The Word - March 29, 2012 - GOD'S SUFFERING SERVANT

"Behold, my servant will prosper; He will be highly exalted. But many were amazed when they saw Him. His face was so disfigured He seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. And He will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in His presence. For they will see what they had not been told; and they will understand what they had not heard about" (Isaiah 52:13-15)

The subject under consideration this morning is "Jehovah's Suffering Servant." I want to draw your attention to three words in our text: "Behold My Servant." God is directing our attention to the striking picture of His suffering servant that follows in this chapter in Isaiah.

There are four different candid camera shots of the Servant of God, who is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is also a twofold view given in the Scripture regarding Christ as God's Servant. On the one hand, He is presented to us as being meek, despised, rejected and slain. On the other hand, He is pictured as a mighty conqueror, taking vengeance on the nations of the world.

Also we see Him, in His infinite wisdom and strength, restoring Israel to her pristine glory. In the first picture, where He is despised and rejected, it reveals the reason for Hisa first coming into this world, and refers to His first advent. The second picture describes Him as being the mighty conqueror and refers to His Second Advent still to come.

I want to remind you that our blessed Savior who was so humiliated, is now seated in glory at God's right hand, and one day soon, very soon, He will come again in the air to rapture His church. Then, after a period of some seven years, He is coming again in glory and power to redeem the godly remnant of Israel. At that time every eye will see Him. The nations will wail because of Him (Revelation1:7). That will be the crowning day!

Isn't it wonderful to know that we, who are His people, will share His glory? And we will rejoice as we've never rejoiced before, and appreciate Him as we never have before, the glories, the beauty and worth of the One who suffered even death for us to give us the privilege to call Him our Savior!