Isaiah 53:1-11 How Many Kings As we come continue faithfully forward (as time always does) toward Christmas and the celebration of the first advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; let us take a day to remember the reason for the first advent. Why did Christ, The Son of God, King of the universe, come to this earth in humble and lowly human form. Why would the creator take on the form of the created? It would be an easy answer to say because He loves us; thought that is very true. It would be equally as easy to say to satisfy the price for our sin; and that is also true. But, let us go deeper into the reason of the first Advent of our Lord. Let us not only look at the birth of this precious child. Born to be King. Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Why was the child born? Why was the son given? Let us dig into the words of the prophet Isaiah, written more than 700 years before the advent.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:2a For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: Isaiah 53:2a For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground:

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:2b He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2b He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:3a He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: Isaiah 53:3a He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:3b And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3b And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:5a But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: Isaiah 53:5a But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:5b The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5b The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:7a He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: Isaiah 53:7a He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth:

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:7b He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7b He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:8a He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? Isaiah 53:8a He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation?

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:8b For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. Isaiah 53:8a For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:10a Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, Isaiah 53:10a Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:10b He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10a He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:2 Jesus coming described: Growing as a tender plant Coming up as a root Nothing exceptional in appearance. Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah prophesied that there would be nothing particularly special about the way that the Messiah would appear. The Jewish people were looking for a king that would be born into special circumstances. They were looking for someone like King Saul, who was described as being ‘head and shoulders’ above the other people of Israel. YET – If Jesus had come into this world under those circumstances, countless millions of people would be unable to identify with Him – only those born into riches and greatness. GROWING UP as a tender plant describes Jesus’ childhood. He was born into Israel and grew up just like other children in the region and period. COMING UP as a root describes that He would be born into this world – He would not (at least for the first advent) appear into the world in power and glory. I am reminded of the time it takes to grow a tree from a seed. It is not a fast process! It is so long and painstaking process that many people choose to purchase grown trees and pay thousands to have them delivered and installed rather than wait for the natural process of growing. Jesus grew, as it were, from a root. He came as a new born babe in Bethlehem and was therefore able to understand all of our sufferings – all of our pains. I am sure that Jesus, as a child, did many things that every other child did. I many times as a child, learning carpentry from my father as we built and repaired church buildings, banged my hand with a hammer – even still today it happens AND I HAVE PROOF OF THAT. JESUS UNDERSTANDS OUR SUFFERING – because he came up as a root and grew as a tender plant. He was not exceptional in appearance – can you imagine if you felt that you had to have a certain physical appearance in order to be accepted of God? Thank God that He decided to come as a lowly child – children were loved in ancient Israel, but they were considered as second class citizens. They had no power to defend themselves and they had no political sway. This is how our Lord was to come – but only for the first appearance!

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:3 Despised and Rejected – HE UNDERSTANDS OUR SORROW – A man of sorrow – He understands grief – Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; 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. He is not a god that is made of human hands who having a mouth speaks not, having hands does not, having feet moves not, having eyes sees not, having ears hears not. He is a God that sees our every sorrow, hears our every cry and moves, and works and speaks into our lives.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:4 He is Our Grief Bearer You need not carry the burden of your sin, for HE has carried it to the cross already. Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:5 What was the cost of sin? How can that price be paid? WHO could pay the price? 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. WHAT WAS THE COST OF SIN? Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death....” HOW CAN THAT PRICE BE PAID? Romans 3:23 “…. But, the gift of God is eternal life ….” WHO COULD PAY THE PRICE? Romans 6:23 “…. through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It is Jesus and Him alone who could atone for our sins. It was through His humble birth in Bethlehem’s manger and His purity and innocense that He could then pay the price for our sin and give us His salvation. THROUGH HIS DEATH WE LIVE! What a marvelous thought.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:6 We all have sinned. We cannot save ourselves He came to save us! Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:7 – He did not speak accusations against His accusers – – He was the PERFECT SACRIFICE! – 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. HE DID NOT SPEAK ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIS ACCUSERS – though He surely had the right to do so, He was perfect, they were but sinners. HE WAS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:8 – The prison was not for Him – – The judgment was His to meet out, not to receive – – He took the price of sin upon Himself – Isaiah 53:8 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.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:9 – His grave (death) was with the wicked on a cross between two criminals – – His tomb belonged to The rich – Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. – His grave (death) was with the wicked on a cross between two criminals – – His tomb belonged to The rich –

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:10 – It pleased God to put our punishment upon HIS OWN SON – – He is the offering for our sin – Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Jesus’ satisfaction came from having suffered the anguish of the scourging that He received, having suffered the punishment of the cross. HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS – there is no salvation outside of Him!

How Many Kings - Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Has the arm of The Lord been revealed to you? Have you seen His salvation? Have you believed the report of the Lord and accepted the salvation that He came to give to you? Let us take time today to re-dedicate our lives to Him even as He dedicated His ALL to us!