September, I93S
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
339
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commen^ary Outline wnd Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children's Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y B essie B. B urch B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
OCTOBER 6, 1935 ISAIAH PORTRAYS THE SUFFERING SERVANT I saiah 52:13 to 53:12; J ohn 19:17-37
say that He made a mistake and went too far, and so was slain. But what saith the Scriptures? What is their interpretation? They say: “Christ -died”—that is the fact; Christ died “for our sins”—that is the in terpretation (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3). The character of Christ’s death was therefore penal; He suffered the penalty for crimes committed by others than Him self. It was substitutionary; He suffered in the place and stead of others. It was reconciliatory; He suffered in order to bring others unto God (cf. Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:18; 2:24; Gal. 2:20) . III. T he S ubmission of the S ervant (7-9). The sacrifice was offered without mur muring (v. 7). Uncomplaining, silent be fore His accusers, not standing upon nor demanding His rights, but submitting all to God, Christ went quietly and willingly to His death. He went quietly, because He had nothing further to say to man. And He went gladly, because He looked beyond the cross to the consequences that should issue from it (cf. Heb. 12:3). He knew the necessity of the sacrifice; He could say that for the transgression of His people He was smitten (vs. 8, 9). The cause of Christ’s sufferings is found in both God and man, that is, in what God is and in what man needs. The Servant submitted Himself for both: on God’s part, to satisfy justice, holiness, and truth, and to open a door through which love and mercy and grace might freely flow; and on man’s part, to provide a way of escape from the penalty of sin and a way of entrance into the presence of God, there to find peace, and grace, and delight (cf. Heb. 10). IV. T he S atisfaction of the S ervant ( 10 - 12 ). The satisfaction was in prospect. Jesus Christ shall one day see the travail of His soul, and then He shall be satisfied. Hence, His sufferings were merely the prelude to the coming glory. The fulfillment of the prospect is sure, because it is in the hands of God who is faithful to His Word, and who is satisfied with the atoning work of the Servant. No intercession is possible for trans gressions; they must be put away by blood (cf. Heb. 9:22). But intercession is made for the transgressors; they must be for given (v. 12). The sufferings of the Ser vant made provision for the putting away of sin, for the forgiveness of the sinner, for the satisfaction of every demand of justice. They brought about also the eter nal delight of the gracious God, of the obedient Servant, and of the redeemed sinner.
Lesson Text: Isa. 53:1-12. Golden Text: “With his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). Outline and Exposition I. T he R ejection of the S ervant (1-3). T hese verses describe the attitude of all lost sinners—those of today, as well as those to whom the words were originally applied. It is an attitude of unbelief in the Word of God. “Who hath believed our report?” (v. 1) the prophet cried. That “report” was not the prophet’s, but God’s. But the hearers turn ed from the message as though it had been directed to another people. “To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” the prophet continued by asking. The work of the Lord, as well as the Word, was hidden, because the people had deliberately closed their eyes and shut the doors of their hearts. One cause of this rejection of the Ser vant, the Lord Jesus Christ, was in out ward appearance. He was “as a tender plant,” or as a root in dry ground. In Him there was no outward indication of power or strength (v. 2). Because of this sup posed lack, the people refused to trust Him to do what He was able and willing to do for them. The Word they heard was not mingled with faith which would en able them to see in Him all that they needed for their full salvation. Conse quently they turned from Him and His seeming weakness to their own works with their seeming strength. He was despised and rejected (v. 3). Men saw Him only as a Man of sorrows— not knowing that the sorrows He. bore were theirs, and not His own. Their faces were hidden from Him, and they refused to look to Him for salvation because they “esteemed him not.” They might admire His patience, His gentleness, His grace, but they rebelled against receiving Him ds the One who bore their sorrows and their sins. II. T he S acrifice of the S ervant (4-6). These verses describe the attitude of saved sinners. First, they see Christ smit ten by God (v. 4 ). They recognize the fact that God was dealing in justice when, at Calvary, man’s sin was laid upon the Ser vant of Jehovah. They see the Servant an swering for the sins of the people (cf. Acts 2:22-24). Second, they see Him smit ten for their own transgressions (v. 5). Notice the personal pronouns. It was our sins for which Christ was smitten, our crimes for which He paid the penalty, our rebellion which merited punishment (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 5:6-8, 10). Third, saved sinners see Christ smitten for all iniquity (v. 6). All was laid upon Him ; He bore all that was contrary to God’s holiness; nothing was omitted in the
atonement that Christ made. Hence, the saved sinner may sing: “My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought— My sin—not in part but the whole— Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul I” BLACKBOARD LESSON
The difference between the one who is lost and the one who is saved is a differ ence of interpretation of the fact of Christ’s death. All individuals believe that He died; but what is the interpretation or meaning of that fact? Some say He died to be an example; others say He died to reveal the love of God; still others dare to
By Thy Cross and Passion By FR AN C ES RIDLEY H AV E R G A L Oh, Thou wast crowned with thorns, that I might wear A crown of glory fair; "Exceeding sorrowful," that I might be Exceeding glad in Thee; "Rejected and despised," that I might stand Accepted and complete on Thy right hand. Wounded for my transgression, stricken sore, That I might "sin no more"; Weak, that I might be always strong in Thee; Bound, that I might be free; Acquaint with grief, that I might only know Fullness of joy in everlasting flow. For Thee revilings, and a mocking throng, For me the angel-song; For Thee the frown, the hiding of God's face, For me His smile of grace; Sorrows of hell and bitterest death for Thee, And heaven and everlasting life for me.
Points and Problems
1. “When we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (v. 2). This statement is ordinarily taken to mean that in physical appearance our Lord was
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker