WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.600 Take your Bible and go to the book of Isaiah, chapter 52. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:05.440 Isaiah 52. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:11.359 And if you don't have a Bible, you'll find it a Bible in the pew in front of you. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:16.640 And right around page 650 or so, you'll find Isaiah chapter 52. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:29.440 There are moments that we experience when things happen so quietly, so subtly that you don't even realize that something new has begun. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:34.399 Back in 1995 or 1996, my memory is a little fuzzy. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:42.320 So 29 or 30 years ago, a friend of mine, Dan, invited me and my family to see an entertainment group by the name of Stomp. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:44.079 I had no idea who they were. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.560 I thought it was kind of a strange name, too. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:55.119 All I knew was, and all that Dan would tell me, is that they were a percussion group and used percussion and movement in creative ways. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:56.799 I had no idea what to expect. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:03.920 We'd arrived early, sat down with Dan and some other friends, and we were enjoying some conversation, waiting for the show to begin. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:08.159 And eventually, uh a man popped out from behind the curtain with a broom. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:12.400 And just the movement of his presence on stage caught my attention. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:20.079 But when I saw him sweeping the floor, I was a little puzzled and eventually went back to the conversation that we were having. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:27.200 And this man, as he came out, wasn't dressed in any way that you would expect a performer to dress. 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:29.840 And he was pushing a broom around. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:43.359 And so that glance and that momentary peak of my interest uh soon faded away until his movements started to become a little more rhythmic as he manipulated the broom. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:46.159 And I thought, well, that's that's a little odd. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:49.920 Again, I didn't know what to expect. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:02:05.519 And then the curtain pulled back, and there were a whole host of people dressed exactly as he was, all holding brooms, and all of them began the show of doing some wonderful movement and and uh rhythm with with their brooms that they had in their hand, and off the show started. 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:06.560 It was a great show. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:17.840 But it started in this small, quiet, insignificant way, this intentional subtlety that passed by my attention. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:24.159 Isaiah's fourth servant song begins in a similar kind of way. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:32.800 Now it calls us to attention quite strongly, but we don't catch it often. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:41.919 In chapter 52 and verse 13, uh the CSB says, see, and that could easily pass behind by us. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:46.319 Uh the ESV says behold, as my some of the other versions do. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:50.719 And that term is is meant to capture us. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:55.039 It's meant to hold for us to hold our attention on something. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:03.120 It's not a casual glance, it's not a passing interest, it's a call to fix our eyes and pay our attention to something. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:18.560 And back in the 90s, again, I gave my son some video games, and one of them was uh The Legend of Zelda, the Ocarina of Time, and there's this little figure, Navi, and she would go, Hey, hey, listen, listen, listen, hey, listen. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:24.159 And my boys played that game to death, and that phrase just burned in my head. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:32.240 This is the prophet saying, Hey, hey, listen, listen, listen. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:47.919 But Isaiah's hears, and even all the way into our generation, this announcement deserves no more than a momentary glance, much like the one I gave that guy who was pushing the broom right at the outset of the stomp concert. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.919 And it partly has to do with what we're to pay attention to. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:53.919 See my servant. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:02.800 Now, if God had said, Hey, hey, listen, we'd go, what am I supposed to pay attention to? 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:04.080 A king? 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:06.719 I'll pay attention to a king. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:08.400 Um, a wealthy person? 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:10.639 I'll pay attention to a wealthy person. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:12.240 Hey, a prophet? 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.759 Uh, maybe. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:15.520 A singer? 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:16.160 Yeah. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.920 A servant? 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.920 Why are you bothering me? 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:26.560 A king's interest would command attention in any room. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:31.680 But what if you were in a ballroom and a servant and entered? 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.240 Would you notice? 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:37.839 Would you follow that person's movement throughout the room? 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.040 Would you care to pay any attention at all? 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:54.639 But it is to that person, the person with the broom, that God says, Hey! Listen, look here. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:57.439 Well, why should we? 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:03.680 Well, because this servant's going to be like no other that we've ever met. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:06.879 Let's just read about him in these three verses we'll look at today. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:09.920 See my servant, will be successful. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:13.360 He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:21.360 Just as many were appalled at you, his appearance was so disfigured that he did not look like a man, and his form did not resemble a human being. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.319 So he will sprinkle many nations. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:33.199 Kings will shut their mouths because of him, for they will see what they've not been told, and they will understand what they've not heard. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:37.920 This servant's going to be like no other servant ever. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:41.519 Now we would expect him like any other servant. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:45.439 We might have an attitude that said, well, despised, rejected, silent, and suffering. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:47.199 Yeah, whatever, servant. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:51.920 That is sadly too often the case of how people think. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:54.399 But not this servant. 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:56.480 Oh, yeah, all that, yes. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:58.240 But something else. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:05:59.920 He's going to be exalted. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.360 He's going to be glorious. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:03.839 He's going to shut the mouths of kings. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.879 He's going to be one who acts wisely. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:11.199 Yes, he'll be turned away and not valued. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:18.480 But he's much, much more, much, much more than just a broom-sweeping man on a stage. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:21.439 He enters quietly just like that. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.639 And if we don't pay attention, we might miss it. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:28.639 But God is doing something new here. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:33.920 God is doing something glorious here, and he's doing it through this servant. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.040 Listen. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.879 Pay attention. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:42.240 It's not going to be obvious, but it should never be overlooked. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:46.319 It's not going to be grand, but it's definitely unexpected. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.120 And it's not to be done in strength. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.199 It's going to be accomplished in suffering. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.519 Are you ready to listen? 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:58.480 This is the paradox at the heart of Isaiah's fourth song. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:08.399 This is the one who will be high and lifted up, who will silence kings, but also will suffer injustice and will not be valued. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:11.360 And Isaiah wants us to hear this. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:17.360 He wants us to walk through this and understand this strange paradox of this servant. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.120 So let's hear him. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:40.720 See my servant will be successful. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:46.879 He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:53.040 Isaiah introduces us to this servant, and there's much to say about his suffering. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:08:00.720 But interestingly, the first thing that he says about this servant is that not his suffering, but rather his success. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:10.720 Now turn over to the next chapter and go to the very near end, not the complete end, but the near end of this. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:18.800 In verse 10, and notice, yes, the suffering of this servant. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:22.399 The Lord was pleased to crush him severely and made a guilt offering. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:29.680 But he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand the Lord's pleasure will be accomplished. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:32.799 He will see light and be satisfied. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.200 By his knowledge, many will be justified. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:40.799 And he will be given a portion and will receive the mightiest spoil. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:51.919 Why? 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:56.480 Why are we told that he'll be successful in the beginning? 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:05.519 Why are we told at the end he's going to be fully accomplishing all of God's purposes and will therefore be exalted? 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.679 Why this affirmation? 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:26.000 Because Isaiah wants us to know at the very outset that the suffering and the rejection that the servant is going to face is not some detour off of the road to success, but is actually the path itself. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:41.440 That his suffering does not stand contrary to his exaltation, but that his exaltation is intimately, directly, and necessarily connected to his suffering. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:50.480 That his suffering is part of his success, and it is not an obstacle to it. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:58.320 And it's this very point that the disciples of Jesus did not understand. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:12.639 In the very last chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus has to say to them, How foolish you are, how slow to believe all the prophets have spoken. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:24.159 Wasn't it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory? 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:33.600 And then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in the scriptures. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:38.879 All of that encapsulated here in this psalm. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:44.080 Christ first to suffer, and then enter into his glory. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:56.000 And this servant will be wise, he will be skillful, he will be faithful, he will be obedient, and he will bring about all of God's intended purposes. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:58.879 He will fulfill the mission that God gave him. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:10.879 He will not falter, he will not fail, he will look like he's faltering, he will look like he's failing, he will look like he's defeated, but that is not the end of him. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:14.399 And as a result, take a look. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.679 In verse 13, I want you to notice a phrase. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:23.440 He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:27.519 Now, just read that again. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.559 Just to cement it a little more deeply in our mind. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:35.600 He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.519 Isaiah has used this language before. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:12:00.639 Back in chapter 6 of the book of Isaiah, right at the very beginning of his ministry, Isaiah saw Adonai, the Lord, enthroned in glory, surrounded by the seraphim, crying, Holy, holy, holy. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:26.799 And there he says he saw Yahweh Sabaoth, the Lord of armies, the Lord of all lords, the Lord of all strengths and powers, high and lifted up, the exact same language that's used here. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:45.360 That vision of divine majesty in Isaiah chapter six, and the language of the exalted Lord of armies is the exact exaltation that the servant is going to receive. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:58.399 You see, he's not merely a human figure who succeeds, he is the mystery itself, a divine majesty and humility. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:08.240 The servant who suffers is the same Lord who is glorified in the earlier vision. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:14.399 Now, with that in mind, let's go to John chapter 12 for just a second. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:16.639 John chapter 12. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:27.360 Here in John chapter 12, Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 6 are blended together, as we'll see in a moment. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:34.639 And we don't have time to walk through all of this, but we'll eventually move through verses 23 to 41. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:46.320 But before we get there, in verse 12, you'll see in your Bible what we call the triumphal entry of Christ. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:56.879 Jesus coming in, and the people shouting, Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:00.240 Your king is coming. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:12.639 And you can imagine all the people laid out there in the entryway into the city, laying down their palm branches and crying out with jubilant praise. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:18.080 And here comes Jesus on top of a beast of burden. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.120 And the disciples don't catch it. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:24.000 What they catch is all the fanfare. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.000 They're like, Yes, we go. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.600 Yeah, he's coming. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.399 Our king. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:34.399 We've been his disciple for three years, and we're right behind him. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:38.240 And we're going to sit on the right and the left hand side of his throne. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.600 We've got this. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.200 You guys come and join us. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:42.720 This is victory. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:43.600 We're in. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.720 We're doing this. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.559 It's going to happen. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:53.039 Verse 23. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:58.000 The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.120 Yes. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.559 Yes. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:03.519 It's going to happen. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:06.480 Victory, power, might, success. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:13.120 But Jesus didn't stop there. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:19.759 Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.480 Huh? 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:35.440 All of a sudden, Peter, James, and John, who've been pushing each other around, saying, I'm first, no, I'm first, no, I'm first, no, I'm first, are looking at Jesus, going, What are you talking about? 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:41.519 Jesus speaks about his impending glorification. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:48.320 Now, now is the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.519 And I'm going to die. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:56.639 Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:00.320 But if it dies, it'll produce much fruit. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:10.720 And here Jesus is in his humanity and deity, not relishing in the idea of death or taking the curse of sin upon himself. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:12.480 His soul is troubled. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.960 And yet he embraces the hour of suffering. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:19.600 And so in verse 27 and 28, he says, My soul is troubled. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.360 What shall I say? 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.039 Father, save me from this hour. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:29.600 But this is why I've come, come, Father, glorify your name. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:36.639 And the Father responds, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:43.440 All surrounding the idea of the death of Jesus. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:54.320 And so in verse 32 and 33, Jesus says, This voice was not for me, but for you. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.559 Now is judgment to this world. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.879 Now is the ruler being cast out. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:06.079 And again, James and John and Peter and the other disciples are like, Yeah, okay, we're getting back on track here. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:10.880 We're getting back to armies and power and swords and success. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:17.119 As for me, if I'm lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.319 And he said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:27.680 And again, the disciples are shocked. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.599 And even the crowds confused. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.039 And they're like, wait a second. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.400 What is this? 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:34.000 Verse 34. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.759 We've heard it said in the law that the Messiah must reign forever. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.920 How can you say the Son of Man should be lifted up? 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:48.720 Jesus says in verse 36, While you have light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.079 You need to listen to this. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:53.119 Don't miss what God's doing here. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:57.839 And then verse 37. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:03.920 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:09.920 And this was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet who said, Lord, who has believed our message? 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:12.960 And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:15.279 Isaiah chapter 53. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.000 Verse. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.039 Okay. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.759 Okay. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.599 But we're not done yet. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:38.480 Just in case we missed the point and we haven't quite understood what Isaiah was doing when he connected Isaiah chapter 6 and Isaiah chapter 52 and 53 together, with this servant being high and lifted up and exalted. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:45.039 John quotes Isaiah 53, and then verse 39. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:56.160 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said, He's blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts in turn, and I would heal them. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.319 A quote from Isaiah chapter 6. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:03.359 Now, what about the glory thing? 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.359 Look at the next verse. 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:12.640 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke about him. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:17.119 So who is the Lord in Isaiah 6? 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:21.039 And who is the exalted servant in Isaiah 52 and 53? 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:29.200 It is Jesus, and his suffering and his exaltation are necessarily linked together. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:51.359 The one Isaiah saw as high and lifted up in the temple in Isaiah 6 is the same one who is high and lifted up as the successful servant in Isaiah 52, and he is also Jesus, who is lifted up on the cross so that he might also ascend into the heavenlies and be sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high? 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.960 This is him. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:57.119 How successful will he be? 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:00.960 Will death stop his plan? 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:11.519 Will the murderous considerations and schemes of evil people bring his plan to nothing? 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:16.880 Will the disbelief of the people as they mock him? 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:24.240 No, nothing, nothing can stop his plan. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:29.920 Because God is conquering the powers that be. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:38.799 God is putting to death the one who holds the power of death, that is the devil, by sending his son to die. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:53.200 This is why John could say that Isaiah saw the glory of the servant, the glory of Yahweh, the glory of Emmanuel Jesus. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:21:02.319 He's not merely a representative of God who's successful, he's the embodiment of God's saving person and purpose. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:17.279 And this arc, this movement arc of suffering into glorification is exactly the arc that Paul brings up in Philippians chapter 2. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:27.039 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:32.400 Therefore, God highly exalted him. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:45.839 The wisdom of the servant is obedience, and the reward of that obedience is glory as he gives himself over to God's purposes. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:48.880 I have come to do your will, O God. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:22:14.480 Isaiah has mentioned people as servants, himself as a servant, Cyrus is a servant, the nation as a servant, but there's a new thing happening here with another one who is the servant like none of those servants, because all of those other servants were sinful and did not fulfill their purposes as fully and as completely as God intended. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:19.599 But this one does, even though it looks like failure. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:22.880 What does this tell us? 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:31.920 Well, we don't worship the Lord in spite of his sufferings, we worship the Lord because of his sufferings. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.880 Amen. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:38.160 But let's take it a little deeper for us. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:46.960 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:52.160 Oh, wait a second. 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:59.119 You mean my life is to follow this ark as a believer in Christ? 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.359 Yeah? 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.480 Yeah. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:10.319 What does it mean for your life to be obedient, even if it brings suffering? 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:21.039 But don't worry, that doesn't mean the end of God's goodness and plan for you, because he will also bring you to glory with your Savior. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:33.759 It may look weak, it may be costly, it may be counted foolish, it may bring suffering, but it will also bring exaltation in the final day. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:40.559 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.079 What was this mind? 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:56.160 The self-pouring out for the purposes of giving all of your resources to the betterment of somebody else, so that he might save undeserving sinners. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:24:00.720 What mind are we to have as believers? 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:10.799 The giving up of ourselves in sacrifice and suffering, if necessary, for the benefit of others. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:16.480 What does this mean for us by way of implication? 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:28.079 It means that we are to live the ark of God's designated purposes that He's already shown us in our Savior Jesus Christ. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:38.799 And the church today largely is about as far away from that as can be, and it's tragic. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:59.759 We measure our success with the metrics of size and influence and connections, and we are as worldly as the world itself, and even more culpable because we should know better. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:04.720 But we take glory in celebrity conversions. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:09.039 Have you heard that ye became a Christian? 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:12.240 Let's get him up on a platform and have him talk. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:15.920 Because, well, somebody of that stature talks about Jesus. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:18.000 Maybe they'll like Jesus. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.200 And then he crashes and burns. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:24.799 And then what happens to the name of Christ? 00:25:24.799 --> 00:26:22.960 Strategic partnerships with cultural elites, platforming influencers to boost Christianity's visibility, mimicking corporate branding to appear professional, pursuing political endorsements for legitimacy, curating worship that matches entertainment trends, highlighting wealthy donors as proof of God's favor, using social metrics to validate our spiritual impact, softening truth to avoid offending the powerful, prioritizing public relations over our need to be a prophetic witness in our generation, seeking academic prestige to gain intellectual credibility, framing of the gospel as a tool for personal success, hosting events and even stunts in order to gain media coverage. 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:28.480 Let me go burn a Quran and see all the press come and pay attention to us. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:33.200 That's our generation. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:38.400 But what do we have here? 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:46.720 We've got a servant that succeeds by his suffering. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:59.839 And in contrast to all those worldly strategies, we must measure our obedience by the same way he walked. 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:04.400 Are we willing to follow Christ? 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:08.960 Or are we just trying to be another voice in the crowd? 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:12.880 Using the same techniques? 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:20.319 Are we willing to serve quietly, suffer patiently? 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:24.000 To speak truth when it's unpopular. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.480 Remember the servant. 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:37.359 Remember that his life is not fruitless and it's not failure, even though it's suffering. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:45.039 And if you follow him, you will follow him with God's blessing. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:49.839 The world will hate you if it hated me, Jesus said. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:54.559 So just do what they do, and it'll be all okay, and you can call yourself a Christian. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.319 No, it's not what he said. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:09.680 If you're here this morning and you don't know Christ is your Savior, He's not calling these demands on you. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:15.279 He's calling you to find life in that suffering that he gave. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:19.839 And we'll talk about that in just a second in the next point. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:22.960 But I want you to just hear this for a moment. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:29.759 Because he does know your weaknesses, and he understands your wounds, and he knows your waywardness also. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:34.480 And yet he came to save people just like you. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:37.680 So let's move to the second point. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:40.160 It'll be a lot shorter than the fourth one. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:49.680 The servant will be successful, but the servant will also shock the world through his sufferings. 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.200 Take a look at verse 14. 00:28:51.200 --> 00:29:03.039 Just as many were appalled at you, his appearance was so disfigured that he did not look like a man, and his form did not resemble a human being. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:05.359 This paradox deepens. 00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:08.400 This exalted one is now a disfigured one. 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:14.240 And the people are looking at him not yet in admiration, but they're looking at him in horror. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:17.200 He doesn't even look human. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:24.240 And this is much, much deeper than just poetic exaggeration. 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:26.880 This is this is exactly what happened. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:31.920 And the Hebrew word here is astonished at him. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:40.240 Appalled, devastated, desolated, wiped out at him. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:45.359 He's a grotesque spectacle. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:53.279 The servant, he doesn't look heroic, he doesn't look divine, he doesn't even look like a man. 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:58.480 He's so beaten and mocked and scorched. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:04.000 And when we read the gospel accounts, those things are talked about. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:23.519 Matthew talks about him being spat in the face and struck, and John says that he was flogged, and the Romans scourging of leather whips embedded with bone and metal designed to tear at his flesh, the crown of thorns, the beat-up face, the bloodied back, this the pierced scythe. 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:27.119 They sneered and mocked and derided him. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:30.400 He can't save himself. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:35.680 It's brutal, this crucifixion. 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:37.759 But why? 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:40.480 Why? 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:45.759 Because his disfigurement was not a punishment for sin. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.759 He did no wrong. 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:52.880 It was obedience. 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:59.279 He humbled himself and became obedient to death. 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:02.799 Even the death on the cross. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:06.480 This is the scandal of divine love. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:13.039 That the servant brought to death is not a failure of God's plan, but the fulfillment of God's plan. 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:16.480 That the shame of the cross is the beauty of redemption. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:28.000 And this is why Isaiah says, Hey, listen, behold my servant. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:36.880 Because you would look at that and you would not think it's anything to pay attention to. 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:45.039 But it is everything to pay attention to. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:50.160 Because it's not a moment to pity, this is the place of worship. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:55.839 Because his scars are not a blemish on his glory. 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:58.720 They are a part of it. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:12.640 And Isaiah Isaac Watts said, When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on my pride. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:17.519 This is a call to worship. 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:28.640 And if you're not a follower of Christ yet, this death of the servant is the means by which humanity is saved and delivered. 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:44.640 And this is why when we read the book of Acts in chapter 3, under the delightful direction of Ethan, it said that these people in that generation were to look to the servant for the forgiveness of sins. 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:53.839 And so we call you to see in this servant the means by which you might be forgiven. 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:59.039 None of us need to hide from God. 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:13.039 We don't need to push our brokenness and our broken lives and the brokenness we've made for others' lives away and try to present ourselves as something so that God would say, okay, I'll let you in. 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:19.599 Because he crushed his own son with the judgment we deserve. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:24.480 So you don't have to wear that and bear that. 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:27.519 And so you can come just as you are. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:35.359 Bruised and bruising, broken and breaking, destroyed and destroying. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:37.279 Come as you are. 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:43.359 Come as a sinner to the sin-bearing Savior and find life. 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:45.599 Because this is what He's done. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:48.720 Now notice verse 15, our last point. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:34:02.880 The servant will not only be successful, and not only will he stun and surprise, but he will also sprinkle the nations. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:06.240 This is an interesting word, verse 15. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:11.280 He will sprinkle many nations. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:14.000 Kings will shut their mouths because of him. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:20.159 For they will see what they've not been what has not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard. 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:22.960 He will sprinkle the nations. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:32.079 But it's not a strange term if you're an Old Testament Jewish person. 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:36.559 Because that word sprinkle brings them back to the Leviticus. 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:40.079 It brings them back to the Day of Atonement. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:56.000 It brings them back to that time when the high priest would bring the one sacrifice for the year, the only day of the year in which he was allowed into the very presence of God's manifested presence in the temple in the Holy of Holies. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:04.880 And there he would sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat, so that there would be a passing by of God's judgment for the people. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:14.559 And so they would be cleansed, so that they would be reconciled, so that they would be forgiven. 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:19.039 So that they would be brought in. 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:28.960 But year by year, by year by year, they had to do it again and again and again because that wasn't going to take away sin. 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:37.440 But this servant will sprinkle not just the Jewish people, but the nations. 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.679 The nations. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:44.239 Because he is both the priest and the offering. 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:49.119 And he doesn't just sprinkle the altar, he sprinkles the nations. 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:51.840 He does sprinkle the Jewish people. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:56.079 He sprinkles the Jewish people and all who believe on him. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:58.480 This is staggering. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:06.559 That this servant, his sprinkling ministry will flow outward to the ends of the earth. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:10.159 It crosses all boundaries and borders. 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:17.920 And it will cleanse all of his people, even the distant peoples who will hear what they have not been told. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:44.719 And so Paul in Romans 15, in this long discussion about the gospel ministry and the proclamation of the missionary endeavor to bring the name of Jesus around the world, quotes this verse in Romans 15 and verse 21, and he says, Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:56.800 And this is the fulfillment, like Peter said in Acts 3, if you caught it, in all in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:36:56.800 --> 00:37:08.800 The servant is the one seed of Abraham, who is the means by which the nations are blessed. 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:13.440 This is the reversal of Babylon. 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:20.800 At Babel, humanity sought to ascend, and they were brought low and scattered. 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:29.920 Here, the one who is already ascended is brought low so the people can be gathered. 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:34.159 This is the reverse of Babel. 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:38.639 This is the Son who reconciles. 00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:41.760 And what happens because of him? 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:44.880 Kings will shut their mouths. 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:48.880 The powerful will be disarmed. 00:37:48.880 --> 00:38:02.320 The rulers of the earth who are used to speaking and commanding and judging and motivating and moving are struck dumb and rendered speechless. 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:07.360 Not by force, but by grace. 00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:12.239 Acts chapter 8. 00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:21.920 An Ethiopian man came from the courts, was reading Isaiah chapter 53. 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:25.760 And he said, Please help me understand. 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:28.320 What am I reading here? 00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:31.360 When he asked Philip in Acts chapter 8. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:37.280 And Philip told him about the blood that sprinkles the nations. 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:43.599 And this Ethiopian eunuch brought the gospel to Africa. 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:49.360 So much for Christianity being a white man's religion. 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:52.159 It went to Africa before it ever went to Europe. 00:38:52.159 --> 00:39:00.159 It was in Asia before Europe even thought about listening to this. 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:11.199 The Roman centurion who looks up at Christ and he says, Surely, this is the Son of God. 00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:21.519 A Gentile soldier, hardened by violence, silenced by grace. 00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:26.239 This is our servant. 00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:31.039 And for the next three weeks after this one, we're going to be looking at chapter fifty-three. 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:33.360 We're slowing down. 00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:38.239 The servant's mission. 00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:44.559 It's global, it's sufficient, and it's successful. 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:47.519 But it doesn't look like power. 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:53.760 It doesn't look like the things we expect success to look like. 00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:58.159 It's the way God makes success. 00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:06.400 Because he likes to make the wise look foolish and to give wisdom to the ignorant. 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:09.280 That's just who he is. 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:14.159 He's not impressed by how strong our legs are at all. 00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:22.239 And if you're here this morning and you don't know Christ, here is this servant who's come for people just like you. 00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:30.800 He wants to strike you so full of awe that you would be unable to talk just like kings. 00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:35.599 And he doesn't want to shut your mouth because he's powerful. 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:43.280 He wants to stun you into joyful silence and saying, Why would God save me? 00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:45.360 Why would he deliver me? 00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:48.880 Why would he forgive me my sins? 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:54.000 So behold him, shall we? 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:56.079