Jesus' Human Nature and Suffering

Fred Coulter—February 26, 2011

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Why does the world celebrate the resurrection? Supposedly—but they're really not doing it—because they don't know the Truth about it, which I covered in a sermon for the Sabbath for the Days of Unleavened Bread. Why does the Bible tell us to remember the death of Jesus? Yet we are saved by His life. Why are we then to remember His death? I'm not going to go through and technically explain 1-Corinthians 11 at this particular time, because that's not what I want to cover today. Here's what Paul said concerning what he was taught by Jesus.

1-Corinthians 11:23: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and after giving thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body, which is being broken for you... [That's a present tense participle, because for us, for the forgiveness of sin, it is in the present tense.] ...This do in the remembrance of Me.' In like manner, He also took the cup after He had supped, saying, 'This is the cup of the New Covenant... [the New Covenant is not a testament, and there's a big difference between covenant law and testamental law and God is a covenant-law God.] ...in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'" (vs 23-25).

Now, it's very interesting here. I have to explain right here. There is a non-translatable Greek particle that looks like the English 'an.' That's actually how it's spelled in the Greek and pronounced 'on.' Whenever you have that that tells us there are limitations to the phrase before it. So that is telling us not as often as we want to, but the limitations are designated by the Passover night, which is one night a year, by His death and by how long it is until Jesus returns. When Paul wrote this, they were expecting Jesus to return in the not too far distant future. So that's why he said it this way.

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you solemnly proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes…. [So we are to proclaim the death of Christ and the Passover does that. And He died on the Passover Day.] …For this reason, if anyone shall eat this bread or shall drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, he shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord" (vs 26-27). So why are we to remember His death? Let's look at something else here.

Let's come over to Philippians 2, and we'll look at some of the prophecies which prophesied of His death, what He would have to go through. Here we are talking about the death of Jesus. But here is the reason that we do it, because of what God did. We know that the first part of the Gospel of John says, 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Nothing came into existence that He didn't create.' Since God cannot die—in the form of God He cannot die—but coming in the form of man, He could die. So we are to remember His death for what He did for us with that death.

Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.... [In other words, as Jesus thought while He was a human being on the earth. It's also the mind of Christ while He was on the earth, but also the mind of Christ before He came on the earth.] (because it says this): ...Who, although He existed... [And that's what the Greek 'huparchon' means] ...existed in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God" (vs 5-6).

How did God become a man? That's the mystery! First of all, we're created in the image of God. And I think for the very purpose that Christ could do this. Why do I say that? Because Rev. 13:8 says that the Lamb of God was 'slain from the foundation of the world.' So God planned this, He knew what He was doing. {I'm going to include with this sermon the Covenant Between God the Father and Jesus Christ.} There are certain sections of the Bible which show that they had a covenant and it was written in a book or a scroll. Notice what God had to do in order to become a human being, though we're made in the image of God. Now He just didn't appear as full grown fully mature man. He could have done that, because nothing's impossible with God. So here's what He had to do.

Verse 7: "But emptied Himself... [Obviously that means of His glory, of His divinity. He kept enough of His divinity so when He became a human being He was the Son of God Who had been God, but He was a human being.] ...But emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness... ['homoiomate'—which means in the same exactness of men.] ...and took the form of a servant…. [The Greek there is 'doulos'—which means slave.] …And being found in the manner of man... [Everything we do as human beings, He did.] ...He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…. [A specific prophesied death—gruesome, horrible, at the hands of His own creation. Then it talks about how God exalted Him.] …Therefore, God has also highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him a name which is above every name" (vs 7-9).

Let's come here to John 17 and let's see that He had to give up His glory. Remember Moses when he said, 'Oh, God, show me Your glory.' What did He say to him? 'No man can look upon My face and live.' This also tells us something very important, because you've heard the saying, '100% God, 100% man.' They say that's Who Jesus was. No, He wasn't 100% God! He was enough of God that He was still the Son of God. But if He were 100% God, the glory would destroy the flesh, because no man could look on the face of God and live. So therefore, you couldn't have flesh with God in His glory. So He had to divest Himself.

John 17:4: "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work that You gave Me to do.... [That is the work in the flesh, because the work of God is still going on, Christ developing us, and so forth. We are His workmanship.] ...And now, Father, glorify Me with Your own self, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed" (vs 4-5). So He had to give that up and He had to become that pinpoint of life.

