WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.700
 What do you reckon is our greatest problem? You're probably thinking heat. No, it's not the heat.

00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:14.580
 What is the most fateful thing that we face with the greatest prospects of undoing us?

00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:23.059
 Aggressive dictators, scourge of pandemics, political polarization, economic disparities,

00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:31.019
 global warming, racial tensions. There are a good number of plausible contenders.

00:00:32.019 --> 00:00:39.980
 How about personally? Financial stress, chronic debilitating health issues,

00:00:40.939 --> 00:00:47.519
 bad or abusive relationships, a seeming unshakable destructive habit,

00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:56.859
 the long wearying failure to find love. These are hard things. And even harder

00:00:56.859 --> 00:01:05.900
 is the question, what do we do about them? How can they be overcome? Well, the passage before us this

00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:16.439
 morning takes up this very question. What is our greatest problem? Both corporately, the whole of

00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:26.719
 the world of humanity, and individually, each one of us. What is the thing we face that can crush us,

00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:35.659
 that will really sink us? And our passage gives us its answer to that vital question, but further,

00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:43.640
 it gives us an answer to the inevitable and urgent follow-up question, what can be done about it?

00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:54.219
 Is there any hope in the face of this, our greatest problem? Now, we ought not to be surprised if our text

00:01:54.219 --> 00:02:02.439
 strikes us as modern hearers, with modern ears, as somewhat strange and alien in parts. After all,

00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:10.180
 the author, a Hebrew prophet Isaiah, is writing from a time and a culture very different from our own.

00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:18.860
 Some would suspect that Isaiah's distance from us is so great that nothing he says could possibly have

00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:25.780
 any relevance to us today. But this, I think, a mistake, for surely the fact that we don't share

00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:34.780
 things like cell phones or cellophane matters far less than the fact that we do share flesh and blood.

00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:43.639
 We are of a common humanity. So, as we read our passage, don't be put off by its foreignness.

00:02:44.180 --> 00:02:52.580
 It contains a message well worth our effort to understand. Let me read it for us.

00:02:52.580 --> 00:03:10.280
 It can be found in your pew Bibles on page 574. 574. Isaiah 52, picking up in verse 13 and carrying on

00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:11.100
 through the next chapter.

00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:27.340
 We have chapter 573.

00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:31.180
 and his form beyond that of the children of mankind.

00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:34.879
 So shall he sprinkle many nations.

00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:37.539
 Kings shall shut their mouths because of him.

00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:41.819
 For that which has not been told them they see,

00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:45.740
 and that which they have not heard they understand.

00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:49.120
 Who has believed what he has heard from us,

00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:52.980
 and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:56.819
 For he grew up before him like a young plant,

00:03:56.819 --> 00:03:59.159
 and like a root out of dry ground.

00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:02.079
 He had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:05.319
 and no beauty that we should desire him.

00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:08.419
 He was despised and rejected by men,

00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.900
 a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:15.379
 And as one from whom men hide their faces,

00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:18.779
 he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:24.579
 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,

00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:28.039
 yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:32.500
 But he was pierced for our transgressions.

00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.680
 He was crushed for our iniquities.

00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:39.300
 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:42.259
 and with his wounds we are healed.

00:04:43.099 --> 00:04:45.560
 All we like sheep have gone astray.

00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:48.639
 We have turned everyone to his own way,

00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:52.120
 and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

00:04:53.039 --> 00:04:55.519
 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

00:04:55.740 --> 00:04:57.399
 yet he opened not his mouth.

00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:59.399
 Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.180
 and like sheep before its shears is silent,

00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:04.180
 so he opened not his mouth.

00:05:05.219 --> 00:05:08.419
 By oppression and judgment, he was taken away.

00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:10.579
 And as for his generation,

00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:14.639
 who considered that he was cut off

00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:16.659
 out of the land of the living,

00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:19.740
 stricken for the transgression of my people,

00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.959
 and they made his grave with the wicked,

00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:25.879
 and with a rich man in his death,

00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:27.639
 although he had done no violence,

00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:29.539
 and there was no deceit in his mouth,

00:05:29.719 --> 00:05:32.599
 yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him.

00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.500
 He has put him to grief

00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:37.479
 when his soul makes an offering for guilt.

00:05:38.479 --> 00:05:40.479
 He shall see his offspring.

00:05:41.219 --> 00:05:42.699
 He shall prolong his days.

00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:44.920
 The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:47.139
 Out of the anguish of his soul,

00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:49.879
 he shall see and be satisfied.

00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.240
 By his knowledge shall the righteous one,

00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:56.500
 my servant, make many to be accounted righteous,

00:05:57.379 --> 00:05:59.680
 and he shall bear their iniquities.

00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:03.800
 Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many,

00:06:04.539 --> 00:06:07.439
 and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:10.939
 because he poured out his soul to death

00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:13.399
 and was numbered with the transgressors.

00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:16.560
 Yet, he bore the sin of many

00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.879
 and makes intercession for the transgressors.

00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:22.660
 The word of the Lord.

00:06:22.660 --> 00:06:33.160
 So, what is identified here as our greatest problem?

00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:37.240
 It's most clearly stated in the first part

00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:39.420
 of chapter 53, verse 6.

00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:41.660
 Big number, first numbers, chapters,

00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:42.940
 small numbers, verses.

00:06:43.440 --> 00:06:44.740
 53, verse 6.

00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:48.540
 And it may strike you as a rather odd reading practice

00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:50.980
 to jump right in the middle of a piece,

00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:53.000
 but it really isn't.

00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:54.819
 For with Hebrew poetry,

00:06:55.020 --> 00:06:56.640
 and this is an instance of Hebrew poetry,

00:06:57.020 --> 00:07:00.000
 the themes often work themselves from the outside

00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.840
 in toward the middle,

00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:05.900
 with the heart of the matter right in the middle,

00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:06.960
 right in the center.

00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.300
 So, the heart of the matter

00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:11.400
 is at the center of this poem.

00:07:11.939 --> 00:07:14.300
 And here we find Isaiah expressing

00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:15.720
 the heart of the matter

00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.759
 when it comes to our biggest problem.

00:07:20.520 --> 00:07:22.079
 Here is how he puts it.

00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:26.379
 All we like sheep have gone astray.

00:07:27.080 --> 00:07:30.340
 Each of us has turned to his own way.

00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:34.400
 I wonder if you find that a surprising answer.

00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:37.400
 It's not that in Isaiah's day,

00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:39.280
 people didn't face things like plagues

00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:40.840
 and hunger and ravages of war

00:07:40.840 --> 00:07:42.220
 and disease and deportment

00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:43.760
 and inflation or poverty.

00:07:43.760 --> 00:07:47.020
 No, all of these things were conspicuously present.

00:07:47.880 --> 00:07:50.760
 It's simply that Isaiah identifies

00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:55.640
 a more fundamental root-level problem.

00:07:56.640 --> 00:07:58.200
 Our going astray.

00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:02.440
 Our turning to our own way, as he puts it.

00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:04.780
 So, what does Isaiah mean?

00:08:05.220 --> 00:08:06.660
 Straying from what?

00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:08.940
 Turning away from what?

00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:12.500
 Notice, his image is that of sheep.

00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.899
 The picture is of sheep straying from the path

00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:18.279
 marked out by the shepherd.

00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:20.740
 So, who is the shepherd?

00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:23.579
 Well, of this, there was no question

00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:25.040
 in Isaiah's hearers' minds.

00:08:25.420 --> 00:08:27.060
 The picture was perfectly clear

00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:28.860
 and very familiar to them.

00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:31.420
 As their minstrel King David

00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:34.080
 opened his famous Psalm 23,

00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.420
 The Lord is my shepherd.

00:08:37.540 --> 00:08:39.920
 So, the shepherd is God, our creator.

00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.800
 It is from the path that God marks out

00:08:43.800 --> 00:08:45.020
 that we stray.

00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:47.820
 When we go our own way,

00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:51.460
 we are turning aside from the creator's way.

00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:56.100
 So, Isaiah is saying that common to all

00:08:56.100 --> 00:09:01.020
 is waywardness with respect to God, our creator.

00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:04.659
 Ours is the attitude which says,

00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.699
 I don't care what path you've marked out.

00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:13.019
 I will be in your world as I jolly well please.

