BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12, 1 Peter 2:22-25, Matthew 8:14-17)

As we gather here on this Thanksgiving Sunday, we have much for which to praise the Lord. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and on your way to heaven, that is a huge item of praise. But there are many facets to this one larger praise item. Some of you have already shared some of your praise earlier in the service. But I would like to give the rest of you an opportunity to add your thanks for today. So, please let us know what you are thankful for.

I have a couple of questions for you, which many of you will be able to answer. How many books in the Bible?  How many are in the Old Testament? How about the New Testament? Do you know a bible book that has 66 chapters? It is a bit like a model of the Bible. The book is divided into two major parts just like the Bible. The first 39 are very much like all the other OT books. Chapter 39 ends with the story of Hezekiah the king at that time and the fact that he was sick and was told by Isaiah that he was going to die. He turned his face to the wall and sulked, Then prayed to God citing the good things he had done. So, God relented, and the prophet told him God would give him another 15 to live and rule. Then the prophet told him that God also said that after he died his sons would be taken captive and Israel would be punished. The last verse of chapter 39 reads, “’The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. ‘For he thought, ’There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’” This is so typical of the ups and downs of the Old Testament, with it’s parade of good kings and bad kings ruling. Clearly Hezikiah had no regard for his children and the nation’s future, but only that he would survive in peace and security.

But beginning in chapter 40 the tone in Isaiah’s message changes with a command to comfort God’s people. “’Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God.’” The following 29 chapters speaks of many events and teachings that we find in the New Testament. There are important prophecies in the first 39 chapters that Jesus would fulfill. But there are many more messianic prophecies in the last 27 chapters. Some people have for that reason called this section of the book, “the gospel in the Old Testament.”

One key portion of this section of Isaiah is chapter 53. And in this chapter, we find much to be thankful for even though it was written about 700 years before Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose from the  dead. I would encourage you to spend some time today or one day soon to read this amazing chapter. Please turn to it in your Bible or on your phone or tablet if you have one with you today. In the pew Bible it is on Page 716. Actually, we will begin in Isaiah chapter 52 which also prophecies many wonderful and amazing things to say about what is going to happen to the one called the Servant of the Lord. As an introduction to chapter 53, listen to Isaiah 52:13-15.

See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond any human likeness – so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Here we read about the suffering and glory of the servant of the Lord. We are told that this servant would act wisely, be lifted up and highly exalted. But we also see that he will be disfigured and look appalling. His form is to be marred beyond human likeness. This leads to Isaiah 53 where verses 1-9 read this way.

¹ Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
² He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. ³ He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. ⁴ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ⁸By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. ⁹He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

What do we see here in this prophecy given to Isaiah? In the verses we read from chapter 52, we find a description of the servant and what he was like. Please note the past tense is used in this portion from verse 52:14 onward. He was like a tender shoot out of dry ground. This speaks not only about the servant but the condition of Israel at the time of his appearing. Jesus was born in a time when Israel could be seen to be dry ground, it was not a fertile time in Israel’s spiritual climate. It also tells that he did not have any special beauty or majesty that would attract people to him. His appearance was not unusual or designed to draw people to him. Unlike the first king of Israel, Saul, he was not a head taller than everyone else. Nor is he described as David, Israel’s second king, was, as being of a ruddy complexion. Nothing is said of his appearance that would set him apart from the rest of his village.

We also find that he was despised and rejected. This would not become the usual expectation of the people about the arrival of the Messiah. Israel in Jesus’ day was really intent in looking for the coming of messiah. It seems that it was top of mind for one reason or another. But they were looking for a warrior king to come with military power to defeat Rome and end its rule over Israel. But Isaiah also says that it was not just Israel that would reject him, but mankind. He became a man of suffering and pain. He was like one from which people withdrew their gaze. And Isaiah says, we, that is Israel, we held him in low esteem. He was despised. Ouch! I sort of wince at that. It really seems quite difficult for us to read about the route that Jesus took to redeem us. It probably baffled the listeners in Isaiah’s day as well. Why would God describe his servant in this way? And it is all in the past tense. “He grew, he had, he was, and again, he was.” And “we held him … .” In this prophesy it is a done deal, no questions.

