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December 30, 2007AM

Isaiah 53:1-12

From Despised to Desired

 

Over the past several weeks we have been celebrating a birth.

 We have made a big fuss over Christmas.

  We fancy the story of angels announcing Jesus’ birth to shepherds.

   Wise men bearing gifts for the infant Jesus is delectable.

    Their act of worship is used to legitimize our commercialization of Christmas.

     Santa and stockings which have nothing to do with Jesus invade the horizon.

      Pageantry and parades transform the landscape.

       Cooking and carols fill the atmosphere.

        Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “Why all this focus over a birth?”

         Isn’t it just a little lopsided?

          Biographies written of someone’s life say little of their birth.

           I doubt anyone will write a biography about me.

           I’m not going to write about me so why would anyone else?

            But if for some bizarre reason someone wrote my biography my birth

            would take about 2 lines.

             On Sunday, March 29, 1953 at about 11:00 AM Irvie Reeder began labour.

              She left church and sometime later gave birth to a second son.

               He was named by his parents Glenn.

                Not exactly best seller material.

                 The birth of a person is usually insignificant.

                  A birth takes on significance through that person’s life work.

Consider Charles H. Spurgeon.

 Spurgeon was born of Dutch parents in a small village in England.

  Few people paid any attention when he was born on June 19, 1834.

   Not many people cared or knew of his birth.

    He lived only 58 years.

     But listen to the events that surrounded his death.

“The casket was placed in the Tabernacle just below the pulpit made famous by the great preacher.  The Tabernacle was then thrown open for a day and about 60,000 persons of all classes viewed the remains.  Several services were conducted on Wednesday, the day following.  Eminent personages such as Dr. Alexander Maclaren, Rev. F. B. Meyer, etc. spoke in these services.  Ira D. Sankey sang . . . “Only Remembered by What I Have Done.”.  On Thursday the remains were taken to the Norwood Cemetery for burial.  As the procession advanced hundreds of thousands of people stood along the drive.  . . .  All business houses were closed, flags hung at half-mast, and the bells of the churches were tolled.  The entire ceremony had been simple yet it would have done honour to a king.”

      What was there about Spurgeon on June 19, 1834 that would make hundreds of thousands respect him as they did on February 4, 1892?

       He was not born to nobility.

        His parents were not aristocrats or upper class.

         There was nothing about him that 100,000’s would be drawn to him.

This morning we are looking at another biography.

 This one is just a little bit unusual.

  This biography was written before the Person was born.

   Isaiah wrote about Jesus 800 years before Jesus was born.

    So what does Isaiah have to tell us about Jesus?  (Read Isaiah 53:1-12)

 

I   Isaiah’s prophecy begins with Jesus’ birth.

     We are very familiar with the birth of Jesus.

      We know how Jesus was born.

       He was born into a world that had no room.

        He was the son of a carpenter.

         His mother was a peasant.

          32 verses from Matthew and Luke give account of Jesus’ birth.

           Isaiah 53:2 is rather blunt about Jesus’ birth. (read)

           With that beginning how could Jesus amount to anything?

            Isaiah describes Him as a root coming from dry ground.

             What would you anticipate growing out of dry land?

              We would expect to see something stunted in its growth.

               We would wonder what chance it would have of survival.

                A plant coming out of dry ground is not something to fuss over.

                 That dry ground was Nazareth of Galilee.

                  That kind of place produces hill-billies.

                   Anyone from Nazareth could do no right.

                    This was the atmosphere that prevailed at Jesus’ birth.

                     Man had no use for Him.

 

II  After Isaiah tells us about Jesus’ meager birth he tells us of Jesus’ death.

     Verses 3-9 describe Jesus’ death compared to one verse focusing on His birth.

      The Gospels give 32 verses to Jesus’ birth.

       But the last week of Jesus’ life consumes 23 and one half chapters.

        Every Gospel tells us of His horrific death by crucifixion.

         His birth was not much to speak of.

          His death was that of a criminal.

           No wonder Isaiah summarizes Jesus life in verse 3.

           “He was despised and rejected my men.”

            “He was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

             In the world’s eyes a person is crucified because they are guilty.

              There were no questions asked why Jesus was crucified.

               He was guilty.

                “We esteemed Him stricken; smitten by God, and afflicted.”

                 “And they made His grave with the wicked” (vs. 9)

                  It seems obvious that God was punishing Him for something.

                   Jesus was being punished because of some evil He did.

                    As long as a person thinks that Jesus will be despised.

But Isaiah realized it was not what Jesus did wrong that caused His death.

 He died because of our sin.

  It was us that made Him suffer.

   Verse 6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way.  And the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

   It was our sin that sent Jesus to the cross.

    We have all tried going after our own will rather than the will of Jesus.

     We have chased our own desires.

      “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” (Vs. 4)

       “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”

        He took our burden and made it His own.

         Isaiah saw that Jesus was innocent.

          “He had done no violence, and there was no deceit in His mouth” (vs. 9)

           Because of His innocence God was able to remove our sin.

           Because Jesus was God’s perfect and holy Son He could be our sacrifice.

            We have all sinned and God has laid on Jesus our sin.

             Until we see that we will never understand Jesus’ death.

               His birth will be nothing more than a day off work with pay.

 

III So we have seen Jesus’ birth and we have seen His death.

     Both left Him despised.

      This is where most biographies would end.

       But Isaiah saw something else.

        Isaiah also saw the resurrection.

“He shall see His offspring, He shall prolong His days” (v. 10).

 Contrary to The DaVinci Code Jesus did not have children.

  Who were these offspring Isaiah knew that Jesus would see?

   They were the children of faith.

    Not everyone despises Jesus.

     There are those who desire Jesus.

      They believe His resurrection and receive forgiveness.

       Because of the resurrection Jesus would see His offspring.

        He would know those who put their faith in Him.

Isaiah saw the resurrection.

 “The will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand” (v. 10).

  Isaiah saw Jesus accomplishing the will of the Father after His death.

   Only one who is alive can follow the will of another.

    In Jesus’ hand the will of the Lord prospered.

     Death was not the end.

      Jesus was raised and glorified.

       It was only after Jesus is dead that this activity stirs.

        “He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul and be satisfied” (v. 11)

         Prior to verse 10 all Jesus did was suffer and die.

          That was the extent of His work and activity.

           It is after His death that His saving work begins.

            And it begins because of the resurrection.

Isaiah saw the resurrection.

 “He bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors” (v. 12).

  Only one who is alive can make intercession or plead for sinners.

   Jesus pleads the case for those who put their trust in Him.

    He takes our sins and intercedes on our behalf with the Father.

We must know about Jesus’ lowly birth.

 We must know it was our sin that sent Him to the cross.

  We must know He was raised and glorified.

   We must know that Jesus’ resurrected work resulted in our righteousness.

    It is this knowledge of Him that will make many to be accounted righteous.

     Yes Jesus was despised.

      But now He is to be desired above all else.

       Is Jesus your desire today?

        Or do you still reject Him or dismiss Him or experiment with Him?

         Is He a sight for sore eyes for you?

          Or is He an eye sore that you would sooner be rid of?

           Look at Jesus today; His birth, His death, His resurrection.

            Should He be despised or desired?

             Let’s read together the words of Isaiah’s biography of Jesus.

              “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:4-5).

 

Closing Song   Once Again