00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:17.919
 I shall set my course without regard to you.

00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.379
 I will make my own way.

00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:21.399
 Thank you very much.

00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:24.620
 And really, a moment's reflection

00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:28.019
 reveals that to go our own way

00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:32.919
 is to make ourselves our authority.

00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:37.720
 It is to repudiate our shepherd God.

00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:43.500
 It is to regard the very creator as a rival.

00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:48.519
 It is to take the defiant stance of a rebel.

00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:52.500
 I shall play the part of God in my own life.

00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:57.620
 I shall be the arbiter of what is good, right, and just.

00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:01.399
 The effects of this turning aside

00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:03.220
 from the ways of our creator

00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:05.019
 are varied and terrible.

00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:07.960
 From genocide to lack of generosity,

00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.039
 selfishness to suicide attacks,

00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:12.980
 sex trafficking to spoilation of the earth,

00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:16.679
 we have made a ruinous mess of things.

00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.779
 We have vandalized God's world

00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:22.199
 and victimized God's creatures.

00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:26.100
 Yes, the effects of our chosen paths

00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.620
 are bad enough.

00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:28.980
 Bad enough for us to think

00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:31.039
 that they are our worst problems.

00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:32.959
 They are not.

00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:38.500
 But it is the essence of our chosen path

00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:43.199
 that is supremely morally horrifying.

00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:48.780
 We have substituted ourselves for God.

00:10:49.660 --> 00:10:52.980
 We put ourselves in his place.

00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:55.360
 That, according to Isaiah,

00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:58.660
 is our greatest problem.

00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:05.300
 Tell me you do not know

00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:08.580
 Isaiah's description to be true of you.

00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.980
 It certainly is true of me.

00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:14.259
 Isaiah knew that it was true of him.

00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.300
 Notice his statement

00:11:16.300 --> 00:11:18.039
 is in the form of a confession,

00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.700
 and he places himself in the company.

00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:25.180
 All of us, like sheep, have gone astray.

00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:29.440
 I wonder, can you make that confession?

00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:31.620
 I have a problem.

00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:35.899
 I have substituted myself for God.

00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:40.179
 I have made God my rival.

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:45.840
 If so, our second question

00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:48.179
 forces itself upon us.

00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.720
 What can be done about this?

00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.939
 Now, the people of Isaiah's day

00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:57.039
 had been long taught to understand

00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.399
 that such a stance toward God

00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.299
 was deserving of his terrible

00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:05.759
 but just judgment.

00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:07.620
 Death.

00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:09.859
 That much was clear.

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.459
 The whole sacrificial system

00:12:12.459 --> 00:12:14.399
 acknowledged and reinforced

00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:17.539
 that death was due transgressors.

00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:20.659
 An endless parade of bulls

00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:22.359
 and goats and sheep

00:12:22.359 --> 00:12:24.159
 were offered on altars

00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:27.379
 to atone for the sins of the people.

00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:30.279
 But the sense was

00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:32.620
 that the blood of bulls or goats

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.320
 couldn't really constitute

00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:36.259
 atonement for sin.

00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:39.879
 It was simply a postponement.

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:43.039
 Animals were no ultimate answer.

00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.360
 So the question remained,

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.700
 both for them and for us,

00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.179
 what can be done about the fact

00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:52.500
 that we keep piling up capital offenses

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:54.519
 against the very judge of the universe?

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:57.799
 It doesn't look good for us.

00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:02.279
 To be sober-minded is to grow pale.

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:08.500
 But look at the remarkable answer

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:12.019
 Isaiah gives to deal with this,

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.860
 our great, truly our greatest problem.

00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:19.120
 God is sending someone,

00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.759
 his servant.

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:24.039
 This is the opening verse of our passage,

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:26.099
 52 verse 13.

00:13:26.579 --> 00:13:28.179
 Behold my servant.

00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:30.779
 Now Isaiah has made reference

00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.919
 to the Lord's servant before.

00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:34.659
 Sometimes it refers to Israel as a nation,

00:13:35.219 --> 00:13:38.439
 then more narrowly to the faithful remnant

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:40.599
 within the faithless nation.

00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:43.439
 Once the title is given to a pagan king Cyrus

00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:44.939
 who does God's bidding.

00:13:45.599 --> 00:13:48.779
 But this time it's different.

00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:54.019
 For this time the servant is identified there,

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:55.360
 verse 53, 1,

00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:58.799
 as the arm of the Lord.

00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:03.339
 This is remarkable.

00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:05.620
 For the designation,

00:14:06.339 --> 00:14:07.419
 the arm of the Lord,

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:10.259
 is none other than a metaphor

00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:12.740
 for God himself.

00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:17.419
 The arm of the Lord is God

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:19.700
 rolling up his sleeves

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:21.480
 to act himself

00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:23.360
 in great power.

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.120
 Now, a quick observation

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.960
 to hopefully clarify

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.299
 where there's typical confusion.

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:34.440
 Notice how God's solution

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:35.680
 to humanity's problem

00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:37.500
 involves his arm,

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.299
 not just his mouth.

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:42.319
 It's not enough to send a prophet,

00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:44.199
 a mouthpiece,

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:46.019
 a spokesman

00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:48.299
 to tell us how to get out of this mess

00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.120
 that we've made.

00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:53.559
 It takes his coming down himself

00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:55.159
 and acting.

00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:57.819
 And if your notion is

00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:59.339
 that Christianity is fundamentally

00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.699
 about instruction,

00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:02.559
 how we ought to live,

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.819
 and in a way,

00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:05.639
 who could be faulted for thinking so

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.599
 because it's such a common error?

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.899
 And so many religions

00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.740
 seem to consist

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.540
 in simply that,

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.180
 instruction on how to live.

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.399
 But if we get

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:17.480
 what Isaiah is saying here,

00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:19.540
 we realize this

00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:21.120
 is something

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.040
 very different.

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.860
 It is not fundamentally

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:28.000
 religious instruction.

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:31.259
 It's about God himself

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:33.279
 coming down and acting.

00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:36.939
 That's what makes Christianity

00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:39.240
 very distinctive here.

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.019
 It's not advice.

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:43.100
 It is announcement.

00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.419
 Not,

00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.919
 this is how you need

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.100
 to change your life.

00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:49.100
 Rather,

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:51.879
 this is what happened

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:55.019
 that changes your life.

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.019
 It's fundamentally news,

00:15:59.100 --> 00:16:00.379
 or as the first Christians

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.059
 called it,

00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.799
 the good news

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.019
 to be declared.

00:16:05.479 --> 00:16:05.939
 So,

00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:07.339
 what can be done

00:16:07.339 --> 00:16:08.619
 about our terrible plight?

00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:10.459
 God is sending someone,

00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:11.299
 his servant,

00:16:12.099 --> 00:16:13.219
 but this servant

00:16:13.219 --> 00:16:14.839
 is none other than

00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:16.199
 the arm of the Lord.

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.339
 God himself

00:16:17.339 --> 00:16:18.859
 come down to act in power.

00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.559
 No wonder he says

00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:21.079
 at the start,

00:16:21.359 --> 00:16:21.879
 behold,

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.159
 behold.

00:16:23.859 --> 00:16:24.079
 Yeah,

00:16:24.119 --> 00:16:24.959
 you're telling me

00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:26.379
 this I'd like to see,

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.659
 God himself

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.679
 coming down to act?

00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.500
 We've seen him

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.599
 bear his arm before.

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.919
 Plagues of Egypt,

00:16:33.239 --> 00:16:34.000
 angel of death,

00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:35.379
 splitting the Red Sea

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:35.939
 and the Jordan.

00:16:36.599 --> 00:16:36.819
 Surely,

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.459
 we're going to see

00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:38.859
 some remarkable fireworks.

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:42.419
 But this is the odd,

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.620
 the very odd thing.

00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.759
 The profile,

00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.579
 the servant,

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.479
 of the servant

00:16:48.479 --> 00:16:50.259
 that Isaiah gives us

00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:52.279
 is not at all

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:53.459
 what we would expect.

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.679
 In fact,

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:55.699
 it's closer

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:57.620
 to the opposite

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:59.379
 of what we'd expect.

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.299
 No, no,

00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:07.799
 thank you.

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.539
 Fashion must be maintained

00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.299
 in these parts.

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.099
 It's the opposite

00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:18.099
 of what we'd expect.

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.559
 Even as Isaiah

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.419
 describes his servant,

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.559
 Isaiah recognizes this.

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:23.319
 Who's going to believe this?

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.579
 He asks in verse 1.

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:25.539
 So,

00:17:25.659 --> 00:17:26.980
 what's so unlikely

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.000
 or implausible

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.220
 about this profile?

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:30.819
 Well,

00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.579
 for one,

00:17:32.179 --> 00:17:32.740
 the servant,

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.579
 who we've heard

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.839
 is God coming down,

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:37.200
 is an unimpressive,

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.599
 inglorious figure.

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.839
 Verse 2,

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.000
 he has no stately

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.960
 former majesty.

00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:45.899
 Clearly,

00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.659
 this servant

00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:48.259
 is not the hero

00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:49.220
 of folk legends,

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:51.179
 the glorious warrior God

00:17:51.179 --> 00:17:52.059
 from Valhalla.

00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:56.619
 in fact,

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.440
 supremely,

00:17:58.879 --> 00:18:00.200
 the suffering servant,

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:01.619
 sorry,

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.299
 the servant

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:04.399
 is a suffering figure.

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.299
 Verse 3,

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.839
 he was despised

00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:08.019
 and forsaken of men,

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:09.299
 a man of sorrows

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.460
 and acquainted with grief.

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.819
 But there's something

00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.519
 haunting about him.

00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:16.440
 While suffering

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.559
 is the common lot

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.259
 of us all,

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.339
 there is something

00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.440
 extreme

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:23.160
 in his.

00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.379
 He is,

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:24.859
 verse 5,

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.799
 pierced,

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.940
 crushed,

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.660
 scourged.

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.019
 And all this

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.220
 naturally generates

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.819
 the impression

00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:33.119
 that he must

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.119
 somehow be under

00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:35.640
 the special judgment

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.420
 of God.

00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:37.960
 And in a way,

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.759
 Isaiah tells us,

00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.879
 this is true.

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.200
 Verse 10,

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.319
 the Lord

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.759
 was pleased

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.940
 to crush him,

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:45.900
 putting him

00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.660
 to grief.

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.180
 His fate,

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:48.680
 it would seem,

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.059
 compels the conclusion

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.680
 that he must have been

00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.819
 terribly guilty

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.059
 and God gave him

00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:56.200
 what he deserved.

00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:57.920
 But,

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.240
 we discover

00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.279
 the fact is,

00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:01.319
 the odd,

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.400
 inexplicable thing is,

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:05.200
 he was innocent.

00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:06.559
 Verse 9,

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.899
 he has done

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.700
 no violence,

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:09.839
 nor was there

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.980
 any deceit

00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.819
 in his mouth.

00:19:12.919 --> 00:19:14.139
 If not for his own

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:14.899
 sin and offenses,

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.279
 then,

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.960
 why is he punished

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.740
 by God?

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.879
 Why is he marked

00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:21.559
 out for horrendous

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.039
 suffering?

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:23.859
 Happily,

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.559
 where clarity

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.220
 is most needed,

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:29.339
 Isaiah is most

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:31.339
 transparently clear.

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:34.279
 And what he says

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.799
 is astonishing.

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.000
 Verse 5,

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:40.839
 he was pierced

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.240
 through

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:43.299
 for our transgressions.

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:45.319
 He was crushed

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:47.379
 for our iniquities.

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.519
 Why does the servant

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.960
 suffer?

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.599
 Because he is,

00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:52.200
 verse 10,

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.960
 a guilt offering,

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:56.519
 a sacrificial lamb,

00:19:56.659 --> 00:19:57.139
 verse 7,

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:59.240
 an offering to God

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.179
 to compensate

00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:02.099
 for the violations

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.399
 of transgressors.

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:04.419
 Ours.

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:06.700
 The background

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.740
 here is very familiar.

00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.640
 The very familiar

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:11.000
 world of ritual

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.660
 sacrifice

00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.759
 in which the

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.820
 Hebrews lived.

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.720
 The guilty party

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.840
 would lay their

00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:18.360
 hand on the head

00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:19.700
 of the sacrificial

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.660
 animal

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.480
 in identification.

00:20:23.580 --> 00:20:25.360
 This is the fate

00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:26.700
 I deserve

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:28.759
 and symbolizing

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.019
 a transfer

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.519
 of my guilt

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.059
 to the offering.

00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:36.640
 So the servant

00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:37.299
 suffers

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:39.059
 as a substitute

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:40.039
 for sinners.

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.160
 Were it not

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.140
 so clear,

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.380
 we would scarcely

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.480
 dare believe it.

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.039
 He,

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.539
 God himself,

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.660
 comes down,

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.259
 gives his life

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:52.900
 for us.

00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:55.220
 He takes the lash

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.460
 for rebellion

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.680
 for us

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.840
 to whom,

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.840
 verse 8 says,

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.360
 the stroke

00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:02.400
 was due.

00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:04.759
 The servant

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.420
 is treated

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.680
 by God

00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:08.259
 as if he

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.940
 had done

00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:10.400
 every vile

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:10.960
 thing

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.000
 we have done

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.440
 and do.

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:17.120
 the innocent

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.740
 servant

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.080
 takes hold

00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.279
 of everything

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.180
 that blights

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.200
 our lives,

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.779
 our griefs,

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.700
 our infirmities,

00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.620
 our sorrows,

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.860
 our afflictions,

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.840
 but our follies

00:21:28.840 --> 00:21:30.200
 and our rebellion.

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.740
 He takes them up

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.320
 and he faces

00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.320
 their consequences.

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.920
 In short,

00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:38.960
 and this is the

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.840
 summary so far,

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.680
 if you get nothing,

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.340
 get this,

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.660
 our great

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.640
 calamity,

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:47.220
 we substitute

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:48.220
 ourselves

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:50.040
 for God.

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:52.480
 Our only

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.420
 rescue,

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.000
 God

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.620
 substitutes

00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.120
 himself

00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.779
 for us.

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.759
 And what

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.300
 does this

00:22:02.300 --> 00:22:03.420
 great substitution

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.220
 accomplish?

00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.240
 Chapter 52,

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:06.860
 15,

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.140
 a sprinkling

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:09.160
 of many nations.

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.040
 Drawn from

00:22:10.040 --> 00:22:10.540
 the language

00:22:10.540 --> 00:22:11.519
 of Jewish ritual,

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.640
 sprinkling meant

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.640
 cleansing,

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.200
 as a leper

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.240
 would be sprinkled

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.100
 and declared

00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:17.900
 clean.

00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:19.820
 And it is a

00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.820
 cleansing by

00:22:20.820 --> 00:22:21.320
 removal.

00:22:21.520 --> 00:22:22.160
 For the servant

00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.259
 to have borne

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.080
 away our

00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:24.640
 iniquities,

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.180
 verse 4,

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.840
 is for him

00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:27.620
 to have borne

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.300
 them away.

00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.680
 To have our

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.920
 sin placed on

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.220
 him is to have

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.820
 them removed

00:22:33.820 --> 00:22:34.600
 from us.

00:22:37.020 --> 00:22:38.080
 Verse 11

00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:39.140
 expresses what

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.980
 this substitution

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.220
 accomplished in a

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.000
 slightly different

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.420
 light.

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.279
 Ah, but a

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.120
 wonderful light.

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:46.079
 It justified

00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.860
 many.

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.279
 That is,

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.620
 it gave them

00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.960
 a perfect

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.120
 moral record.

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.140
 In this

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.640
 substitution,

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.839
 there is a

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.700
 double exchange.

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.700
 Not only does

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.200
 the servant

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.920
 take the

00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.779
 consequences of

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.460
 our wicked

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.180
 and wayward

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.660
 lives,

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.500
 we in

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.259
 exchange

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:05.360
 receive the

00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.799
 credit for

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.879
 everything the

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.940
 servant did

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.200
 and was.

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.500
 My righteous

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.279
 servant will

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.720
 justify the

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.019
 many.

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.899
 That is,

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.579
 provide

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.240
 righteousness,

00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:18.379
 a perfect

00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:19.139
 moral record,

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:19.779
 his own

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.220
 record,

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.460
 for our

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:21.859
 very,

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.720
 very shabby

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.039
 one.

