Lesson 39: Guilt, Substitution, Grace (52:13-53:12)

We have reached the last of the four Servant songs in Isaiah. These verses add more to the description of God’s Servant (Messiah),  His mission and the price He would pay to complete that mission. As you read Isaiah 52:13-53:12, take some time to really meditate on the love of God for you and what Jesus actually accomplished on the cross for us.

LIMITED TIME:

1. Read through Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
2. Meditate on and/or journal the answers to the following questions.
   1. What does this passage teach me about God and His character?
   2. How does this aspect of God’s character change my view of myself?
   3. What should I do in response?

MORE TIME:

1. How does Jesus fulfill the description of God’s Servant? (Check out some cross references in your Bible. Here is one to get you started- Acts 8:26-37. Also, check out the crucifixion narratives in the Gospels if you have time.)
2. What does in 53:12 that “..he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors”? (see also Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)

GOING DEEPER (optional): For further teaching and application, do one or more of the following:

• Read chapter 39, “Guilt, Substitution, Grace (52:13-53:12)” in Isaiah: God Saves Sinners or listen to Ray Ortlund’s sermon series on line. (Most of the sermons correspond to the chapters in his book.)
• Listen to the sermon(s) from Pastor Liam Goligher’s sermon series on Isaiah that go along with this week’s reading.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 5:17-21 ~