E-Free Church

THE SUFFERING SERVANT
Isaiah 52:13-15

These 3 verses our a summary of what we will see in chapter 53 and can be stated this way: Before glory comes suffering

He will be exalted (v13)

Isaiah 52:13 - Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.

“Behold” = give full attention to

There are 4 times in the prophets where we are told to “Behold” the coming Messiah

Isaiah 52:13 and Zechariah 3:8 – Behold My Servant

Zechariah 6:12 – Behold the Man

Zechariah 9:9 – Behold the King

Isaiah 40:9 – Behold your God

These are the exact themes of the four Gospels

Matthew presents Jesus as King

Mark presents Jesus as Servant

Luke presents Jesus as Man

John presents Jesus as God

Prosper = to have success

He will accomplish what He was sent forth to accomplish

This will be evidenced by His being “high and lifted up and greatly exalted”

Be high = the resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10)

Be lifted up = the ascension (Acts 1:9-10)

Be greatly exalted = the exaltation

Before exaltation comes humiliation (v14)

Astonished

It is the idea of being so shocked that you lose control (appalled)

His appearance will be marred more than any man (you could not tell WHO He was)

His form will be marred more than the sons of men (You could not tell WHAT He was)

This is a disfigurement that destroys all resemblance of looking human

This speaks of the punishment He would endure before He ever got to the cross

Nakedness (v27-28)

Crown of thorns on His head (v29)

Reed in His hand (v29)

Mockery (v29)

The SPITTING

Harold Wilmington – “If taken at face value, it means that Christ suffered more than any other human being ever suffered anywhere, anytime”

While only a few saw His humiliation, all will see His exaltation (v15)

This will happen at His second coming

The Apostle Paul quotes this verse to show that this is also being fulfilled today, every time we share the gospel