Examining the glory of Jesus Christ through a closer look at Isaiah 53

1. Where Is the Beauty That
We Should Desire Him?
Examining the glory of Jesus Christ through a closer
look at Isaiah 53
Ptr. J. F. Smith, DMin
Faith Missionary Church & Bible Institute
Gruetli-Laager, TN, USA
jfrsmth@gmail.com

2. Why learn more about
Jesus Christ?

3. 1. We are commanded to
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Amen.

4. 2. He was all the Apostle Paul wanted to
know
Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and
the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto
his death... (see also 1 Corinthians 2:2)

5. 3. Jesus Christ is our Example
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
his steps

6. 4. We are told to look unto Jesus Christ
and consider Him (and His sufferings)
Hebrews 12:2-3
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds.

7. 5. That we might know the love of Christ
more
Ephesians 3:13-19
…[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

8. 6. To study the Bible is to study Christ
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.

9. 7. Jesus Christ is worthy of it.
Revelation 5:12
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and
honour, and glory, and blessing.

10. If the subject of Jesus Christ
is uninteresting to us...
We may want to examine ourselves.

11. Background
The Nation of Judah was deep in sin:
They forgot God’s words (1:4) . . . they
oppressed the poor (3:14) . . . Idolatry
(Worshiping the false gods of the nations around them;
Sacrificing their own children) . . . Hollow worship
of God (1:10-15) . . . Covetousness (5:8-10) . . .
Calling evil good and good evil (5:20) . . .
Perverted justice : Corrupt legal system
(5:22-23) . . . Drunkenness (5:11) . . . Pride (3:16)
. . . and it goes on . . .

12. Background
• Impending judgment was upon the
people of Judah (2:10-22).
• But God gave them someone to
hope for; to wait for (2:1-5).
- To deliver them from (spiritual)
bondage
• Written by the prophet Isaiah
(Judah) about 700 years BEFORE it
took place.

13. The Suffering
Servant
• Isaiah 53 is a continuation of
52:3-25, and describes the
“Suffering” Servant (c/w 52:13)
• A coming Redeemer
• But Israel was expecting an earthly
Redeemer for their earthly bondage.
• They did not consider their
condition (in bondage to sin; veiled minds,
2 Co 3:14-15).

14. Isaiah 53, the
Gospel of the
Old Testament
It offers a concise description
of the life, death, resurrection
and ministry, of Jesus Christ.

15. Isaiah 53 can be
divided into four
sections
1. His Person (1-3)
2. His Passion (4-6)
3. His Passivity (7-9)
4. His Portion (10-12)

16. 1. His Person
(1-3)
The first three verses of Isaiah 53 gave
the Jews an idea of who to expect:
• What He was
• His humanity
• His background
• His appearance
• His treatment

17. 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the
arm of the LORD revealed?

18. 1 Who hath
believed our
report? and to
whom is the
arm of the
LORD
revealed?
• What is the Arm of the LORD?
- God’s Arm (Jo 1:1,14); His power to save, Isa 59:1, Christ,
1 Co 1:24; Gospel, Ro 1:16
• What is the report?
- Ro 5:8, 1 Ti 1:15, 2 Co 5:21
• Who reveals the report?
- Only God can, 1 Co 2:10, 2 Co 4:6, Ep 2:1, Jo 6:44; Ph
2:13
• Who believes the report?
- God’s will, John 1:12-13

19. John 3:16 For God so
loved the world, that
he gave his only
begotten Son...
Who hath believed our report?

20. 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.

21. 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.
• What are characteristics of a tender plant?
- C/w Ps 103:4, 1 Pe 1:24; Jo 1:14
• What about a root?
- C/w Jo 1:46
• No form or comeliness means…?
- C/w Lu 19:14
• No beauty?
• What can we learn from this verse?
- 1 Sa 16:7, 2 Co 5:7, 4:14; Is 55:9, 1 Co 1:27

22. Zechariah 4:6 ...Not by
might, nor by power,
but by my spirit, saith
the LORD of hosts.
...there is no beauty that we should desire him.

23. 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.

24. 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.
• Why was/is He despised and rejected?
- His appearance led to His treatment (Ps 22:6, Lu 23:18, Ac
4:11; c/w Ro 2:11, Js 2:3,9; See Re 3:20)
• In what way was he a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief?
- C/w Lu 19:41, Jo 11:35, He 5:7; See He 4:15, 12:3, Mk 15:34
• Why did/do we hide our faces from Him?
- C/w John 3:19; Mark 14:15
• How was/is He not esteemed?
- Not recognized or given the glory due His name (Re 4:11)

25. Mark 15:14 Then
Pilate said unto them,
Why, what evil hath he
done? And they cried
out the more
exceedingly, Crucify
him.
He is despised and rejected of men.