When I read about the fact that “he was like one from which people withdrew their gaze” it reminded me of the movie ‘The Passion of Christ’. I guess the number of people who have viewed the movie is in the many millions. It has been shown all around the world. When Mel Gibson asked Jim Caviezel to play the part of Jesus, he warned him that the role would be very difficult and might have a negative impact on his career in Hollywood. He took the role anyway. We are told that Jim was struck by lightning during the shooting of the movie. He also lost 45 pounds and was actually whipped by accident while shooting the flogging scene. After it was done, Jim said he didn’t want people to see him but to see Jesus.

Now, I was not one of the millions who saw the movie. But I remember one Sunday the speaker in our church showed a couple of minutes of the scene of Jesus on the cross. It was difficult to watch. I was told that many who saw the movie had a difficult time actually watching the movie, particularly that scene. And I agree, “he was like one from which people withdrew their gaze.” I certainly felt that way.

53:4 begins a long explanation about what happened at the crucifixion. How accurately it is described is amazing because at the time of the writing the punishment of crucifixion was unknown, it had never happened, until Rome began to use it for a certain class of non-Roman criminals. Again, the text continues in the past tense.

He took our pain and bore our suffering. That was a terrible agony for him. But, says Isaiah, we thought that he had done something that would cause God to punish him in this awful manner. When Isaiah says, “We thought”, he meant his people, Israel, the Jews, thought that the Lord’s Servant was struck down by God for his own sinfulness. But rather we are told it was for our transgressions and our iniquities that he was pierced and crushed.

A.W. Tozer, in his devotional book, “Renewed Day by Day” writes, “The word ‘iniquity’ is not a good word—and God knows how we hate it! But the consequences of iniquity cannot be escaped. The prophet reminds us clearly that the Saviour was bruised for our iniquities. We deny it and say ‘No!’ but the fingerprints of all mankind are plain evidence against us—the fingerprints of man found in every dark cellar and in every alley and in every dimly lighted evil place in the world. God knows man from man, and it is impossible to escape our guilt and place our moral responsibility upon someone else.” “For our iniquities and our transgressions, He was bruised and wounded—and Israel’s great burden and amazing blunder was her judgement that this wounded one on the hillside beyond Jerusalem was being punished for his own sin!”

In the midst of this miscarriage of justice we find out that we are the true criminals. By his punishment we have been brought peace, and by his wounds we are healed. As much as we hate this procedure, event, this action, this requirement of God, does it not create a deep guttural response of thanksgiving in our hearts and minds?

Isaiah reminds Israel and he reminds us of an uncomfortable reality. We all, each and everyone of us, have gone astray. Each one of us has turned and gone our own way. But praise be to God that is not the end of the story. The Father has laid on the Lord Jesus Christ all the iniquity of each one of us at the cross. And this happens personally when we invite Jesus to save us by faith and become a child of God.

To help us understand the impact these verses have on our lives I would like to refer you to two New Testament quotes of Isaiah 53:4-5 which reads, “⁴ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  We find these verses quoted by Peter in 1 Peter 2:24-25. “²⁴ ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ ²⁵For ‘you were like sheep going astray’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Here Peter makes sure we know that it was by Jesus’ suffering for us on the cross our spiritual need is met. And we are saved, redeemed, and healed spiritually. How our thankful hearts praise God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for this life changing truth!

Then in Matthew chapter eight, the Holy Spirit has Matthew add an editorial comment to the work of Jesus and it’s meaning. Jesus had been doing a lot of physical healing. Here he healed a man with leprosy (vs. 3-4) and the servant of a centurion whose faith astounded Jesus (vs. 5-13). Then in the evening he went to Peter’s home and healed Peter’s mother-in-law (vs. 14-15), and many more sick folks, who were brought to him (v. 16). Matthew’s explanation of what was happening is found in verse 17. “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’” And because this is true for us here and now, we bring our physical sicknesses and diseases to God for healing. We will all be healed in the resurrection, but we can also apply for his healing power to be at work in our bodies, minds, and hearts today. It is all included in verse 4 and 5 of Isaiah 53. Jesus’ healing sacrifice heals all manner of illnesses and diseases. All in answer to the simple prayer and faith of ordinary people of faith.

