The Importance of the Sonrise

March 26, 2007

Read Isaiah 53:1-12

V1-2

• Two of the most misunderstood and misrepresented celebrations in our society today are Christmas, and Easter. It’s not by coincidence that the symbols that are identified most with these holidays - Santa Claus and a bunny rabbit - have absolutely nothing to do with, or cause you to think about the Lord. Many have forgotten that these two holidays represent the two most important events in man’s history - the birth of the Savior, and His resurrection from the dead. Without either, man would be in a perpetual state of doom and tragedy.
• 2 Peter 1:12 tells us how timely reminders of the truth are needed and necessary for our continual growth in and faithfulness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today is one of those times, as the biblical significance of resurrection Sunday will be lost today on Easter egg hunts, shopping for new outfits to wear to church, and get togethers at family, and friend’s houses. Is anything wrong with any of these things in and of itself? No, except when it has devalued truth in our lives.
• Easter should be a time when people contemplate how much it cost God to love in this world. Isaiah 53:6 says man had utterly failed in the purposes of God. All had gone astray. Three points to consider:
  1. Rather than submit to God we rebelled against God
  2. Rather than knowing God we ignored God
  3. Rather than fellowshipping with God we alienated ourselves from God
• You see this today on Easter, instead of advertisements of scriptures, and comments about Jesus in the media or on network TV. You see bunny rabbits and smiling faces wishing you a happy Easter. How can you have Easter without a Savior? But somehow we’ve found a way to do that, haven’t we? Thankfully, Isaiah 51:1 says those of you who follow after righteousness and who seek after the Lord, to look back to where God has brought you from. When a Christian looks back they can’t help but see two things - their need and the cross.
• People often say the gospel message, unbelievable, too good to be true. They think it must be more than believing that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and wants to live within us, so they reject the simple message of the gospel.
• Verse 2 says Jesus will be tenderhearted. We see this in John 19:26-27, when dying on the cross, instead of cursing the people or bemoaning His situation, He ensures that Mary will be taken care of. It says He’ll come out of dry ground. When Jesus came on the scene politically, Rome had oppressed the people spiritually; the people hadn’t heard a word from God in 400 years. When Jesus showed up the ground was dry. Most are initially attracted to others by something outward, but scripture says we will not be attracted by His physical beauty; it is His spiritual beauty that draws us.

V3-6

• Luke 2:52 said growing up Jesus found favor both in the eyes of God and man. But that all changed, not with God but for man, as men began to despise Him. Jesus knew grief and sorrow. It didn’t please Him that His creation both rejected and turned away from Him, that man didn’t want to be associated with Him.
• According to verse 4, He carried our sickness and our pains; He took on our emotional and mental hurt. Verse 5 correlates with Isaiah 50:6; He gave them His back for the lash 40 times save 1, His cheeks for the humiliation of having His beard plucked out, walking in public with spit falling from His face. He walked in public for all to see.

V7-10

• Roman beatings were intended to get prisoners to admit their guilt. If they did, the lash was not so severe. But since Jesus was innocent He kept His mouth shut, causing Him to receive the full brunt of the lash, and making His beating worse.
• Although wicked men plotted to bury Jesus with criminals, God overruled and He was buried in the rich man’s, Joseph of Arimathea, tomb (John 19). Many misinterpret this as believing it gave God Joy to do this to His Son. What they don’t understand is Romans 6:23 - someone has to pay for all this sin and death in the world.
• It pleased the Lord that His Son would have a listening ear that demonstrated itself in an obedient life (Isaiah 50:4-5). That’s why Jesus knew exactly what to do and what to say, and when to say it. He had a listening ear that led to an obedient life. So many don’t have listening ears, therefore you can’t have obedient lives. In verse 11, Jesus wasn’t angry with His murderers instead He was content. According to Hebrews 12:2 He knew the fruit it would bear.
• Verse 12 shows us a pattern for all of us to remember. And as we recap…
  1. Jesus as the slain One (v2)
  2. Jesus as the sorrowing One (v3)
  3. Jesus as the smitten One (v4)
  4. Jesus as the suffering One in (v5)
  5. Jesus as the sin bearing One (v6)
  6. Jesus as the silent One (v7)
  7. Jesus as the smitten One (v8)
  8. Jesus as the sincere One (v9)
  9. Jesus as the Submitted One (v10)
  10. Jesus as the satisfied One in (v11)
  11. Jesus as the Successful One in (v12)