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:24.960
 He steps

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.720
 into our

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.079
 shoes,

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.119
 and we

00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:29.079
 into his.

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.200
 Really?

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.539
 Really?

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.220
 I mean,

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.680
 this sounds

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.819
 altogether too

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.299
 remarkable.

00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.339
 Can it

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.960
 really be

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.319
 so?

00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:39.659
 As Isaiah

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.139
 would later

00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:40.579
 record,

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.240
 just beyond

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.839
 our passage,

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.220
 my ways,

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.019
 says God,

00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.740
 are not

00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.619
 your ways.

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.200
 As high

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.579
 as the

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.179
 heavens are

00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:48.599
 above the

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:48.839
 earth,

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:49.919
 so much

00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:51.159
 higher are

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:52.039
 my ways

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.980
 than your

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.559
 ways.

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.259
 And another

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.720
 remarkable

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.099
 thing,

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.359
 notice that

00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.079
 though the

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.619
 servant was

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.119
 smitten,

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.279
 cut off,

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.500
 yet he

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:03.259
 strangely lives

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.339
 to see the

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:04.759
 fruit of his

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.159
 work.

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.519
 The servant

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.859
 will see the

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.639
 travail of his

00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:09.259
 soul and be

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.859
 satisfied,

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.480
 verse 11.

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.359
 So here

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.359
 then is

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.859
 Isaiah's

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.980
 portrait of

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.460
 the suffering

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:15.839
 servant.

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.039
 And although

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.619
 Isaiah the

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.279
 prophet presented

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.200
 it, he

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:21.259
 himself could

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.879
 not penetrate

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.359
 it.

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.279
 We're later

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.319
 told in 1 Peter

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.819
 that the

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.179
 prophets

00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:26.659
 themselves puzzled

00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:27.240
 over their own

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.240
 words, seeking

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.039
 to know what

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:30.299
 person or time

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:30.960
 their prophecy

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.720
 referred to.

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:34.759
 Ah, but

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.480
 friends, there

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.000
 would come a

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:39.860
 day when

00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.200
 there would

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.000
 be no doubt

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.819
 who this

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.680
 suffering servant

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.200
 really was.

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.160
 And it would

00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.600
 be this very

00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:50.000
 passage of

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.620
 Isaiah which

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.279
 would prove

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.600
 most precious

00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:55.059
 and important

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.120
 to the first

00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:56.620
 Christians.

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:57.959
 for it, above

00:24:57.959 --> 00:24:58.899
 all others,

00:24:59.219 --> 00:24:59.939
 help them to

00:24:59.939 --> 00:25:01.159
 grasp what

00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:01.879
 God was

00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:03.500
 doing and

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.039
 how it

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.159
 related to

00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:06.000
 this Jesus

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.339
 who had

00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.799
 turned their

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.399
 world upside

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:08.899
 down.

00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:11.539
 Can you

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.739
 see how

00:25:12.739 --> 00:25:13.539
 this prophecy,

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.919
 such a mystery,

00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:17.419
 was seen to be

00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:18.319
 in the light

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.939
 of Jesus,

00:25:19.439 --> 00:25:20.639
 such a match?

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:22.440
 If you're at

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.540
 all familiar

00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.780
 with the

00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.740
 gospel accounts,

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.300
 I don't think

00:25:27.300 --> 00:25:28.080
 you can fail

00:25:28.080 --> 00:25:28.720
 to see it.

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.540
 As with the

00:25:30.540 --> 00:25:31.700
 servant, so

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.600
 with Jesus,

00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:33.540
 nothing about

00:25:33.540 --> 00:25:34.020
 his origin

00:25:34.020 --> 00:25:34.780
 nourished hopes

00:25:34.780 --> 00:25:35.400
 of greatness.

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.960
 Jesus of

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.680
 Nazareth

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.440
 sputters

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.420
 Nathaniel in

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.020
 incredulity.

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.720
 Can anything

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.560
 good come out

00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.240
 of Nazareth?

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.520
 Special?

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.320
 Him?

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.780
 Is this not

00:25:46.780 --> 00:25:47.840
 the carpenter's

00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.180
 son?

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.980
 Just a

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.799
 local nobody?

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.059
 Reckoned to

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.759
 be a zero?

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.779
 Was Jesus

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.339
 a man of

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.779
 sorrows,

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.640
 acquainted with

00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:57.220
 grief, as

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.640
 the prophet

00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.299
 foretold?

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.660
 Grief was

00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.660
 his intimate

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.440
 acquaintance,

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.759
 sorrow, his

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.400
 constant

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.079
 companion.

00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.620
 Scarcely had

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.039
 he started

00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.740
 his ministry

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.539
 when the

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.240
 religious leaders

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.900
 of the day

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.720
 were planning

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.220
 on how they

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.000
 might dispatch

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.259
 him.

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.759
 The pressure

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.819
 of sorrow

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:15.299
 was so intense

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.539
 it came out

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.360
 in sweat

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.240
 like drops

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.200
 of blood.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.900
 You, a

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:24.140
 king, scoffed

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.640
 Herod in

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.160
 derision.

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:26.960
 His only

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.839
 royal robe,

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.860
 Herod's,

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.079
 draped in

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.779
 mockery.

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.980
 His only

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.519
 crown,

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.279
 thorns.

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.539
 Those

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.079
 hoarse cries

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.700
 of the crowd

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.039
 yelling,

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.339
 crucify him,

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.680
 crucify him,

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:41.799
 only interspersed

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:43.200
 by Pilate's

00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.339
 thrice repeated

00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:44.819
 verdict,

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.240
 he's innocent.

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.880
 He's innocent.

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:50.440
 They cry out,

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.040
 but he holds

00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:52.860
 his peace.

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.280
 Like a lamb

00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:57.240
 that is led

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.900
 to the slaughter

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:59.200
 and like a

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.420
 sheep silent

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.120
 before his

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:01.700
 shearers,

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.140
 he opens

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.600
 not his

00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.000
 mouth.

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.940
 He is

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.660
 crushed

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.460
 beneath the

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.940
 burden of the

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.340
 cross,

00:27:08.520 --> 00:27:09.520
 then pierced

00:27:09.520 --> 00:27:10.120
 through upon

00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.420
 it.

00:27:11.820 --> 00:27:12.160
 Yes,

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.800
 and as Isaiah

00:27:12.800 --> 00:27:13.340
 foretold,

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:14.160
 his grave was

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.080
 assigned with

00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.680
 the wicked,

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.480
 verse 9,

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.480
 for his body

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:17.880
 was to be

00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:18.380
 flung in a

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.980
 common grave

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.620
 with the

00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.279
 criminals who

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.740
 flanked him

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.299
 on the cross.

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:23.240
 But the

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.599
 wealthy

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:25.019
 Joseph of

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.620
 Arimathea

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.380
 interposed,

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.299
 asking for the

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.759
 body to be

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.299
 placed in his

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.759
 own tomb,

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.360
 and so he

00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:30.140
 was indeed

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:32.120
 with a rich

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:33.059
 man in his

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.620
 death.

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.460
 But as

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.120
 Isaiah's

00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:38.099
 prophecy

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.759
 cryptically

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.299
 indicated,

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.819
 his inglorious

00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.940
 death was not

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.539
 the end for

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:42.839
 him.

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:43.819
 4,

00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.420
 verse 10,

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.220
 he will

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.980
 prolong his

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.380
 days.

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:46.980
 He would

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.519
 see his

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.960
 offspring.

00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.319
 The Lord

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.640
 himself takes

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.279
 up the final

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.839
 words of

00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.319
 Isaiah's

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.600
 prophecy as

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.180
 a final

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.059
 verdict upon

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.700
 his servant.

00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.620
 Verse 12,

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.180
 therefore I

00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.860
 will allot

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:01.220
 him a

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.839
 portion with

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.400
 the great,

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.640
 and he will

00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.299
 divide the

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.720
 booty with

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.299
 the strong.

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.420
 The servant

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:10.019
 proves to be,

00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.039
 despite all

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.620
 appearances,

00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:13.079
 Jesus, a

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.659
 victor.

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.299
 Friends, the

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.639
 life, death,

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.000
 resurrection, and

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.959
 exaltation of

00:28:19.959 --> 00:28:21.099
 Jesus fits

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.439
 Isaiah's profile

00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:24.000
 like a hand in

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.799
 a glove.

00:28:25.479 --> 00:28:27.399
 Jesus is the

00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:28.199
 suffering servant.

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.599
 He is the

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.139
 arm of the

00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:30.439
 Lord.

00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.739
 He is God

00:28:32.739 --> 00:28:33.899
 come down to

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.779
 act in power

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.539
 for our rescue.

00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:37.659
 This the first

00:28:37.659 --> 00:28:38.439
 Christians saw

00:28:38.439 --> 00:28:39.059
 with clarity,

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.279
 and as we

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.700
 saw with

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.139
 the Philip

00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:41.460
 and the

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.039
 Ethiopian,

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.839
 proclaimed it

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:44.000
 unhesitatingly.

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.179
 The mystery

00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:46.059
 was dissolved,

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.200
 and it was

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.579
 dissolved both

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.480
 ways.

00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:51.759
 Jesus dissolved

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.980
 the mystery of

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.919
 Isaiah's cryptic

00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:55.980
 prophecy, but

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.899
 Isaiah's prophecy

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:59.759
 also dissolved

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.299
 the great mystery

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.200
 of Jesus.

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.159
 For the great

00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:05.159
 inexplicable

00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:06.099
 question for

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.440
 Jesus'

00:29:06.679 --> 00:29:07.399
 followers was

00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:07.839
 this.

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.199
 If Jesus

00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:09.959
 was God's

00:29:09.959 --> 00:29:10.839
 chosen servant,

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:11.859
 whom he

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.859
 greatly loved,

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.019
 and we heard

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.839
 the Father say

00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.740
 so from heaven,

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.720
 how could

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.459
 God let

00:29:18.459 --> 00:29:19.699
 Jesus come

00:29:19.699 --> 00:29:20.339
 to such a

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.079
 terrible end

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.759
 on a cross?

00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.639
 Indeed,

00:29:24.459 --> 00:29:25.279
 as they knew

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.839
 from Scripture,

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.000
 anyone hanged

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.000
 on a tree is

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.220
 especially cursed

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.819
 of God.

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.939
 Deuteronomy,

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.619
 Galatians.

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.939
 How could

00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:35.079
 the anointed

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.839
 of God be

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.659
 the cursed

00:29:37.659 --> 00:29:38.319
 of God?

00:29:38.959 --> 00:29:39.720
 How could

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.559
 the faithful

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.480
 servant of God

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.439
 suffer the

00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:43.779
 frightful judgment

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.419
 of God?

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.139
 It just didn't

00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:46.899
 add up for them,

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.779
 but it was

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:50.099
 Isaiah's prophecy

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.519
 which provided

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.179
 the answer.

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.559
 The servant

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.379
 of God

00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:55.679
 was

00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:57.899
 as our

00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.480
 substitute,

00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:01.180
 and it all

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.779
 came together

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:04.620
 as the

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.559
 strangest

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.940
 and most

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.480
 glorious

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.900
 good news.

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.299
 Now,

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.519
 it's possible

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.539
 that some of you

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:14.940
 are thinking,

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:15.620
 well,

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.299
 I'm really glad

00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.799
 for them

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.500
 that it all

00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:17.980
 made sense

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.440
 to them,

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:20.980
 but I'm glad

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.519
 they got their

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.259
 questions answered,

00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.420
 but I still have

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:23.759
 a few.

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:25.559
 for one,

00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.640
 this whole notion

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.460
 of sacrifice

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.220
 at the center

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.420
 of Isaiah's

00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.460
 vision sounds

00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.500
 so primitive.

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:33.900
 You know,

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.440
 on the order

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.480
 of propitiating

00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.740
 angry gods

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.700
 by dropping

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.420
 victims in

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:38.920
 volcanoes,

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.819
 you can't expect

00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.700
 modern people

00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.140
 to credit

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.819
 such a thing.

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:46.000
 And this is

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.460
 certainly an

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.000
 understandable

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.599
 reaction,

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.839
 given that we

00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:51.799
 in our

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.559
 sensibilities,

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.059
 largely heirs

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.379
 of the

00:30:54.379 --> 00:30:54.819
 enlightenment,

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.579
 for whom

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.139
 primitive

00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:58.799
 simply means

00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:00.179
 unenlightened,

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.799
 aka stupid.

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.419
 But,

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:06.459
 the question

00:31:06.459 --> 00:31:07.079
 for us

00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:07.480
 is,

00:31:07.959 --> 00:31:08.619
 dare we

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.419
 be so

00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:10.619
 dismissive

00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:11.799
 of all

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.559
 things primitive?

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.679
 For in

00:31:14.679 --> 00:31:15.839
 this case,

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.339
 by primitive,

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:18.859
 we are

00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.779
 identifying

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:21.159
 a strong

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:21.939
 instinct

00:31:21.939 --> 00:31:22.839
 and deep

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.599
 intuition

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.879
 as ancient

00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:25.639
 as history

00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:26.359
 itself

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.839
 and near

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.839
 universal

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:30.000
 across cultures,

00:31:30.479 --> 00:31:31.139
 an instinct

00:31:31.139 --> 00:31:32.399
 that we are

00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:33.199
 and live

00:31:33.199 --> 00:31:33.879
 in relation

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:35.339
 to a reality

00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.500
 beyond us,

00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:37.319
 not just

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:37.939
 forces,

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.159
 but a being,

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.039
 and that we

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.119
 are alienated

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:43.059
 from that being

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.439
 and need

00:31:44.439 --> 00:31:45.099
 reconciliation,

00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:46.119
 and that

00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:47.299
 some cleansing,

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:49.180
 some propitiation

00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.559
 must transpire

00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.500
 to affect

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.500
 that reconciliation.

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.099
 And we may

00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.759
 pronounce all

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.720
 such mumbo

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.399
 jumbo,

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.299
 but let us

00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.059
 at least

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.940
 be aware

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.019
 that in

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.859
 doing so,

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.799
 we part

00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.819
 company with

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:06.000
 the overwhelming

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.059
 majority of

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.599
 mankind

00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:09.159
 across time

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:10.220
 and cultures,

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.259
 and that it

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.819
 is Isaiah's

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:14.319
 framework

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.319
 work which

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.279
 stands in

00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.240
 deep and

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.740
 profound

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.480
 resonance

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.740
 with those

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.659
 abiding

00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:22.099
 human instincts.

00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.779
 Perhaps that

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.339
 should give us

00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:25.899
 pause

00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:27.980
 if we find

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.720
 ourselves

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.679
 dismissive.

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.460
 Others here

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.019
 may find

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.740
 difficulty with

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.119
 the notion

00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:35.980
 of substitution.

00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.960
 How can

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.460
 a God

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.099
 be considered

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:38.839
 just and

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.220
 good

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.680
 who,

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.460
 in remedy

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:40.819
 for the

00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.460
 offenses of

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.039
 some,

00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.059
 punishes,

00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:43.620
 in their

00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.160
 stead,

00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.000
 an innocent

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.799
 third party?

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:48.660
 Well,

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.079
 of course,

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.960
 on that

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.680
 apprehension

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.299
 of the matter,

00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.720
 the revulsion

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.680
 is understandable.

00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.680
 But this

00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.200
 would be

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.360
 a grave

00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:58.779
 misapprehension.

00:32:59.519 --> 00:32:59.920
 For the

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:00.620
 suffering servant

00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:01.980
 is not

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.799
 an innocent

00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.559
 victim seized

00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:03.940
 upon,

00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:04.759
 but rather

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.420
 one who

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.320
 willingly

00:33:06.320 --> 00:33:07.380
 put himself

00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.060
 forward

00:33:08.060 --> 00:33:08.820
 as a

00:33:08.820 --> 00:33:09.220
 substitute.

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.480
 His life

00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:10.880
 was not

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.440
 taken from

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:11.640
 him.

00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:12.519
 He laid

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.000
 it down

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.600
 voluntarily.

00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.160
 Neither,

00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:15.539
 as we

00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.039
 discovered,

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:16.960
 is the

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.300
 suffering

00:33:17.300 --> 00:33:17.680
 servant

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.240
 some

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.400
 third party

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:19.740
 God

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.420
 punishes.

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.420
 No,

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.019
 he is the

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.519
 arm of

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.000
 the Lord,

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.500
 God

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.279
 himself,

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.340
 taking the

00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:25.940
 lash of

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.300
 his own

00:33:26.300 --> 00:33:26.720
 judgment.

00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:28.640
 Here,

00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.640
 substitution

00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:30.660
 is the

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.340
 voluntary

00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:32.580
 self-offering

00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:33.140
 of God,

00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:33.840
 and rightly

00:33:33.840 --> 00:33:34.460
 understood,

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.300
 evokes not

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:35.940
 scandal,

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.279
 but marvel.

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.740
 Now,

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.079
 some of

00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.419
 you are

00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:42.859
 probably

00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.859
 still thinking,

00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.200
 okay,

00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:44.639
 okay,

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:46.419
 but this

00:33:46.419 --> 00:33:46.940
 is all

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:47.799
 still so

00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.720
 strange.

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.240
 Well,

00:33:50.399 --> 00:33:51.259
 was this

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.259
 not Isaiah's

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.099
 point precisely?

00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:54.799
 Who would

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.240
 have thought

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.980
 this,

00:33:56.399 --> 00:33:56.859
 the arm

00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.159
 of the

00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:57.480
 Lord?

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:58.899
 Who would

00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.259
 have thought

00:33:59.259 --> 00:33:59.759
 this,

00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.480
 the saving

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.200
 action of

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.700
 God in

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.100
 the world?

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:03.600
 Well,

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.539
 will you,

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.000
 friend,

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.080
 miss of it

00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:06.600
 for its

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.580
 strangeness?

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.380
 Let me ask

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:09.639
 you,

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:10.860
 through what

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:12.139
 lens are

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:13.019
 you looking

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.760
 for God?

00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:15.559
 What fancies

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.619
 dictate your

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.940
 expectations in

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.860
 relation to

00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.800
 God's action

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.940
 in this world,

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.720
 in relation

00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:22.260
 to you?

00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:24.920
 And may I

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.640
 further ask,

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.540
 what good

00:34:26.540 --> 00:34:27.200
 reason do

00:34:27.200 --> 00:34:27.740
 you have for

00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:29.120
 those fancies

00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:29.840
 to dictate,

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.380
 to form the

00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:32.200
 lens through

00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:32.680
 which you

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:33.200
 will look

00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:34.000
 for God

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.000
 and discern

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.840
 His working?

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:38.440
 be very

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.180
 careful

00:34:39.180 --> 00:34:40.720
 that you

00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:41.200
 have not

00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:42.200
 screened out

00:34:42.200 --> 00:34:42.920
 the divine

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.440
 provision,

00:34:44.100 --> 00:34:45.019
 the only

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.820
 provision there

00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:47.039
 is for

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.539
 your greatest

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.100
 problem,

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.600
 a problem

00:34:49.600 --> 00:34:50.440
 so great

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.340
 it will

00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:51.880
 ultimately

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.700
 crush you.

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.220
 Will

00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:56.340
 yours be

00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:57.019
 as the

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.640
 eye of

00:34:57.640 --> 00:34:58.500
 Sauron

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.980
 scanning

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.960
 the landscape

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.600
 for the

00:35:01.600 --> 00:35:01.940
 ring,

00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:03.900
 never thinking

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.980
 to look

00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.400
 for a

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:05.900
 hobbit,

00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.619
 but a

00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.099
 hobbit

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:09.280
 was the

00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:10.039
 ring bearer.

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:13.059
 But some

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.460
 of us here

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.139
 perhaps face

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.480
 a different

00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:14.980
 challenge.

00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:15.720
 The arm

00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:15.900
 of the

00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.380
 Lord is

00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:18.139
 for us

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.180
 not unfamiliar

00:35:19.180 --> 00:35:20.840
 but over

00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:21.400
 familiar.

00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:23.099
 We've been

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:23.920
 instructed from

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.519
 Sunday school

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.119
 up, heard

00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.920
 sermons and

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.579
 sung songs

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.260
 about Jesus

00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:27.880
 the suffering

00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.300
 servant,

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:30.539
 but let us

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.280
 be careful

00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:34.160
 here for

00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:35.280
 familiarity

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:36.120
 does not

00:35:36.120 --> 00:35:36.460
 mean

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.920
 beneficiary.

00:35:39.140 --> 00:35:39.560
 And it

00:35:39.560 --> 00:35:40.180
 is very

00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:41.100
 possible to

00:35:41.100 --> 00:35:41.920
 penetrate the

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.440
 identity of

00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:42.860
 the suffering

00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.800
 servant and

00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.220
 yet his

00:35:44.220 --> 00:35:45.100
 sacrifice not

00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:47.200
 propitiate for

00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:48.040
 your sins.

00:35:48.620 --> 00:35:50.080
 As with the

00:35:50.080 --> 00:35:51.100
 sacrificial goat,

00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:52.440
 one must place

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:54.160
 one's hands on

00:35:54.160 --> 00:35:55.360
 the head of the

00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.300
 victim in

00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.080
 identification.

00:35:58.160 --> 00:35:59.440
 My sin

00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.720
 rightly would

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:01.820
 place me

00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.500
 there.

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:04.179
 the Hebrew

00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:04.940
 word for

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.679
 placing the

00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.300
 hand on

00:36:06.300 --> 00:36:06.800
 implies

00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:07.679
 leaning

00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.880
 hard,

00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:10.639
 placing the

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.460
 weight of

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.420
 one's reliance

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.500
 fully upon

00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.440
 the sacrifice

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:16.519
 for there is

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.639
 no other way

00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.719
 of expiation.

00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.099
 Have you

00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:20.780
 done this?

00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.460
 Placed your

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:23.699
 full weight

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:25.000
 upon God's

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.800
 suffering servant?

00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.519
 Admitting your

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.619
 transgressions against

00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:29.420
 God would

00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:30.659
 rightly put you

00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.199
 in the place

00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:32.839
 of death and

00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:34.179
 adhering to

00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:35.319
 him as your

00:36:35.319 --> 00:36:36.380
 substitute with

00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:37.359
 all the weight

00:36:37.359 --> 00:36:38.299
 of your complete

00:36:38.299 --> 00:36:38.980
 reliance.

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:41.539
 In the Hebrew,

00:36:41.779 --> 00:36:42.839
 the final word of

00:36:42.839 --> 00:36:43.859
 Isaiah's appeal that

00:36:43.859 --> 00:36:44.259
 we have read

00:36:44.259 --> 00:36:46.259
 together is the

00:36:46.259 --> 00:36:47.420
 servant's appeal for

00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:48.299
 transgressors.

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.880
 And this is my

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.759
 appeal for you.

00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:53.920
 place your

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:56.020
 hand upon

00:36:56.020 --> 00:36:56.660
 the substitute

00:36:56.660 --> 00:36:58.800
 and put

00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.920
 the full

00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.940
 weight of

00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:01.680
 your reliance

00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:02.360
 upon him.

00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:03.880
 If you have

00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.420
 never done

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:04.800
 so,

00:37:05.520 --> 00:37:06.300
 why not do

00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:06.780
 it now?

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.220
 Let today

00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:09.560
 be the day

00:37:09.560 --> 00:37:10.260
 of salvation.

00:37:12.220 --> 00:37:12.960
 Well,

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:13.320
 we have

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.340
 sought to

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:15.340
 unfold

00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:16.180
 the meaning,

00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:16.880
 challenge,

00:37:17.100 --> 00:37:17.660
 and appeal

00:37:17.660 --> 00:37:18.840
 of this

00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:20.080
 mysterious

00:37:20.080 --> 00:37:20.940
 servant song

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.500
 of Isaiah.

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.760
 If you

00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:24.539
 have begun

00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.300
 to grasp

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:25.599
 it,

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:27.679
 three things

00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.240
 you can

00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:29.740
 know and

00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.460
 what a

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:30.880
 difference

00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:31.519
 they make.

00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:32.539
 And I

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.039
 conclude,

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:33.800
 briefly,

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.400
 I assure

00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:34.720
 you,

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.800
 with these.

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.519
 First,

00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:40.440
 you are

00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:41.480
 not alone

00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.639
 in your

00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:43.099
 suffering.

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.079
 God,

00:37:45.200 --> 00:37:45.960
 your creator,

00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:47.179
 is not

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:47.760
 remote.

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:48.340
 Do you

00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:48.840
 see it?

00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:52.019
 He is

00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:52.700
 with you

00:37:52.700 --> 00:37:53.420
 in your

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:53.880
 suffering.

00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:54.820
 God has

00:37:54.820 --> 00:37:55.639
 not shared

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.940
 your humanity

00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:57.740
 in some

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:58.900
 sanitized

00:37:58.900 --> 00:37:59.260
 way,

00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.400
 staggering as

00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:00.659
 that in

00:38:00.659 --> 00:38:01.280
 itself would

00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:01.559
 be.

00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:03.820
 He has

00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.380
 known it

00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:04.980
 intimately,

00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.360
 at its

00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:06.920
 worst.

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.260
 He has,

00:38:08.340 --> 00:38:08.760
 as Isaiah

00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:09.119
 says,

00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.119
 borne our

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.039
 griefs and

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.900
 suffered our

00:38:11.900 --> 00:38:12.360
 sorrows.

00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.139
 He has

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.800
 taken upon

00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:14.800
 himself the

00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:16.099
 deep wounds

00:38:16.099 --> 00:38:16.920
 of life,

00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:19.119
 sunk under

00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:20.059
 its woes,

00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:21.559
 and carried

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:23.239
 its terrible

00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:24.519
 scars.

00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:27.000
 In the

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.539
 horror of

00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.460
 trench warfare

00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:29.019
 of World War

00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:30.480
 I, and in

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.420
 the maimed and

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.059
 amputated

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:33.880
 aftermath, the

00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:35.000
 anguished cry

00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:35.619
 went up,

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:37.179
 where is God

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.659
 in this

00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:38.019
 horror?

00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:39.699
 In this

00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:41.079
 context, one

00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:42.759
 survivor composed

00:38:42.759 --> 00:38:44.579
 these lines as

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.679
 he looked at

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.239
 Isaiah's

00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:46.599
 servant.

00:38:49.479 --> 00:38:50.519
 The other

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.199
 gods were

00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:53.139
 strong, but

00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:53.759
 thou wast

00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:54.179
 weak.

00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:57.419
 They rode, but

00:38:57.419 --> 00:38:58.399
 thou didst

00:38:58.399 --> 00:38:59.739
 stumble to a

00:38:59.739 --> 00:39:00.079
 throne.

00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.519
 But to our

00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:04.219
 wounds only

00:39:04.219 --> 00:39:05.259
 God's wounds

00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:07.559
 can speak, and

00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.919
 not a god

00:39:08.919 --> 00:39:10.739
 has wounds, but

00:39:10.739 --> 00:39:11.859
 thou alone.

00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:15.160
 let the

00:39:15.160 --> 00:39:15.500
 servant

00:39:15.500 --> 00:39:16.840
 song seep

00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:17.380
 into your

00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.280
 soul, and

00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.760
 you will

00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:20.320
 know you

00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:21.079
 are not

00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:21.920
 alone in

00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:22.519
 your suffering.

00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.680
 And let

00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:25.160
 the servant

00:39:25.160 --> 00:39:26.079
 song sink

00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.460
 into your

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:27.160
 soul, and

00:39:27.160 --> 00:39:27.559
 you will

00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.320
 begin to

00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:29.160
 feel that

00:39:29.160 --> 00:39:29.500
 you are

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:31.400
 loved to

00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:31.720
 a

00:39:31.720 --> 00:39:32.240
 breathtaking

00:39:32.240 --> 00:39:33.099
 degree.

00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:34.820
 For why

00:39:34.820 --> 00:39:35.160
 did the

00:39:35.160 --> 00:39:35.740
 servant take

00:39:35.740 --> 00:39:36.240
 on those

00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:36.740
 scars?

00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.480
 It was

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:39.160
 for you.

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.720
 For you,

00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:41.280
 he laid

00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:41.880
 aside his

00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:43.260
 beauty and

00:39:43.260 --> 00:39:44.600
 became marred

00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:45.420
 beyond human

00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:46.960
 semblance, as

00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:47.580
 one from

00:39:47.580 --> 00:39:48.140
 whom we

00:39:48.140 --> 00:39:48.940
 hide our

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.620
 faces.

00:39:50.540 --> 00:39:51.420
 All this

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.800
 to have

00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:54.140
 you as

00:39:54.140 --> 00:39:54.540
 his

00:39:54.540 --> 00:39:55.100
 beloved

00:39:55.100 --> 00:39:56.360
 forever.

00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.820
 Take this

00:39:58.820 --> 00:39:59.140
 servant

00:39:59.140 --> 00:39:59.980
 song into

00:39:59.980 --> 00:40:00.720
 your soul,

00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:01.960
 and not

00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:03.019
 only will

00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:03.680
 you begin

00:40:03.680 --> 00:40:04.600
 to feel

00:40:04.600 --> 00:40:05.960
 beautiful in

00:40:05.960 --> 00:40:06.620
 the eye of

00:40:06.620 --> 00:40:07.160
 your beloved,

00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:09.480
 his love

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.380
 will begin

00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:11.740
 to make

00:40:11.740 --> 00:40:12.660
 you beautiful

00:40:12.660 --> 00:40:14.340
 in the

00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:15.119
 ways that

00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.940
 really matter.

00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:18.420
 Finally,

00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:20.260
 take the

00:40:20.260 --> 00:40:20.980
 servant song

00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:21.640
 into your

00:40:21.640 --> 00:40:23.160
 being, and

00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:23.940
 you shall

00:40:23.940 --> 00:40:24.660
 have a

00:40:24.660 --> 00:40:26.300
 record that

00:40:26.300 --> 00:40:27.380
 finally lets

00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:28.260
 you rest.

00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:30.340
 Do you feel

00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:31.760
 crushed under

00:40:31.760 --> 00:40:32.340
 the burden

00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:33.240
 to achieve?

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:34.500
 By your

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.539
 performance to

00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:36.320
 cut a figure

00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:36.960
 that garners

00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.740
 approval and

00:40:37.740 --> 00:40:38.240
 applause?

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:38.899
 are your

00:40:38.899 --> 00:40:39.759
 nights haunted

00:40:39.759 --> 00:40:40.759
 with terrors of

00:40:40.759 --> 00:40:41.559
 failing to

00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:41.979
 meet the

00:40:41.979 --> 00:40:44.119
 standard, of

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:44.859
 being found

00:40:44.859 --> 00:40:45.379
 out of

00:40:45.379 --> 00:40:45.859
 failure?

00:40:46.959 --> 00:40:48.219
 You toil on

00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:49.000
 frantically to

00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.439
 make the

00:40:49.439 --> 00:40:50.819
 grade, to

00:40:50.819 --> 00:40:51.159
 get the

00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:51.679
 record that

00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:52.179
 gains the

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:53.359
 verdict approved,

00:40:53.799 --> 00:40:55.919
 accepted, all

00:40:55.919 --> 00:40:56.919
 the while knowing

00:40:56.919 --> 00:40:58.279
 you are ever

00:40:58.279 --> 00:41:00.039
 only as good as

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.619
 your last

00:41:00.619 --> 00:41:01.219
 performance.

00:41:01.219 --> 00:41:04.519
 such toil is

00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:06.599
 unending, and

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.959
 your record is

00:41:07.959 --> 00:41:08.939
 fragile and

00:41:08.939 --> 00:41:09.419
 faltering.

00:41:10.379 --> 00:41:12.299
 But remember, the

00:41:12.299 --> 00:41:13.699
 servant offers to

00:41:13.699 --> 00:41:14.799
 exchange your

00:41:14.799 --> 00:41:16.019
 record for his.

00:41:16.579 --> 00:41:18.019
 He steps into

00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:19.179
 your shoes, you

00:41:19.179 --> 00:41:19.959
 into his.

00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:22.399
 His record, by his

00:41:22.399 --> 00:41:23.639
 record, not yours,

00:41:23.859 --> 00:41:25.500
 you are justified.

00:41:25.500 --> 00:41:28.380
 He took your

00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:30.480
 place in court, and

00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:31.599
 the verdict is in,

00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:32.920
 accepted.

