Discussion Questions on Isaiah 53:10-12

Discussion Questions

The Servant’s Glorious Triumph over Suffering from God’s Perspective

Isaiah 53:10-12

10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

1. What was implied in the statement: It’s Sunday and Friday is over. This is the message of the NT. The resurrection is a reality. The cross is past – Jesus lives forever. We stand in resurrection ground. We view the cross from the open grave. We are not living in defeat waiting for victory; we are tasting victory and waiting for more victory.

2. Why do we say that the suffering of Christ was due to the wise and good sovereign plan of God?  How does the NT affirm this?

3. Who killed Jesus?

4. It was the will of the Lord is literally – the Lord delighted to crush him and to put him to grief. Why would the prophet speak in this unusual way about how the Father viewed the suffering of His Son?

5. Discuss what the following phrases say about the outcomes of Christ’s suffering?

a.     when his soul makes an offering for guilt, – What kind of language is employed here?

b.     he shall see his offspring; – How does this relate to the Abrahamic covenant? Who are these offspring?

c.      he shall prolong his days; – How does this language relate to both the command to ‘obey your parents’ and to the hope of resurrection?

d.     the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. How does the NT record the obedience of Christ?

e.     Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; – How can one both suffer intense pain and yet be satisfied?

f.       by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. – What does it mean to be ‘justified’? On what basis is a sinner justified?

6. Why is it important that we are told beforehand that the suffering of Christ would be rewarded with the spoils of victory? What are these ‘spoils of victory’ and in what way do we share them?

7. There are many who resist the teaching of ‘penal substitution’ and ‘vicarious sacrifice?’ After reading Isaiah 53, what do you believe the text is teaching?

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On September 10, 1970 I came to understand the great love of God for me, a sinner and a rebel. That evening I received God’s forgiveness and a new life through Jesus Christ, who died in my place and rose again to offer forgiveness and new life. I have been senior pastor for over 30 years planting two churches in Buckingham, PA and Queens, NY and serving two other churches in Brooklyn, NY and Roslyn, PA. I am currently the lead pastor at Grace Church of Philly.

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