it was as if they did not welcome it. Jesus was not welcome. It is Jesus Christ who was born, whom no one remembered, ignored and despised.
The same was true of Jesus' three years of public ministry. Jesus was chased, persecuted, troubled, ignored, and ultimately crucified and died. This is the Messiah.
Second, verses 1 to 3 show the appearance of the Messiah, and verses 4 to 6 show the suffering Messiah. Look at verses 4-6.
“Surely he has borne our sorrows and borne our sorrows, but we thought that he was chastised, smitten by God, and afflicted. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. By receiving him we have peace, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
I thought that Jesus was crucified and died because he was judged before God, and no one thought that it was because of my sins. People thought that Jesus, who was crucified and died, deserved death. I cried out, “Crucify Jesus,” but no one thought that Jesus was being crucified for our sins.
He was pierced for our transgressions.
So Jesus died on the cross. But many were unaware of this wonderful fact that he was pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, that his punishment gave us peace, and his wounds made us healed. And even now, we do not know how many people around us do not know that fact and live without Jesus in this world without believing in God. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way. The Lord made him bear the iniquity of our group, but no one knew.
Third, looking at verses 7 through 9, the Messiah was the one who was put to death. Look at verses 7-9.
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb to the slaughter and a sheep that is silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and tried and led away; He was cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of my people, who deserved punishment. He did no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth; his grave was with the wicked, and his tombs with the rich.”
Jesus was not welcomed by the people, he was a humble man who had nothing to admire in his eyes, he suffered unjustly and was finally crucified. But there is something strange. That he didn't open his mouth. I didn't make excuses or yell at them. He died like a sheep or an ox that is led to the slaughter, like a sheep that is silent before its shearers. He must have had something to say, but he must have made an excuse at least once, but Jesus did not say anything and did not open his mouth. Jesus was humiliated and tried and taken away, but no one of his generation thought, 'He was cut off from the land of the living because of the transgressions of my people, who deserved punishment.' He is the Messiah.
slain lamb
The Messiah had nothing to admire, the Messiah suffered and the Messiah died. But he didn't open his mouth, he made no excuses, he didn't scream. You just got killed. This is Jesus Christ. No one thought that his death was due to my sins. No one thought that He died on the cross for my transgressions and sins. Jesus died that way.
Because Jesus died that way, you and I were baptized and saved today. And he came back to life. Jesus, who died for my sins, was resurrected to resurrect me. Look to this Messiah, Jesus Christ, today. Enter into His glory. Praise him. Worship him. Shout his name high. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into this world to save the sins of all mankind.
If the Son of God was born like a wonderful prince of this world with a fanfare, an army in heaven, he would not be the Messiah. If the Son of God was a star who came into the world to command and rule many people, then he is not the Messiah.
The Messiah is not a hero. The Messiah is not a popular star who is welcomed and applauded by everyone. He is the abandoned, the afflicted, the slain. He is the Messiah, your Savior, and also my Savior. Receive this Lord. Get down on your knees before him. put his name on it. You should welcome him. The world rejected him, but you welcome him. I exalt the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.