CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
March 12, 2023
Who Is Jesus? – Part 3
Isaiah 53:7-10
As we continue our look at Who Is Jesus a little review. Two
weeks ago we read how the Messiah would come from what
would seem to be an average home. He would have nothing
special going for him that might attract people to him. Last
week we read how Jesus was rejected by most of the people he
came to minister to. How he would be verbally and mentally
abused by those same people. Yet Jesus would not abandon the
mission before him.
This week we see just how far the son of man will go to fulfill
his calling. In verse 7 we read that he was oppressed and
afflicted yet did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to
the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he
did not open his mouth. In Matthew 27:12, we read, “When he
was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no
answer.” Continuing with verse 13, “Pilate asked him, don’t you
hear the testimony they are bringing again you?” Verse 14,
“Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge to the great
amazement of the governor.”
In Isaiah 53:8 we read he was cut off from the land of the living
for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.” Going
back to Matthew 37 we see in verse 27-31 how the soldiers
mocked him and abused him. Jesus was led off to be killed on
the cross. Death that was reserved for only the most evil
criminals of the day. Isaiah 53:9 says he was assigned a grave
with the wicked and with the rich in his death though he had
done no violence nor was any deceit in his mouth. As Jesus
stood before Pilate a short time before the soldiers would mock
and abuse him. Also right before he would be hung on the
cross, Pilate made this pronouncement as we read in Matthew
27:24, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but
instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his
hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man’s blood
he said, it is your responsibility.” Even as Jesus hung dying on
the cross the abuse and taunting continued. In the final verse,
we read in Isaiah 53 we are told it was the Lord’s will to crush
him and cause him to suffer and though the Lord makes his life
a guilt offering he will see his offspring and prolong his days and
the will of the Lord will prosper his hand.
This morning we are going to focus on the first half of verse 10.
Last week we saw how Jesus cried out to God the Father when
all the sins of the world were placed upon him right before he
died. When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God why hast thou
forsaken me?” Just as it said in verse 10 of Isaiah 53, “It was the
Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.” All the things
mentioned in those first 10 verses of Isaiah 57 were coming
true. In verse 3 we read he would be despised and rejected. In
verse 4 it says he would take our infirmities and carry our
sorrows. Verse 5 says we would be pierced for our
transgressions and crushed for our iniquities and by his wounds
we would be healed. Then what we read once again this
morning he would be oppressed and afflicted, led away like a
lamb to the slaughter, verse 7. Verse 8, cut off from the land of
the living for our transgressions. Verse 9, assigned a grave with
the wicked and in verse 10, “The Father God would make His
life a guilt offering.” And yet in the last half of the 10 th verse, we
see hope is on the way.
We will look at the last two verses of Isaiah 53 next Sunday, but
we see that everything promised to God’s people during
Isaiah’s time came true. It came true exactly as it had been
promised. To mention it yet again, this was given to God’s
people 700 years before it happened. The children of Israel
were looking for the Savior. There had been earlier promises
made so they were hoping he would come during their lifetime.
Yet we see that when the Savior did come to His people they
rejected Him. Jesus did not save them the way they wanted to
be saved. Throughout most of our nation’s history we have
enjoyed greater freedom than virtually any nation in the past
3000 years. Even those who have felt oppressed have enjoyed
greater opportunity than many throughout history.
So I wonder how would I have acted if I had been waiting for
the Messiah and things did not match what some of the leader I
thought I could trust had told me would happen? Would I have
been one who would have taken a step of faith and tried to
follow Jesus? Or would I have been like the Pharisees and
rejected this Messiah who did not measure up to what I was
hoping for? I cannot say it enough how God’s word proves, if
we feel we need proof, that there is a God who is in control. A
God who knows what we need before we know what we need.
A God who loved us enough to come to earth and experience
what we go through and was willing to do what we could never
do for ourselves.
Next Sunday we will finish this most significant chapter of
prophesy in the Bible. We will see just what God’s people
during Isaiah’s time was told would be the result of all that was
predicted. And we will maybe get a better understanding of
what it was to mean to those who actually saw it come true as
well as all who would come after.
May God continue to bless His word and use it to open the eyes
of those living in darkness, those who are outcast, those who
are afflicted, those who need healing, or in other words “all of us”. Amen.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
March 28 12:00 Women’s Fellowship luncheon
Mowing sign up list is in the back. Thank you in advance to
those who sign up.
Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for
your continued giving!
Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:
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Keep in Your Prayers
Family of Charlotte Shively; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry
Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli
Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &
Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina
Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma
Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim
Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &
Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;
Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus;
healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;
victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian
Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico;
Turkey/Syria earthquake
Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Chicago First Church and the
Intercultural Ministries Office
Church of the Brethren vision statement:
Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live
and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus
Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To
move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and
equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.
Our Mission Statement:
Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace.
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