2.12.08 Were You There Study Guide Notes

Today's text: Isaiah 53:1-12
TNK Isaiah 53:1 "Who can believe what we have heard? Upon whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For he has grown, by His favor, like a tree crown, Like a tree trunk out of arid ground. He had no form or beauty, that we should look at him: No charm, that we should find him pleasing. 3 He was despised, shunned by men, A man of suffering, familiar with disease. As one who hid his face from us, He was despised, we held him of no account. 4 Yet it was our sickness that he was bearing, Our suffering that he endured. We accounted him plagued, Smitten and afflicted by God; 5 But he was wounded because of our sins, Crushed because of our iniquities. He bore the chastisement that made us whole, And by his bruises we were healed. 6 We all went astray like sheep, Each going his own way; And the LORD visited upon him The guilt of all of us." 7 He was maltreated, yet he was submissive, He did not open his mouth; Like a sheep being led to slaughter, Like a ewe, dumb before those who shear her, He did not open his mouth. 8 By oppressive judgment he was taken away, Who could describe his abode? For he was cut off from the land of the living Through the sin of my people, who deserved the punishment. 9 And his grave was set among the wicked, And with the rich, in his death -- Though he had done no injustice And had spoken no falsehood. 10 But the LORD chose to crush him by disease, That, if he made himself an offering for guilt, He might see offspring and have long life, And that through him the LORD's purpose might prosper. 11 Out of his anguish he shall see it; He shall enjoy it to the full through his devotion. "My righteous servant makes the many righteous, It is their punishment that he bears; 12 Assuredly, I will give him the many as his portion, He shall receive the multitude as his spoil. For he exposed himself to death And was numbered among the sinners, Whereas he bore the guilt of the many And made intercession for sinners."


This passage is a well-known Lenten passage prophecying Jesus. He grew up like a tender shoot, exposed to the world and all of its hardhips. He had no beauty or majesty that would cause us to be attracted to him; Jesus was to be "everyman" and not a super-hero comicbook figure. The passage makes the point that Jesus did not come for us to marvel at his appearance. No Jesus came so that we might be freed from the bondage of sin. It was not a vain pursuit but a pursuit of love. Would it have made any difference if Jesus would have come as the Prince to a King instead of a son of a carpenter? Would it have made any difference if Jesus had lifted entire buildings and been faster than a speeding bullet? I think so...it would have made him less approachable, less knowable, and less able to reach out to every person.