A. The Significance of Jesus' Life (His call)
|
|
1. What is the hope given in verse 13?
2. Who is this blessing given to?
3. Compare verses 13 and 14. Why are they so different?
4. List the ways Jesus Christ's person was inhumanly treated.
5. What does the first line of 15c say that this one will do?
6. What is the significance of this word 'sprinkle?'
7. Why were the kings stupefied? (See 52:15 c,d)
8. How well does this passage predict what happened in Jesus' life? Is Jesus the Messiah (Christ)? What is your response to Him? Do you tell others of this One?
|
13) Behold, my Servant will act wisely;
He will rise up, be lifted up, he will be exalted on high.
14) Just as many were astonished at you,–
so his appearance was disfigured so to lose resemblance with man,
so his form was marred beyond recognition as a man.
15) Just so he will sprinkle many nations;
and kings will shut their mouths because of him;
for that which they were not told, they will see;
and that which they have not heard, they will understand.
|
|
|
1. How relevant is the question in 53:1 today? Is it still being asked?
2. Do many people believe in the Gospel today? Did they believe in Jesus' message? Why were there great numbers but few real faithful followers? What is Jesus' explanation of this in John 6:26? What is His recommendation to the crowd in John 6:27?
2. Ponder on verse 2. What does a little shoot look like compared to a majestic tree? Why might Jesus be described as a little plant in a dry ground? What incidents in Jesus' life foster this description?
3. Who despised Jesus during His birth and ministry?
4. How was Jesus a 'man of sorrow' during His life on earth? Reflect on the Gospels and see how many ways this was true of Jesus Christ.
5. What did the situation at the end of Jesus' life show about how people viewed Jesus. What did it show about the disciples when they all turned away from Him?
6. How do people respond to Jesus nowadays? Are we His follower? For what reason? Do we follow Him only because He is popular and we are well-accepted? What if we were persecuted for our faith?
|
1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
(Isaiah 53:1-3).
|
C. Despised on Our Behalf
|
1. List the phrases in 53:4-6 which have 'our' part of them. They show what we contribute to the process of salvation. Notice we do not see our good works listed!
2. List the verbs in 53:4-6 which describe His suffering.
3. The last portion of 53:4 suggests that some people misinterpret why Jesus died. What is the reason mentioned in this line? From 53:5 what would you say the reason of the Servant's suffering?
4. Do you see yourself included in the phrase of 53:6, "All of us like sheep have gone astray?" Explain.
5. The truth is Jesus died because of our sins. Do you believe Jesus died for your sins? If so, when did this first occur? If not, why do hesitate? Is it related to whether you see yourself as a stray sheep?
6. This one who suffered for us shows what love is all about. From His love and sacrifice love has been spread forth throughout the world. How has His love directly affected your life? Your marriage? Your responses to others?
|
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
(Isaiah 53:4-6).
|
D. Willingly and Innocently Suffered
|
1. Verse 53:7 best describes what part of Jesus' life? Explain.
2. Rewrite 53:8 in your own words. List the oppressive acts that took place before His death. Search and see if anyone understood why Jesus died (He died for His people's sins). Explain how this misunderstanding of a person's life work is hard to take.
3. Jesus had no permanent site for a burial. It was as if He belonged to no one. How did 9ab literally come true? Is this a fit way to bury an upright and godly leader? Why is this important?
4. Jesus was terribly humiliated through his death on the cross. Share and pray together about situations we might need to experience humbling times in order to faithfully serve others even if they don't appreciate our faithfulness. You might refer to other scriptural figures like Joseph, Daniel and Jeremiah.
|
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living, For the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?
9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
(Isaiah 53:7-9).
|
E. The Glory Resulting from His Grief
|
1. Who killed Jesus? Whose fault was it? Discuss God's plan revealed in verse 10.
2. What three important results happened because of Christ's death as stated in 53:10? (Notice the 'If ..., then ...' pattern).
3. Explain how God saves people. How does 53:10 relate to this?
4. What does 'the many' refer to in 53:10? Compare to Romans 5:12-21.
5. How are 53:10 and 12 similar? (Hint: Because .... (therefore) ....). Be sure to note the results of salvation from 53:12.
6. What does it say in 53:12e that the Servant is doing for His people today? Where does it state this in the New Testament?
7. Review God's mercy and grace shown throughout this chapter. How should you then live out your lives? Pick out at least one circumstance where you want more of God's grace abiding in you.
|
10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
(Isaiah 53:10-12).
|