Scripture Reading: Isa. 52:13—53:12
Ⅰ
Isaiah 52:13—53:12 reveals Christ as the Servant of Jehovah not in the Old Testament economy but in the New Testament economy:
A
In the Old Testament, Isaiah 53 is the unique chapter that bears the color, taste, and atmosphere of the New Testament.
B
As the Servant of Jehovah, Christ acted wisely and prospered in the pleasure of Jehovah—52:13a; 53:10b:
１
Christ acted wisely not according to the Old Testament economy but according to the New Testament economy; He did everything according to the New Testament economy—1 Cor. 1:22-24.
２
The Father's pleasure was that Christ would die on the cross for His chosen people and then rise up from death and enter into resurrection— Matt. 16:21.
C
Christ has been exalted and lifted up, and He is very high—Isa. 52:13b; Acts 2:33; Heb. 7:26.
D
Many were astonished at Him, for His visage and form were marred (disfigured) more than that of any man—Isa. 52:14.
E
He surprised many nations, and kings shut their mouths because of Him—v. 15.
Ⅱ
Isaiah 53:1-12 is the report of the prophets based upon the revelation of Jehovah:
A
The prophets preached the New Testament gospel in the New Testament economy, but no one believed their report, which was based upon God's revelation—v. 1.
B
In the New Testament economy, it was unveiled and reported concerning Christ that He "grew up like a tender plant" and "like a root out of dry ground"; this is a reference to the incarnated Christ, who grew up before God like a tender plant—v. 2a.
C
Jesus had no attracting form or majesty; He had no beautiful appearance that we should desire Him—v. 2b.
D
As the incarnated Savior, the Lord Jesus lived a suffering and sorrowful human life; He was despised and forsaken of men, and He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief—v. 3.
E
As the crucified Redeemer, the Lord Jesus sacrificed Himself for our trespasses for the accomplishing of Jehovah's eternal redemption—vv. 4-10a:
１
He bore our sicknesses and carried our sorrows—v. 4.
２
He was wounded because of our transgressions and crushed because of our iniquities; He was stricken, smitten, afflicted, wounded, crushed, and chastened in our place that we may be saved—v. 5; 1 Pet. 2:24.
３
Jehovah caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him—Isa. 53:6.
４
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth—v. 7.
５
He was taken away by oppression and judgment and was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgressions of the prophet's people—v. 8.
６
His grave was assigned with the wicked, but with a rich man in His death—v. 9.
７
Jehovah was pleased to crush Him, to afflict Him with grief, and He made Himself an offering for sin—v. 10a.
F
As the resurrected Life-giver, the Lord Jesus produced a seed for the building up of His Body as His continuation for Jehovah's pleasure and His satisfaction—vv. 10b-11:
１
The thought of a life-giver is implied in the seed, which is produced by life:
ａ
Christ as the Servant of Jehovah is the Life-giver so that He can produce a seed—v. 10b.
ｂ
In resurrection He produced a seed for His satisfaction and for the Father's pleasure.
ｃ
The seed produced by Christ in His resurrection is His believers for the building up of His Body as His continuation.
ｄ
The Father is pleased with the Body of Christ, which is constituted with the seed brought forth by Christ as the life-giving Spirit.
２
Christ has extended His days by producing a seed to build up His Body, and this Body of Christ is still extending.
３
He will see the issue of the travail of His soul and be satisfied—v. 11:
ａ
This issue refers to the many who are justified (made righteous) by knowing Christ, for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ.
ｂ
All the justified ones will be regenerated and become His seed, the members of His Body.
G
As the ascended Victor, Christ, the Servant of Jehovah, shares the spoil with God for His triumphant glory—v. 12:
１
In His ascension, Christ shares the captured ones with the Great and the Strong—with God—v. 12a.
２
As Jehovah's Servant, Christ poured out His soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet He alone bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors—v. 12b.
３
Because Christ did all these things, God counted Him as the Victor, and now He is qualified to share the spoil of the spiritual war on earth.