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WELCOME
Psalm 23 (Orlington) The Lord’s my shepherd
The Lord’s my Shepherd I’ll not want
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for His own name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup over flows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house for ever more,
And in God’s house for ever more,
My dwelling place shall be.
PRAYERS
READING Isaiah 52: 13 – 53:12
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 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.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
SERMON Suffering Servant
We are jumping ahead a wee bit this morning in our series on Isaiah – but what passage could be more fitting for our Communion service than the one we have just read? This is the most quoted OT chapter in the NT: every verse except v.10.
This amazing passage of scripture captures possibly more than any other the Bible the reason why Jesus came and why he died on the cross. The details that the prophet gives concerning the pain and suffering of Jesus could have only come from God.
There are many names, titles and words in the word of God used to describe Jesus. We all know those which are used most often such as Son of God, Son of Man, Christ, King of kings, etc….but only Isaiah uses the words “Man of Sorrows” to describe Jesus. Why were these words were used by the prophet? Jesus – Man of Sorrows?
HE KNEW THE SORROWS OF SCORN (53:3)
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Rejection is one of the most painful experiences that a person can go through. To have those who should believe in us and support us – reject us – hurts deeply. Most of us know this pain. Yet the rejection we experience pales in comparison to that which Jesus, the man of sorrows, had to deal with.
He was scorned by his family. John 7:5 even his own brothers did not believe in him.
He was scorned by his friends. John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
He was scorned by his followers. John 6:64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.
He was scorned by his enemies. In many passages in the New Testament we read of his foes mocking him and ridiculing him……especially at the cross.
Isaiah wrote….we hid our faces from him. Are we hiding our faces from him today? Rejecting him still?
Feel The Nails by Ray Boltz
They tell me Jesus died for my transgressions….
That he paid that price a long, long time ago
When he gave his life for me….
On a hill called Calvary….
But there’s something else I want to know
Does he still feel the nails every time I fail ?
Can he hear the crowd cry “Crucify” again ?
Am I causing him pain….then I’ve got to change….
I just can’t bear the thought of hurting him.
It seems that I’m so good at breaking promises.
And I treat his precious grace so carelessly.
But each time he forgives …
what if he re-lives the agony he felt on that tree ?
HE KNEW THE SORROWS OF SUFFERING vs.4
Surely he took up our infirmities, and carried our sorrows:
Jesus was (vs.3) familiar with suffering. The word “suffering” here is often translated as sickness or disease but also anxiety, affliction, evil, calamity.
God the Father inspired Isaiah the prophet to record the words. Though Jesus was God…he was also a man and as a man suffered more than any other human who ever lived.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.
He was subjected to all the kinds of trial to which we can be, and he is, therefore, able to sympathise with us and to aid us.
He was tempted – in the literal sense; he was persecuted; he was poor; he was despised; he suffered physical pain; he endured the sorrows of a lingering and most cruel death (Albert Barnes)
Jesus Was Acquainted With Desire
Though he was God….as a man he suffered the natural needs of mankind. He hungered. He became thirsty. He needed a place to stay.
Jesus Was Acquainted With Sorrow
He shed tears as he looked over the inhabitants of Jerusalem…..and at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. In the final hours leading up to the cross….his heart became heavy and his soul exceedingly sorrowful.
Jesus Was Acquainted With Temptation
He was tempted at almost every point and turn in his life and yet he never game into those temptations.
He was tested in practically every manner possible but never became angry with his Father.
From the pinnacle of the temple to the terrors of the cross he was faithful.
Because of the temptation and trials that he endured – he is able to come to our aid.
HE KNEW THE SORROWS OF SIN
He never committed one act of sin but suffered more than any for sin. How ? 2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He Became Sin
He Became The Sacrifice For Our Sins. 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Vs 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Wow….what an amazing God………what unconditional love. The Sovereign God was pleased to crush him….. oh how he loves you and me.
He became separated for our sins. (vs.7)
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he 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 the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane…..Jesus said not my will but YOURS will be done. Perhaps the greatest sorrow for the man of sorrows is found in this question from the cross asked by Jesus My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
God turned his back on Jesus so he wouldn’t have to turn his back on us
He became the substitute for our sins. Vs.9
Jesus stepped down……then he stepped in. He took our price.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death
Jesus died in our place. He paid the price for our sin because the wages of sin is death.
Thank God….the Man of Sorrow overcame all his sorrows. He did not remain in the grave !
(Vs.10) he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead so that we might have eternal life.
The price has been paid…..soon the invitation will be made. Consider what God through his son has done for you.
Communion Hymn Jesus stand among us
Jesus stand among us
At the meeting of our lives;
Be our sweet agreement
At the meeting of our eyes.
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here;
Join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
So to You we’re gathering
Out of each and every land;
Christ the love between us
At the joining of our hands.
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here;
Join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
Jesus, stand among us
At the breaking of the bread;
Join us as one body
As we worship You, our Head.
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here;
Join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
COMMUNION
Hymn Author of life divine
- Author of life divine,
who hast a table spread,
furnished with mystic wine
and everlasting bread,
preserve the life Thyself hast giv’n,
and feed and train us up for heav’n.
2. Our needy souls sustain
with fresh supplies of love,
till all Thy life we gain
and all Thy fullness prove,
and strengthened by Thy perfect grace,
behold without a veil Thy face.
Benediction
Urquhart & Glenmoriston Parish Church 