There's a prophecy of that in Isaiah 9 about Him being born. So this is why the Jews were looking for the Messiah to be a man, but they really didn't quite understand Isa. 9. Here's a prophecy of Jesus that He would be born. As we read it, what we will find, very important concerning the titles given to this baby. This tells us here Jesus did not come as a full-grown man. This was a prophecy that He wouldn't do it. So not only did He give up His glory, not only did He have to humble Himself, not only did He have to divest Himself of His powers of being God, but He had to become a pinpoint of life. How many times have I had you take your pen and put the spot on a piece of paper and say, 'That's you when you were conceived'? Well, that was Jesus when He was conceived.

Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder... [That's why Christ is the Head of the Church. That's why He is King over the world when the Kingdom of God is here.] (Now notice the names that He is going to be called; these are names of God): ...and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

If there's the Father, how is Jesus going to be an Everlasting Father? Well, I'm a father. My son Jonathan is sitting right here. Is he a father today? Yes! When will Jesus, because He's everlasting, eternal—when will He become a Father? We are the children of God the Father! When Christ marries the Church and the children of God come in through that administration into the Kingdom of God, He will be an 'Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.'

"Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with righteousness from hence-forth, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this" (v 7). That's quite a thing—isn't it?

Also, because that is an impossible thing, looking at it from the point of view of men looking toward God, but nothing is too hard for the Lord. So now He had to do this without the help of any male human being. So we find this back here in Matthew the first chapter, and Luke adds a little bit more to it. As we're going through this, think about this: Many times we have tough times—don't we? And we get to thinking, 'Oh, my, look what I've given up,' especially if you haven't totally let go of the world. 'Ohhhh, I sure miss those Saturday sales'—whatever it may be.

Matthew 1:18: "And the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: Now His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph... [Isn't it interesting. When you go clear back to Gen. 3, it talks about the Seed of the woman and that is the only woman that is prophesied about, that would be able to bring forth a child without the seed from man, but from God. So she was betrothed, that means engaged to.] ...but before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband... [when you're betrothed, it is as good as done; only thing remaining is a ceremony.] ...being a righteous man, and not willing to expose her publicly, was planning to divorce her secretly. But as he pondered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, because that which has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit" (vs 18-20).

"'And she shall give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Jesus... [What is the sacred name of Jesus? Jesus!] ...for He shall save His people from their sins.' Now all this came to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Behold, the virgin... [I think the King James says 'a' virgin, but the Greek is 'the' virgin, a specific, particular virgin.] ...shall be with child...'" (vs 21-23). So not only was it impossible from what God did from a man's point of view looking at God, but also the fact that Mary became pregnant was also an impossibility. How many daughters go out and fool around and they come home and admit they're pregnant. 'What happened?' Well, I don't know, it just happened! 'Yeah, yeah, sure. You're Mary, huh?' No!

He was to call His name Jesus. "Now all this came to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall give birth to a son and they shall call His name Emmanuel'…[ His legal name was Jesus. His public name as far as people were concerned was 'God with us.'] ...which is, being interpreted, 'God with us.' And when Joseph was awakened from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and took his wife to wed; but he did not have sexual relations with her until after she had given birth to her son, the firstborn; and he called His name Jesus" (vs 22-25).

Let's come over here to Luke 1 and let's see some other things concerning His birth before we look upon the things concerning His death. But what I want us to all grasp is this: When God did things that involved Him directly, He did absolute miracles which were impossible to happen by nature. Did He not also do something similar with Abraham? Impregnating Sarah when she was 90 and he was 100. Impossible! Since it was a human that was to be born from his very loins, he didn't do it this way. Although Sarah tried to kind of do it this way with Hagar—didn't she? Didn't work out too good. Here's how God did it.

Luke 1:26: "And in the sixth month of her pregnancy..." Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist. Let's get the ages pretty much in line here, if we can. First of all, it says that Elizabeth was of old age; she was probably up in her 70s, because the phrase 'well stricken in age' is referred to as David was when he was 70-years-old. So she was about 70. That means that her husband also was about 70. So here's another minor miracle through natural means for John the Baptist to be conceived and then later to be born because he was the one to prepare the way for the Lord.

