Behold the Suffering Servant, Jesus to Become Like Him

Isaiah 52:13

This is a great time of year to behold Jesus as the prophesied Messiah who would come 700 years after Isaiah to take our place on the cross. May this study build your faith in Christ, prepare you for worship of our living Savior (every Sunday), and guide you to follow His example.

1. Behold Jehovah's Servant.

   1. Behold is a command & call to attention about 1900 times in the Bible.

   2. Behold means to gaze, stop-look-&-listen, give vitality to your focus with interest, intensity, and intention to learn and change according to God's Word.

   3. Behold is used regularly in Isaiah. (Isaiah 3:1, 7:14, 12:2, 22:13-17 & 40:9-10)

   4. Behold Jesus' suffering (Isaiah 50:6, 52:14, 53:4-5, and other OT verses)

      1. Discuss various descriptions of His punishment in light of what that says about the sinfulness of sin, the damage of sin & the violence of mankind.

      2. Discuss "marred"--deformed, defective, repulsive & unfit to be offered to God as a sacrifice. Why do you think Jewish leaders wanted the assault even before the cross?

      3. Meditation for peace in our times of suffering: He suffered way more than I will ever suffer. He suffered because of the failures of others, while we suffer for our own choices. He did not deserve it. He understands ours. How do these truths help us cope & excel in times of suffering?

2. Behold God's Servant will Deal Prudently (Isaiah 52:13)

   1. Behold the way Jesus will act with wisdom and insight in order to succeed in God's plan-a salvation through Him. The crucifixion did not stop Him, but rather it is vital proof that God's ways & thoughts are higher than ours. Suffering precedes glory.

   2. Behold His plan will astonish many when it prospers (vs. 14-15), just like many were astonished at Isaiah's preaching (vs. 14a). Shock: the awful will be the atonement to sprinkle many Gentile nations, not just Jews (vs. 15a); Shock: kings can rage now as they did at the crucifixion, but they will be silenced by the King of Kings; from marred one to Master, from deformed to deliverer, from repulsive to Redeemer, from scarred "animal" sacrifice to the sweet-smelling savor that pleased God.

   3. Behold the accomplishments of God's Word also (Isaiah 55:2-12).

3. Behold God's Servant will be Exalted, Extolled, and Elevated to the Highest

   1. Behold Jesus as worthy of exaltation by God (Philippians 2).

   2. Behold Jesus exalted just as God & LORD (Isaiah 6:1, 33:10 & 57:15). Meditate on His deity.

   3. Believers exalt Jesus as LORD (Isaiah 49:3, Galatians 6:14).

   4. Believers are called to follow His example of service and humility. Take time to read John 13:1-5, 13-1, and James 4:10. How does humble service exalt the Lord?