CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
March 19, 2023
Who Is Jesus? – Part 4
Isaiah 53:10-12
We are going to finish our look at what Isaiah was led to tell the
Jewish people in Chapter 53. We are looking at verse 10 again
this Sunday. This time looking at the last part of verse 10. We
read, “He will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the
will of the Lord will prosper his hand.” How can this verse be
talking about Jesus? Jesus was never married so how can it be
about him when it says he will see his offspring? In Acts 17:27-
28 we read, “God did this so that men would seek him and
perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far
from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our
being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his
offspring.” So we see after Jesus went back to be with God the
Father Paul is making the case that we are his offspring by what
God did for us through Jesus. Verse 11 lets everyone know after
the suffering of his soul he will see the light of life and that
through the Savior’s righteousness many will be justified and he
will have bore their iniquities. Why has this happened? Verse
12 says he will have poured out his life unto death. He will take
the transgressions of the people upon himself. Taking their sins
and is interceding on the people’s behalf.
Now let us see what the New Testament says about these
things that we have read in verse 11 and 12. In 1 Corinthians
15:3-4 we read, “I passed onto you of first importance that
Christ died for our sins according to scriptures, that he was
buried, that he was raised on the third day.” Then we read in
Romans 5:9, “For just as through the disobedience of the one
man the many were made sinners, so also through the
obedience of the one the many will be made righteous.” In
Philippians 2:8 we read, “And being found in appearance as a
man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even
death on a cross.” Why was Jesus willing to do this? Jesus knew
his mission.
In Luke 22:37 he quotes verse 12 of Isaiah 53when he tells his
disciples, “It is written: And he was numbered with the
transgressors and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes
what is written about me is reaching it’s fulfillment.” Jesus
being God fully understood what had been told to Isaiah 700
years earlier. That his mission was to die for the transgressions
of God’s creation. Jesus also knew that that was not the end of
his job. The last part of Isaiah 53:12 says, “For he bore the sin of
many and made intersession for the transgressors.” Going back
to the New Testament we read what is said in Hebrews 7:25 we
read, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come
to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for
them. Did you notice what was said in verse 25? It says Jesus
lives to intercede for them. In other words Jesus is alive
interceding, pleading the case for you and me with God the
Father. Death did not stop him. He is alive.
Beginning next week, we will look in detail at what Jesus
willingly went through for us. We will see some of the highs and
lows of Jesus’ final weeks before his appointment with the
cross and the grave. Chapter 53 of Isaiah foretold to the
Israelites that help was on the way. We now know that the
Savior was not to be someone who would rule over earthly
kingdoms as the Israelites wanted. As Jesus told Pilate in John
18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Victory is on the way.
Not a victory that is one nation over another. Instead, victory
that is for eternity in God’s eternal kingdom.
As we have seen over the last four weeks everything God
inspired Isaiah to tell His people would and did come true. The
Savior will come to bring victory to all of God’s people. What
has always been essential is that every person must come to
the place of accepting God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.
What is also essential is to realize we have all sinned and have
need of a Savior. As we have seen matching Isaiah with the
New Testament accounts, Jesus is that Savior. May we embrace
God’s grace this Easter season with a new sense of love and
thankfulness for God is good.
Pastor Larry
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
March 28 12:00 Women’s Fellowship luncheon at East End Grill (airport). Let Carol know if you are coming and if you want to carpool (meet at 11:30 at church).
Mowing sign up list is in the back. Thank you in advance to
those who sign up. Also a sign up sheet if you are interested in attending a Sunday School class.
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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clicking link on left side of page.
District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook
Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,
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Keep in Your Prayers
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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