WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.360 Well, good morning, beloved. 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:02.560 Good morning. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.320 Let's take our Bibles and go to the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:10.080 If you're visiting with us, you'll find a Bible in front of you in the pew. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:12.400 And you can turn to page 650. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:13.839 650. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:21.120 Let me take you back to December 20th, 1995. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:30.160 American Airlines Flight 965 was making a trip from Miami to Cali, Columbia. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:33.600 And it looked like it was just going to be a routine flight. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:39.920 Passengers were relaxed, the crew was experienced, the weather was clear. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:45.920 But as the plane approached its destination, something went terribly wrong. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:56.640 The aircraft's waypoints had been uh programmed, and there was wrong information inside uh the navigation system. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:03.920 And the plane began to veer off course and began to move in a direct uh movement toward the mountains. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:23.280 And as they descended, the onboard ground proximity warning system suddenly blurted out terrain! Terrain! Pull up! Pull up! A voice cut through all the chatter of the cockpit and interrupted everybody. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:33.519 And the crew was instantly disoriented, and they didn't realize how close to the mountains they actually were, and they didn't respond in time, sadly. 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:39.760 And tragically, just a few days before Christmas, 159 people lost their lives. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:42.400 It's very sobering. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:46.879 But here's one of the most sobering parts is that warning system worked. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:53.280 It made very clear, loud statements about what to do. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:02:06.480 But the crew, situational awareness, wasn't able to comprehend just how close to tragedy they were and why they were getting the messages that were there. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:11.439 And they didn't heed the warning in time to the loss of all those people. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:25.439 For the past few weeks, we've been working through Isaiah chapter 53, but let's back up just a little bit into Isaiah chapter 51 and just notice some statements that are made there very quickly. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:30.240 Verse 1, chapter 51, listen to me. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:37.280 The end in the middle of verse 1, look to the rock. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.879 Verse 2, look to Abraham. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:45.520 Verse 4, pay attention to me. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:55.520 Verse 6, look to the heavens, verse 7, listen to me, verse 17. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:58.400 Wake yourself, wake yourself. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:00.560 Verse 21. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.280 So listen to this. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.800 Chapter 52, verse 1. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.439 Wake up, wake up. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:17.199 God has his early warning system blaring. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:24.240 God is saying, listen, wake up, look here. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:28.719 But what does he want us to pay attention to? 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:32.639 Chapter 52 and verse 13. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:40.960 See or look or behold my servant will be successful. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:45.360 He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:04:10.560 You would think after all those warnings that all these people had been rattled with, pay attention, look, listen, pulled out of their beds, yanked out of their living rooms, called out of their fields, brought away from all of their duties, were to gaze expectantly at God and say, What is it? 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.080 What is it? 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.479 What do you want me to hear? 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.800 But what happened? 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.519 What happened in Isaiah's day? 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:24.160 What happened in Jesus' day is found in chapter 53 and verse 1. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:28.879 Who has believed what we've heard? 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:33.040 And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.000 Nobody was listening. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.360 Nobody was paying attention. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:41.759 The warning system is blaring. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:44.240 Pull up! Pull up. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:50.639 The question is, it's our day now. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.959 Are we listening? 00:04:52.959 --> 00:05:04.160 And so before we step into the final stanza of Isaiah 53, this fourth servant song, let's remember where we've been. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:17.759 Last week we traced this ark of the servant, this descent from divine glory down into silent obedience and putting himself under divine justice. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:26.000 When we looked last week at this, we saw that the servant was not merely a man of sorrows, he was the arm of the Lord. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.839 He was the visible expression of God's redemptive strength. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:39.839 And instead of clutching to the prerogatives of deity, this arm of the Lord descended in submission to the Father's will. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:46.959 And in that submission found himself despised and rejected and not valued. 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:52.959 And his silence, as we saw, was not one just of meekness and weakness. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:55.519 It was one of willing submission. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:58.560 Because it's what the Father wanted him to do. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:05.839 And he was cut off from the land of the living, and he bore our iniquities with silence. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:10.319 We saw this ark, this descent from glory to death. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:22.800 And we understood that this descent, as we looked into the New Testament, was not only descriptive of Christ, but it was also formative for our lives and shaping how we're to think of ourselves in this world. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:26.560 The servant's posture becomes our pattern. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:30.560 His silence teaches us to trust. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:33.759 His suffering teaches us to endure. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:39.920 His obedience teaches us to submit to the will of God, even if it costs us a lot. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:41.199 Or everything. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:46.639 But like I said last week, that's not the end. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:48.639 It's not the end of this arc. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.000 It's not the end of the story. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:55.600 Today we come into the radiant conclusion of Isaiah's fourth servant song. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:04.959 Last week we stood at the foot of the cross and we stood there in silence as we watched a submissive Savior. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.160 But today we're going to lift our eyes up. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:14.000 We're going to lift our eyes up to the ascending Christ and the reigning King. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:21.360 Because that ark that began in glory and descended down even to death doesn't stop there. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.519 It rises. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.519 Unstoppable. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:33.439 And it moves toward exaltation, enthronement, and eternal glory. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:41.360 And so if we're listening, we're going to hear something astounding. 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:48.879 We're going to hear something beyond our ability to comprehend, but how sweet to our soul. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:59.040 Because the scriptures say, eye has not seen, nor is ear heard, nor is it entered into the hearts of people, the things God has prepared for those who love Him. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:06.000 If we're listening, we're going to capture something beyond our ability to comprehend. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.879 Wonderful, life-giving, spectacular in its content. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:22.160 Because we're going to follow the Savior still into a place where he's risen, reigning, and redeeming his people. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:24.399 So let's wake up. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.000 Let's listen. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.680 Let's learn. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:32.480 Let's watch the Savior as he steps into the fullness of his mission. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:37.600 And let's trace the final moments and movements of this ark. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:44.320 The first thing I want us to recognize is that we are going to view a risen Savior. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:47.759 Let's take a look at verse 10 of chapter 53. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:57.600 In our study of this, we've walked through the crushing of this servant, pierced, rejected, silent before his accusers. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:00.080 And verse 10 brings us into that. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:07.679 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely when you made him a guilt offering. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:11.840 But the rest of the verse continues. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:15.840 He shall see his offspring. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:25.279 He will prolong his days, and by his hand the Lord's pleasure will be accomplished. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:32.799 The ark moves now very quickly and suddenly into a new direction. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:48.000 Until this time, it started there and it's descended and descended and descended into trouble and rejection, into opposition, and what seems like utter defeat. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:55.759 But now it turns and it moves swiftly upward. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:58.399 This is victory. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:03.039 I dare say this is resurrection from the grave. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:10.000 And let's look at verse 10 and just follow the couple phrases in there because they're so important for us to learn. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:16.080 We'll start with the phrase, he shall prolong his days. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:25.279 Now, in the old covenant, this phrase of prolonging days was a term or a phrase of covenantal blessing. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:28.000 Long life. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.600 Listen to a few passages out of the book of Deuteronomy. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:33.919 Deuteronomy 5.33. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:45.360 Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.720 Chapter 6 and verse 2. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:11:02.000 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I'm giving you, your son and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:05.679 Deuteronomy 30 in verse 20. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.840 Almost word for word, what we see here in Isaiah 53. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:18.320 Love the Lord your God, obey him, remain faithful to him, for he is your life, and he will prolong your days. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:25.919 As you live in the land, the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:44.480 This phrase, prolonging days, is a term used of those who are remaining faithful in the covenant, and they'll receive the blessings of their attachment to the Lord in obedience. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:50.480 But here it seems so out of place. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:53.840 Why is this so out of place? 00:11:53.840 --> 00:12:02.639 Because the prolonged his days follows the statement that this person's dead. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:17.840 Two verses earlier, he was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and he was cut off from the land of the living. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:24.559 And he was what assigned a grave in verse nine. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:29.360 And verse nine says, at his death. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:33.759 How do you prolong the days of a dead man? 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:50.080 You don't born April twentieth, eighteen seventy-three, died some indeterminate amount of time because maybe, just maybe his days will be prolonged. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.919 No, there's there's etched in stone there a date. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.200 But not this one. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:07.759 This servant dies, but this servant will see the prolonging of his days. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:19.200 This is exactly what we see in the New Testament: a declaration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:23.440 Acts 2, Peter preaching at Pentecost. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:32.399 God raised him up, loosening the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by them. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:45.679 And he quotes just a couple verses later, Psalm 16 and verse 10 You will not abandon my soul to the grave, nor will you let your holy ones see corruption. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.759 The resurrection. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:58.240 Revelation 118, I died, and behold, I live, Jesus says, and I have the keys of death and Hades. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:06.399 Here is one of the clearest prophecies of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:13.440 And it's not a comment that speaks of a myth or a metaphor. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:19.600 This is not, you know, the spring coming out of the barrenness of winter. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:24.000 You know, new life follows our difficulties and troubles. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.559 Life springs anew in these wondrous cycles. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:40.080 No, this is not the recycled pattern of dying and rising gods from pagan lore or dying and rising of seasons. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:47.120 This is not a symbol of seasonal renewal or cosmic rhythms. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:55.039 This is a real person in real history who really rose from the dead. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:06.399 And it gives us hope because we are real people in real history who lay our real loved ones in a grave. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:11.919 But the grave cannot hold this one. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.720 The grave cannot hold Jesus. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:34.000 And the prophecy is because he so willingly took on the descent, in order to fulfill the will of the Father, in order to give himself on the behalf of others, he would have his days prolonged. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:38.080 And then that leads us to the next phrase. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:52.320 Or as it says in the CSB, the Lord's pleasure will be accomplished. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:56.720 This is not just poetic flourish. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:02.480 It is poetic flourish, but it is talking about mission accomplished. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:07.679 He came to do exactly what the Father called him to do. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:16.240 In fact, in John 6, he says that I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:25.200 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it on the last day. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.360 And we'll look at that in just a moment. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.639 What is this verse telling us? 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:41.679 That the resurrection is at the guarantee that the servant has actually accomplished exactly what the Father's redemptive plan entails. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:48.080 He has secured righteousness for others, and this servant is going to reign. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:17:02.720 And this is exactly what the beginning of this song hints at in chapter 52 and verse 13, when it says, My servant shall act wisely, he shall be high and lifted up and shall be exalted. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:13.920 This is exactly why Paul in Philippians 2 pulls this chapter out, and he gives you the essence of it. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:25.920 And he talks about Jesus who didn't hold on to the prerogatives of deity, but in love descended in obedience into the place of death, even at death on the cross. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:32.880 But also that God highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:37.920 And here's why. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.680 Hebrews 1:3. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:53.920 After making purifications for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, exalted and enthroned. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.519 Now, what does all this mean for us? 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:01.279 It means a lot of very important things for us, actually. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:05.200 First of all, it validates the cross. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:20.480 The resurrection is God's declaration that the Savior's suffering was acceptable and accepted. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:26.400 Without the resurrection, the cross is just a tragedy. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:32.319 But with the resurrection, the cross is a triumph. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:36.960 And what does this mean for us? 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:40.160 That our forgiveness is not just a wish. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:46.799 It means it's an accomplishment that Christ has gotten for us. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:53.440 That his death was not just sufficient, but successful for all who believe on him. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:19:02.240 And if you're here this morning and wondering if God could forgive your sins ever, oh, you don't know what I'm like. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.319 Oh, you don't know the things that I've done. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.960 Oh, the things that run through my mind. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.240 Oh, you don't know. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.920 Look at the empty tomb. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.519 Look there. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.119 It's empty. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:18.480 Because that Savior conquered sin and death. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:24.799 And he wants to bring you with him into the realms of God's presence. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:30.880 The second thing it does for us is it guarantees our justification. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.599 Romans 4 25. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.960 Listen to these words. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:42.640 That Christ was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:46.640 Now we'll look at this a little more in just a second. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:56.640 But the resurrection is the seal that is deemed us righteous before the holy judge. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:04.000 We're not only forgiven, we're declared righteous in God's sight. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:06.079 How do we know that? 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:09.759 Because of the resurrection of Christ. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:13.279 It also inaugurates a new creation. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:27.839 In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul calls Christ the first fruits, meaning that his resurrection is the beginning of a new humanity, that death is defeated and new life has begun. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:34.640 And so if you're in Christ, you are part of that new creation. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.960 The new has come. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:48.160 You are now in membership of a brand new created order that's been inaugurated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:55.279 It also assures us of our future resurrection, also. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:59.039 Because He lives, we live. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:04.559 The servant's prolonged days become our eternal days. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:12.799 But it also assures us that resurrection is our destination. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:21.200 The servant's resurrection was not only his vindication, it's our future. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:41.519 For those who follow the ark of Christ who walk the path of humility, obedience, and yes, even sometimes suffering, there's always a tendency to it, a promise, a promise that will rise. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:22:07.359 This is why Paul, at the end of a discussion about the resurrection, said to the believers in Corinth, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know your labor will never be in vain in the Lord. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.400 Ever. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:14.720 You see, our service and our suffering is never wasted. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:18.559 Our submission is never forgotten. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:23.839 And our hardships are never the final word. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:25.200 Ever. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:29.599 Because Christ rose, will rise. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:39.839 And so in the middle of the ark, like many of us are right at the moment, part of this downward slope where it feels like where is the bottom? 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:44.480 We can carry on. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:23:06.319 We can carry on through that low spot, even if it means years, because of a savior who himself was faithful in obscurity and patient in affliction and joyful for the hope that was set before him. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:18.720 And if we are following the ark of Christ, we too can sit in the midst of that, patient in hope. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:20.400 The hope of what? 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:23.119 The rest of the ark. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:26.559 The rest of it heading up into glory. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:37.759 So Paul said, I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that'll be revealed within us. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.359 That's resurrection life. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:45.680 That's the fullness of Christ that we're talking about. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:49.759 Yes, the servant was crushed, but he was not conquered. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:56.079 Yes, he died, but he lives, and his days have been prolonged. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:03.359 And the ark of Christ into this place is not just a model, but our destiny as well. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.319 Now let's take it a little deeper. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:14.960 The risen servant doesn't rise alone, he rises to see his offspring. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:19.200 And that leads us to the second point of the justifying servant. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:22.160 Take a look at verse 10. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:28.000 He will see his seed or see his offspring. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:32.079 Again, this is covenantal language. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:46.480 In the blessings of the old covenant, if you were faithful and faithfully obeying them, you would see prolonging days such that you would see your children and your children's children. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:50.880 We're like, yeah, it's 2025. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:53.200 We got modern medicine. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:59.440 You know, we can we can we can keep a lot of people alive for a long time that are just barely existing. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.759 Not back then you couldn't. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:12.559 But if you were a part of the covenant and there was covenant, covenant, faith, and fidelity, God says, I'll give you long life. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.759 I'll give you the ability to see your children grow. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:19.680 I'll give you the ability to see your grandchildren grow. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:27.119 And so here, this servant is going to see his offspring. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:34.559 But he didn't have any children. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:38.720 He was cut off from the land of the living. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:42.559 He died single. 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:46.640 What does it mean? 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:49.039 He's going to see his offspring. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:57.359 It means that though he dies, and through his death, there's going to be a new people born. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.519 There's going to be a new family. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.920 There's going to be a redeemed community. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:05.359 There's going to be a people justified by grace. 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:39.039 The Apostle Paul in Galatians 3 connects all of this back to some very early chapters in the Bible, Genesis chapter 12, in which Abraham was shown a promise that though he didn't have any offspring at that time, that he was past the days when he and his wife could conceive in all human possibility, that he too would see an offspring. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:45.440 And the Apostle Paul said this. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:56.960 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring, referring to one and to your offspring who is Christ. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.519 Galatians 3 16. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:07.759 So Christ is given this offspring promise. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:12.480 But he dies without children. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:16.720 What children is he going to see? 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:35.119 Well, Paul's not finished with his argument in Galatians 3, because in verse 29 he says, if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:52.640 The people who believe in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, who have the faith that Abraham had to believe God's promises in the face of all impossibilities, would be his children. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:55.359 The children of Christ. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:28:11.759 And so Isaiah here is pointing to this moment when the resurrected Christ, this risen servant, will gather a justified people that were not born of the flesh, but born of the spirit. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:22.400 And so the shape of his reward was not land or riches or power. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:27.839 Sorry, prosperity preachers, you're going the wrong direction. 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:38.240 He was going to receive a people, a people who were once far off, but now brought near. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:42.799 A people who were once sinners, but are now declared righteous. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:51.920 A people who were without God and without hope in this world, but are now called the children of God. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:54.799 How? 00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:08.079 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:17.759 And by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:21.039 This is the heart of the gospel right here. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:36.799 This is that the Lord would have an offspring that are gathered on account of his bearing their iniquities, on account of the fact that he has made them accounted as righteous. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:44.880 Not because they've earned it, not because they've cleaned themselves up, but because the servant has stood in their place for them. 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:59.839 And because the servant stood in our place, if we're in Christ, we're going to stand in his place in glory, in his eternal place. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.640 Presence. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:15.519 Paul in Romans 5 and verse 9 said, Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more we shall be saved by him from the wrath of God. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:30.400 And again, 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 21, for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might be made the righteousness of God. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:34.559 This is not abstract theology. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:42.480 This is personal redemption and this is particular redemption. 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:58.160 Because Jesus wasn't just making salvation a possibility, he was purchasing a people, he was taking their place and making them his offspring. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:04.160 He died to gather a people, and the people would be his reward. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:08.880 Verse 6 tells us who those people are. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:11.920 All we like sheep have gone astray. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:14.480 We've turned everyone to his own way. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:22.799 But verse 10 tells us that the wandering ones are now welcomed, and the rebels are now redeemed. 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:32.319 And this is why Hebrews 12, 2 says, For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross. 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:36.240 Again, what does this tell us? 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:42.480 This tells us that justification is a gift of God, not a reward. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:48.960 It says here, the servant makes many to be accounted righteous. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:51.119 This is legal language. 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:58.720 And the activity of that being accounted righteous is not ours to do, but his. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:34:14.079 He doesn't descend into the background after accomplishing this work. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:18.159 He is exalted, and he reigns. 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:31.840 And as it be started here in verse 13 of chapter 52, it says that kings will shut their mouths. 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:41.119 Verse 15, rather, kings will shut their mouths, for they will see him who they've not been told, and understand him whom they've not heard. 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:46.480 What does this reigning king do now? 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:50.159 Well, first of all, he intercedes for the transgressors. 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:53.039 This Savior continues his ministry. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:57.119 He bore the sins of many, and he did that on the cross. 00:34:57.119 --> 00:35:00.320 Luke 22, 37 quotes this verse. 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:06.559 When Jesus said, For I tell you the scriptures must be fulfilled in me, and he was numbered with the transgressors. 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:09.199 But now a phrase is added. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:17.920 He makes intercession for them, not just numbered among the transgressors, but interceding for them. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:35.440 And so Hebrews, the writer, says, He is able to save to the uttermost all those who draw near by him, because he always lives to make intercession for them. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:57.679 This Savior who descended into death on the cross has been vindicated in his resurrection, who has been granted a people, and his ministry in the present days is on behalf of them still, because he intercedes for them. 00:35:57.679 --> 00:36:02.559 What does that mean? 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:06.320 There's no limit to his saving power. 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:16.320 There's no sin too deep, there's no shame so lasting, there's no weakness so persistent that he can't save to the uttermost all those who come to him. 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:24.079 In verse 2, or that, or not verse 2, back to chapter 53 in the verse 12. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:30.079 I will give him the many as a portion, and he'll receive the mighty as spoil. 00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:36.000 Another translation puts it this way: He will divide the spoil with the strong. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:40.159 This is battlefield imagery. 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:47.679 And this is telling us that the war is over, and that the victory has been won. 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:54.639 And it tells us that the servant is the one who is the victor. 00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:57.920 And he gathers the spoils. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:00.880 Now, how did he win this fight? 00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:07.199 Not with sword, not with spear, but in silence, submissiveness, and suffering. 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:12.480 He poured his soul out to death. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:15.360 But he won. 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:33.440 And here's the irony of ironies, the divine irony of all ironies, that in his weakest moment, death on the cross, Jesus crushed the powers of darkness. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:35.199 He crushed them. 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:38.559 Colossians 2. 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:48.719 He has erased the certificate of debt with its obligations that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away, nailing it to his cross. 00:37:48.719 --> 00:38:01.119 He has disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly, and he has triumphed over them in him, in the crucified Savior. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:14.639 And now risen, he's ascended on high and led a host of captives captive and gave gifts to people. 00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:26.960 This is not only a reigning king, this is a rich and rewarding and benevolent and generous king. 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:34.719 Because he doesn't clutch to those riches, he pours them out freely to his people. 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:41.519 About believers in just a second. 00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:48.800 But if you're here this morning and you don't know Christ, I want to let you know that this king has conquered sin and death. 00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:58.000 And he is calling you to bow to him, not in fear, but in faith, to trust this king. 00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:20.559 If he could win this rich reward through his obedience to the Father's will in the giving up of himself on the behalf of people just like you, you turn to him, he will save you to the uttermost, just like he saves any of us to the uttermost. 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:23.039 And so put your sword down. 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:36.320 Put your sword down of self-will and self-assertion, of resistance against God, because you're fighting a God who loves people just like you. 00:39:36.320 --> 00:39:45.840 You're fighting the very one who had souls written on his heart when he was nailed to the cross. 00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:52.000 You're fighting against the one who said, I lay my life down. 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:56.960 And I'm not calling the righteous, but sinners. 00:39:56.960 --> 00:40:01.440 You give him your sword. 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:05.280 Submit to this king. 00:40:05.280 --> 00:40:08.480 He'll receive you. 00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:13.440 One last note about this. 00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:16.079 The servant's glory. 00:40:16.079 --> 00:40:20.079 And this arc of Christ-likeness that we've talked about. 00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:24.159 Believer, you're not fighting for victory. 00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:29.280 Christians in our day are not fighting for victory. 00:40:29.280 --> 00:40:30.159 Do you hear me? 00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:38.800 We don't have to align ourselves with other people who have power and influence as though we needed to find victory. 00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:41.599 We have a savior who's already won. 00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:43.360 Okay? 00:40:43.360 --> 00:40:46.559 We are living in victory. 00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:48.880 We don't need to find it. 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:52.239 We trace this ark. 00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:55.599 And God's people are following that ark. 00:40:55.599 --> 00:41:03.679 And yes, our life is in the midst of the bottom of it, but the ark isn't finished yet. 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:04.559 Okay? 00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:05.920 It's not. 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:10.079 Here is the completion. 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:17.760 This isn't just Christ's ark into glory and exaltation and enthronement. 00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:20.159 It's ours as believers. 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:22.000 It's ours. 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.440 You can clap. 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:24.800 You should. 00:41:24.800 --> 00:41:34.639 My servant shall act wisely, he will be high and lifted up and shall be exalted. 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:39.440 And that exaltation is not just for Christ alone. 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:41.679 It's for Christ's people. 00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:53.360 Paul said in Romans 8:17, if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him. 00:41:53.360 --> 00:42:05.599 1 Peter 1 6, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief and all kinds of trials. 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:17.119 For a little while, these trials result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:20.320 The ark bends upward. 00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:24.239 The suffering's real, but so is the glory. 00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:33.519 And Peter doesn't limit this to abstract theology and submission to unjust authority in 1 Peter 2. 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:38.719 He tells us that Christ's resurrection is the vindication of our hope. 00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:48.000 In marriage, he calls for humility and gentleness, but you see a rich reward, heirs together of the grace of life. 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:54.559 In community life, he urges us to bless others even when wronged. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:55.360 Why? 00:42:55.360 --> 00:43:00.639 Because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. 00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:06.079 In leadership in 1 Peter 5, don't do it out of selfish ambition. 00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:08.079 Don't do it for gain or reward. 00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:10.079 Be examples to the flock. 00:43:10.079 --> 00:43:12.639 Give yourself wholly to God's people. 00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:15.920 Serve them gently, warmly, godly. 00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:17.440 Then what? 00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:25.280 When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:30.559 First Peter 5:10. 00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:43.920 After you've suffered a little while, the God of all grace will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:47.840 He will set you on a solid place. 00:43:47.840 --> 00:43:50.719 This is the ark. 00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:55.119 This is not quiet submission forever. 00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:58.400 This is not suffering without end. 00:43:58.400 --> 00:44:07.519 This is the glory of Christ, restored, confirmed, strengthened, established, reigning with Him. 00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:11.760 Don't lose heart at the bottom of the ark. 00:44:11.760 --> 00:44:14.239 You're not going to stay there. 00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:16.400 You're not. 00:44:16.400 --> 00:44:21.840 Lift your eyes into the throne room of the heavens. 00:44:21.840 --> 00:44:26.559 And last night, I'll tell you what. 00:44:26.559 --> 00:44:28.800 Ethan brought us there. 00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:36.639 And he was braver than all of us. 00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:39.280 He sang without a compliment. 00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:43.840 I am not going to do that. 00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:50.239 But I want to repeat those words if I can't repeat the way he said them. 00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:54.400 Here is Christ in cosmic celebration. 00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:55.440 Okay? 00:44:55.599 --> 00:44:55.920 Okay. 00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:57.280 Cosmic celebration. 00:44:57.280 --> 00:44:59.760