26. John 3:19 And this is the
condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and
men loved darkness
rather than light, because
their deeds were evil.
...we hid as it were our faces from him.

27. 1. His Person
(1-3)
The first three verses of Isaiah 53 gave
the Jews an idea of who to expect:
• What He was
• His humanity
• His background
• His appearance
• His treatment

29. 2. His Passion
(4-6)
The next three verses of Isaiah 53
explain why the Suffering Servant
came:
• To bear our griefs
• To carry our sorrows
• To be punished for our transgressions
• That we might be healed

30. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted.

31. 4 Surely he
hath borne our
griefs, and
carried our
sorrows: yet
we did esteem
him stricken,
smitten of God,
and afflicted.
• Why surely…?
- He had no sin of His own, 1 Pe 1:19
• What are our griefs?
- Our infirmities and sicknesses, Mt 8:17
• What are our sorrows?
- a wasted life, 2 Pe 3:10; condemnation, 2 Co 7:10; final
judgment, Re 20:11-12; eternal sorrow, Ju 13
• What did the Jews think about this?
- Jo 5:18, Lu 24:25-26; Many know about Christ, but how
many know what He did for them?

32. Revelation 20:12 And I
saw the dead, small and
great, stand before God…
and [they] were judged…
according to their works.
...he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows

33. ...yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God,
and afflicted.
Romans 10:3 For they
being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going
about to establish their
own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of
God.

34. 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.

35. 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.
• But, why was He wounded, bruised,
chastised, and received stripes?
• Were His stripes, wounds, bruises, and
chastisement just?
• Who should have received the stripes,
wounds, bruises, and chastisement?
• What did the Suffering Servant, Jesus
Christ do for us?
-See Isaiah 1:5-6, Psalm 41:4

36. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he
hath made him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the
righteousness of God in
him.
But he was wounded for our transgressions...

37. 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.

38. 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.
• Who is we?
• How have we gone astray?
- See Js 1:14, 1 Joh 2:16; c/w Ecc 12:13, Lu 10:27, Mat 6:33
• When did we first turn our own way?
- Romans 5:12
• Who laid on Him our iniquities?
- C/w Ge 3:9, Ga 4:4, Ep 3:11, Jo 3:16; See Ps 70:4, Jon 2:9
• Why could we not see it?
- We couldn’t; we were blind; we did not care

39. Romans 3:11 ...there
is none that seeketh
after God.
All we like sheep have gone astray...

40. 2. His Passion
(4-6)
The next three verses of Isaiah 53
explain why the Suffering Servant
came:
• To bear our griefs
• To carry our sorrows
• To be punished for our transgressions
• That we might be healed

42. 3. His Passivity
(7-9)
In these verses we see the obedience
of the Lord:
• He was not active, but acted upon.
• Only the will of the Father was
important.
• For the joy set before Him (verses
10-12).

43. 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.

44. 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.
• Oppressed and afflicted
- Dominated and burdened (Mt 27:12, Mk 14:59, 15:3)
• He opened not His mouth...
- To curse others; to justify himself; to complain; to call
down angels (1 Pe 2:21, Mt 26:53; c/w Col 4:6, Ps
37:34, Pr 20:22)
- But did open His mouth to share Himself (Mk
14:61-62, 15:2)
• What is the connection of as a lamb... with
Genesis 22:8, John 1:29 and Philippians
2:8?

45. 1 Peter 2:21 ...Christ
also suffered for us,
leaving us an
example...
...yet he opened not his mouth

46. 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.

47. 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.
• What is the prison? Judgment?
- The grave (Job 30:23). Condemnation (Ro 3:23).
• His generation?
- Resurrection: Ro 6:9 (never to die again) and or
He 2:13 (His spiritual children)
• He was cut off (died) but lives again.
- Re 1:18; c/w Ac 17:31-32
• Why did this happen?
- He was stricken (punished) for our our sakes

48. Romans 4:25 Who
was delivered for our
offences, and was
raised again for our
justification.
...for the transgression of my people was he stricken

49. 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.

50. 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.
• Who are the wicked?
- 1 Jo 5:19; ready to be buried with sinners
• The rich in His death?
- Mt 27:57-58
• No violence…
- Matthew 27:24; declared just by Pilate; healed
people; promoted peace (Mt 5:44, Jo 18:36; c/w Ro
12:18, He 12:14)
• No deceit…
- 1 Pe 2:22, Tit 1:2, Jo 14:6

51. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ
also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the
unjust… put to death in
the flesh, but quickened
by the Spirit:
...because he had done no violence

52. 3. His Passivity
(7-9)
In these verses we see the obedience
of the Lord:
• He was not active, but acted upon.
• Only the will of the Father was
important.
• For the joy set before Him (verses
10-12).

54. 4. His Portion
(10-12)
The final three verses of Isaiah 53
present the Suffering Servant’s reward
for His sacrifice.

55. 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.

56. 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.
• Why would it please the LORD to bruise
His own Son?
- God cannot excuse sin (Eze 18:4) and He is
pleased with righteousness (Isa 42:1); See 2
Corinthians 5:21 for the answer; Ro 8:32
• What kind of offering?
- Perfect (He 10:10, 12, 14)!
• What does it mean to prolong His days?
- He shall live again forever, never to die again (Ro
6:9, Lu 1:33)

57. Romans 5:8 But God
commendeth his love
toward us, in that,
while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for
us.
...and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his
hand

58. 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.

59. 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.
• Who is He and who is his?
- He (the LORD)... his (the Lord), Mk 12:36; the Father
saw the Son’s travail (labor and pain)
• What was the Father satisfied with?
- The Son’s sacrifice was sufficient (Ac 17:31, Ro 4:25)
• What is his knowledge?
- The knowledge of the Son; the Gospel (Ac 13:39; see
Ro 10:4, and 2 Co 4:5, 1 Co 2:2, 1 Co 1:23)
• What are the many justified from?
- Their iniquities; see also Romans 5:1

60. Revelation 7:9-10 After this
I beheld, and, lo, a great
multitude… And cried with
a loud voice, saying,
Salvation to our God which
sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb.
...by his knowledge shall my righteous servant
justify many

61. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath
poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with
the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.

62. 12 Therefore will I
divide him a portion
with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil
with the strong;
because he hath
poured out his soul
unto death: and he
was numbered with the
transgressors; and he
bare the sin of many,
and made intercession
for the transgressors.
• What is Servant’s portion?
- All things; Ps 2:8, Mk 12:36, 1 Co 15:25; c/w Mt
12:29, 2 Co 4:4, Ep 2:2, 1 Pe 3:22, Col 2:16
• How will the servant divide the spoil,
and who are the strong?
- Spoil, Eph 2:1, Col 1:13; strong, Ro 5:6, Joel
3:10; victory, 1 Co 15:57
• Because...
- Philippians 2:5-11

63. Revelation 5:10 And hast
made us unto our God
kings and priests: and we
shall reign on the earth.
...and he shall divide the spoil with the strong

64. Revelation 5:12 ...Worthy is
the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength,
and honour, and glory, and
blessing.
...he hath poured out his soul unto death

65. 4. His Portion
(10-12)
The final three verses of Isaiah 53
present the Suffering Servant’s reward
for His sacrifice.

66. A complete
chapter…
(Redemption from
beginning to end)
Jesus Christ, our
Alpha and Omega
The arm of the Lord… No beauty…
Man of sorrows… He carried our
sorrows… He was wounded… We
have gone astray… He opened not His
mouth… He was cut off… Because He
had no violence… It pleased the LORD
to bruise Him… He shall be satisfied…
He shall divide the spoil with the
strong… [The Gospel]

67. The Suffering
Servant of
Isaiah 53
Jesus Christ
the Righteous
1. His Person (1-3)
2. His Passion (4-6)
3. His Passivity (7-9)
4. His Portion (10-12)

68. But, what does
this chapter
mean to you?
1. His Person?
Who is Christ to you?
2. His Passion?
Why did He suffer and die?
3. His Passivity?
Why did He not fight back?
4. His Portion?
Why did He live again?

69. Can you see the beauty that
we should desire Him?

70. Hymn
My Faith Has
Found a Resting
Place
Verse 1
My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
Chorus
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

71. Hymn
My Faith Has
Found a Resting
Place
Verse 2
Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He’ll never cast me out.
Chorus
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

72. Hymn
My Faith Has
Found a Resting
Place
Verse 3
My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior’s name,
Salvation through His blood.
Chorus
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

73. Hymn
My Faith Has
Found a Resting
Place
Verse 4
My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.
Chorus
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

74. THE END