And how and in what manner did the Servant of the Lord suffer? Verse 7 reminds that for all the oppression and affliction laid on him he did not open his mouth to complain. As he was led to the slaughter, he made neither a statement of self defense nor attacked his executors. He did not open his mouth except to show mercy to the repentant thief that died along side of him, or to call out to his Father and commit his life into the Father’s hands.

An alternate reading of verse 8 could be “From arrest and judgment he was taken away.” And although his own generation lacked the courage or insight to protest what had happened, he was cut off from the land of the living. Death was real and cruel. Ugly, profane, inhumane torture and death, but his generation for the most part made no protest. All hope ebbed out of his followers’ hearts. They were completely defeated. “We had thought he was the One who was going to redeem Israel”, said the depressed disciples with whom Jesus walked on the way to Emmaus. They had thought that Jesus was the Messiah, and his death ended all hope of that. They were wiped out spiritually, emotionally, and personally they were afraid for their own lives, and they could not cope with this new reality.

And neither they nor any other people spoke up to condemn the crucifixion. They all seemed to agree that Jesus somehow deserved to die. If he is the king of Israel, let him come down and we will believe in him. No pity. No concern for the man or his family nor his friends. No planned or spontaneous protest was mounted against those who managed his arrest and condemnation.

The Lord God Jehovah says that for the transgressions of His people, his Servant was punished. His Servant was buried in a borrowed grave among rich men and the wicked. This all happened even though he had never done any violence nor deceived anyone. Everything he said and did was for the good of other people and to fulfill his Father’s purposes.

When we get to verse 10 a new thought is featured. It is not just because of the sins of mankind that this all happened. It was the Lord God Jehovah’s will for this to happen, just as it did. That is how Isaiah can with confidence write this centuries before it actually took place in time and space. It took place in our reality. In the reality of mankind almost two thousand years ago. (Jesus died about 33 A.D.)

It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer. Do you remember that in the hours before his death Jesus spent some very strenuous prayer time with his Father. He asked if it was possible that another way might be found to bring eternal salvation to the world without his suffering the cross, please let it be. Yet he also prayed, “but your will be done.” Jesus was familiar with the will of the Lord that he must indeed be crushed and to suffer this inexplicable death. Well, his death is not quite inexplicable, because the Word makes it clear why only Jesus’ death could provide salvation for all who believe.

So, Jesus died in our place by the will of God. This is the most wonderful truth from this portion in regard to our good. We also find out some other things prophesied in the remaining verses of the chapter. Verse 10 also tells us that “though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hands.” God has his purpose, and he brings it about, and Jesus dies. But afterwards there is a promise that this Servant of the Lord is going to live and make the will of the Lord prosper. Just think of all that Jesus’ death has accomplished. So, this servant is alive and will be forever. And he has blessed us. He enables us to do the will of God and make it prosper. Wow!

But there is more. We are told in verse 11 that after this servant, Jesus, has suffered “he will see the light of life and be satisfied” or alternately, “He will see the fruit of his suffering and be satisfied.” The alternate reading continues in verse 11 saying, “by knowledge of him my righteous servant will justify many and he will bear their iniquities.” Jesus’ reward for his suffering is our redemption, our justification and his satisfaction, is found in the outcome of his suffering. We just have to know him and what he has done for us.

Isaiah completes these thoughts by writing, “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. This is all about Jesus, but it is also all about us. So much to be thankful for, to celebrate, to live out by letting him by the Holy Spirit make the will of God prosper in our lives by his hands. Much praise and glory to God. Let us sing hymn number 240 as we prepare our hearts for taking communion. AMEN!

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Another thought: Luke writes in 24:25-26, “’How foolish you are. And how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Do you suppose Isaiah 53 was one of the Scriptures he used to show them the truth about his suffering?

Ron MacKinnon

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