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:35.239
 You are in the

00:41:35.239 --> 00:41:36.300
 sight of God the

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:38.659
 judge, as good as

00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:41.260
 his, the servant's

00:41:41.260 --> 00:41:41.860
 record.

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:45.480
 What resting joy is

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.000
 this?

00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:48.280
 What more security

00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:50.679
 do you need than to

00:41:50.679 --> 00:41:51.559
 know that the one

00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.739
 whose verdict really

00:41:52.739 --> 00:41:54.780
 matters, the one who

00:41:54.780 --> 00:41:56.760
 knows all you are

00:41:56.760 --> 00:41:58.400
 and everything you

00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.940
 are not, has

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:01.440
 declared immutably,

00:42:02.060 --> 00:42:03.680
 you are in the

00:42:03.680 --> 00:42:04.820
 beloved servant,

00:42:05.700 --> 00:42:07.660
 perfect in God's

00:42:07.660 --> 00:42:08.000
 sight.

00:42:09.220 --> 00:42:10.720
 There and there

00:42:10.720 --> 00:42:12.720
 alone is real

00:42:12.720 --> 00:42:15.040
 deep rest for the

00:42:15.040 --> 00:42:15.340
 soul.

00:42:16.660 --> 00:42:18.519
 Oh, friends, take

00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:19.320
 this message of

00:42:19.320 --> 00:42:20.180
 Isaiah into your

00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:20.500
 heart.

00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:24.160
 Lay your full

00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:25.000
 weight upon the

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:27.259
 substitute, and you

00:42:27.259 --> 00:42:28.099
 may, as did the

00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:28.920
 Ethiopian that we

00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:30.679
 read of earlier, go

00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:31.279
 on your way

00:42:31.279 --> 00:42:32.019
 rejoicing.

00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:35.420
 May it be so for

00:42:35.420 --> 00:42:36.219
 each one of us.

00:42:40.759 --> 00:42:42.539
 Well, how Isaiah's

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.279
 description of the

00:42:43.279 --> 00:42:44.139
 suffering servant

00:42:44.139 --> 00:42:45.940
 illuminates the

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:46.920
 death of Christ,

00:42:47.719 --> 00:42:48.879
 setting it forth as a

00:42:48.879 --> 00:42:50.500
 substitutionary sacrifice

00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:51.960
 on behalf of his

00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:52.300
 people.

00:42:53.900 --> 00:42:55.320
 Will we come now to

00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:56.659
 another setting forth

00:42:56.659 --> 00:42:58.539
 of that substitutionary

00:42:58.539 --> 00:42:59.619
 sacrifice of the

00:42:59.619 --> 00:43:01.579
 suffering servant in the

00:43:01.579 --> 00:43:04.960
 bread and the cup that

00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:05.900
 the suffering servant

00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:07.900
 himself gave to his

00:43:07.900 --> 00:43:08.380
 disciples?

00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:11.199
 Hopefully you've

00:43:11.199 --> 00:43:12.280
 received one of these

00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:12.920
 and you came in,

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:15.239
 otherwise the ushers

00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:15.820
 can help you.

00:43:15.820 --> 00:43:18.280
 When Isaiah was

00:43:18.280 --> 00:43:19.940
 called as prophet,

00:43:20.820 --> 00:43:21.940
 he describes an

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:24.280
 angel touching his

00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:26.760
 mouth with a

00:43:26.760 --> 00:43:27.760
 burning coal taken

00:43:27.760 --> 00:43:28.539
 from the altar.

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.200
 Behold, this has

00:43:31.200 --> 00:43:32.340
 touched your lips,

00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:34.320
 and your guilt is

00:43:34.320 --> 00:43:36.380
 taken away, and

00:43:36.380 --> 00:43:37.500
 your sin is atoned

00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:37.880
 for.

00:43:38.780 --> 00:43:40.019
 Notice the

00:43:40.019 --> 00:43:41.380
 purifying coal

00:43:41.380 --> 00:43:43.180
 touched his lips.

00:43:43.179 --> 00:43:45.619
 lips, speech,

00:43:46.639 --> 00:43:47.139
 words.

00:43:47.779 --> 00:43:48.579
 You would think that

00:43:48.579 --> 00:43:49.940
 that a prophet's

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:50.619
 best part.

00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:54.980
 But even at his

00:43:54.980 --> 00:43:57.319
 best, where he

00:43:57.319 --> 00:43:58.179
 might naturally

00:43:58.179 --> 00:43:59.319
 have taken pride,

00:44:00.219 --> 00:44:01.179
 he was guilty.

00:44:02.299 --> 00:44:03.500
 He needed cleansing

00:44:03.500 --> 00:44:04.719
 and atonement.

00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:06.819
 And that atonement

00:44:06.819 --> 00:44:08.359
 could come alone

00:44:08.359 --> 00:44:09.719
 from the altar

00:44:09.719 --> 00:44:10.699
 of sacrifice.

00:44:10.699 --> 00:44:13.359
 brothers and

00:44:13.359 --> 00:44:13.739
 sisters,

00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:16.339
 if you know

00:44:16.339 --> 00:44:17.719
 that even

00:44:17.719 --> 00:44:18.980
 at your best,

00:44:19.819 --> 00:44:20.500
 you need

00:44:20.500 --> 00:44:21.000
 cleansing,

00:44:21.819 --> 00:44:22.719
 and if you

00:44:22.719 --> 00:44:23.639
 know it

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.199
 comes from

00:44:24.199 --> 00:44:25.179
 nowhere else

00:44:25.179 --> 00:44:25.579
 but the

00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:25.919
 altar,

00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:27.899
 the sacrificial

00:44:27.899 --> 00:44:28.379
 death of

00:44:28.379 --> 00:44:28.799
 Christ,

00:44:29.559 --> 00:44:30.159
 the bread

00:44:30.159 --> 00:44:31.139
 and the cup

00:44:31.139 --> 00:44:32.460
 is for you.

00:44:33.460 --> 00:44:34.019
 Friend,

00:44:34.859 --> 00:44:35.739
 if this is

00:44:35.739 --> 00:44:36.559
 not yet true

00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.019
 of you,

00:44:37.759 --> 00:44:38.519
 while the bread

00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:38.980
 and the cup

00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:39.739
 is not yet

00:44:39.739 --> 00:44:40.359
 for you,

00:44:41.099 --> 00:44:42.000
 the Savior

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:42.839
 that they set

00:44:42.839 --> 00:44:44.459
 forth is

00:44:44.459 --> 00:44:45.119
 for you.

00:44:46.159 --> 00:44:46.979
 Take him.

00:44:49.359 --> 00:44:50.299
 The apostle

00:44:50.299 --> 00:44:52.439
 writes,

00:44:54.739 --> 00:44:56.219
 the Lord Jesus

00:44:56.219 --> 00:44:56.879
 on the night

00:44:56.879 --> 00:44:57.399
 when he was

00:44:57.399 --> 00:44:57.859
 betrayed

00:44:57.859 --> 00:44:59.399
 took bread

00:44:59.399 --> 00:45:00.679
 and when he

00:45:00.679 --> 00:45:01.000
 had given

00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:01.539
 thanks,

00:45:01.859 --> 00:45:02.500
 he broke it

00:45:02.500 --> 00:45:03.599
 and said,

00:45:04.319 --> 00:45:05.019
 this is my

00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:05.419
 body,

00:45:05.819 --> 00:45:06.799
 which is for

00:45:06.800 --> 00:45:07.060
 you.

00:45:07.400 --> 00:45:08.760
 Do this

00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:10.240
 in remembrance

00:45:10.240 --> 00:45:10.920
 of me.

00:45:11.120 --> 00:45:11.580
 Do this in Ganon

00:45:11.800 --> 00:45:13.180
 remembrance

00:45:13.180 --> 00:45:13.820
 of me.

00:45:15.140 --> 00:45:16.019
 Do this in remembrance

00:45:16.019 --> 00:45:16.400
 of me.

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:16.960
 Do this in remembrance

00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:17.060
 of me.

00:45:17.620 --> 00:45:18.039
 Do this in remembrance

00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:18.480
 of me.

00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:19.840
 Do this in remembrance

00:45:19.840 --> 00:45:22.200
 of me.

00:45:22.200 --> 00:45:23.480
 Do this in remembrance

00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:27.820
 of me.