When she was six months' pregnant: "...the angel Gabriel..." (v 26). Let's talk about Gabriel for a minute. Who was the angel that brought the prophecy of the 70-weeks and the Messiah to Daniel? Gabriel! So does this tell us that Gabriel was in charge of the things concerning the birth of Jesus Christ? It was Gabriel who appeared to Zacharias. It was Gabriel who appeared to Mary.

"In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the lineage of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary…. [Again, the virgin.] …And after coming to her, the angel said, 'Hail, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.' But when she saw him, she was greatly perplexed at his message... [I guess so!] ...and was considering what kind of salutation this might me. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found grace with God. And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of David, His forefather...'" (vs 26-32). That goes right back to where? Just what we read in Isa. 9—right? Yes! Everybody knows it takes a man and a woman to produce a child.

Verse 34: "But Mary said to the angel, 'How shall this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you…. [Very good verse to show that the Holy Spirit is not God, but the power of the Highest. Who is the Highest? The Father! The power comes from God the Father, so God the Father was the One Who would do this.] ...and for this reason, the Holy One being begotten...'" (vs 34-35)

In the Greek this is very powerful, because this is the Holy One 'being begotten in you,' present tense passive. Meaning right at the time that Gabriel was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was being begotten at that very instant. 'Being begotten,' and that's quite dramatic.

"'...the Holy One being begotten in your shall be called the Son of God. Now behold, Elizabeth your kinswoman has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible'" (vs 35-37). Think of the love that Jesus had to do this.

Let's come here to John 10; let's see something here concerning when He laid down His life. He did this freely with love, with determination. Since He was the Creator of mankind and everything that there is, He was the one now who then had to save mankind. Who was the one that cursed Adam and Eve? The One Who became Jesus Christ! That's how they got the law of sin and death within them. I want you to see something here:

John 10:14: "I am the good Shepherd, and I know those who are Mine, and am known of those who are Mine. Just as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd. On account of this, the Father loves Me: because I lay down My life, that I may receive it back again.... [He did this voluntarily] ...No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself, I have authority to lay it down and authority to receive it back again. This commandment I received from My Father'" (vs 14-18).

That's part of the covenant that was between Jesus Christ and God the Father. This is quite something. He received all of the human genes He needed to be, to be a man from God the Father. Exactly how that was done, I don't know. He also received the genes from Mary, so He would be the Son of man, the Son of God. He would be fully human, filled with the Holy Spirit from the beginning. What would be more just? What would be greatest justice that God could do to cover sin? He's the One Who gave us a sinful nature after Adam and Eve sinned. Let's look at that. A lot of people wonder, 'Well, since people are so good, how come they're so sinful.' The answer is, the Bible tells the law of sin and death within us. Let's look at the nature of man. Did Jesus come with a nature different than us so that He couldn't possibly be tempted?

Romans 5:12: "Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by means of sin came death... [Go back and you read Gen. 3. 'Because you sin, dust you are and to dust you shall return. In the day that you eat thereof, in dying you shall surely die.'] (Notice the rest of this and this is the correct translation; the King James does not have this correct): ...and in this way, death passed into... [became a part of their being] ...all mankind; and it is for this reason that all have sinned."

If you have a nature of death, that's why you sin. And Paul calls it in Rom. 7, the law of sin and death. How can God redeem all of those who repent? Why would His sacrifice cover it? He was God manifested in the flesh, that's correct. But, if He was different than we are, what would He experience that would be the equivalent of covering all the sins of all mankind?

Let's come to Romans 8:3: "For what was impossible for the law to do... [Let's understand something about law. Law tells you, 'you shall not,' but it can't make you do a thing.] ...in that it was weak through the flesh... [Because of the pulls of the flesh, it doesn't want to be law abiding, especially the laws of God.] (here's what God did): ...God, having sent His own Son..." Who voluntarily laid His life down, voluntarily gave up

• His glory
• His honor
• His power
• His Godhead

We'll see just a minute here something that helps answer the question even a little more. "...God, having sent His own Son in the likeness..." (v 3)—'homoiomate'—the exact sameness. Remember it said, 'Death passed into all mankind.' Was Jesus subject to death? Yes! That's the very reason He came! That means He had the law of death in Him—correct? Otherwise, He couldn't die. Let's see what else He had.

"...in the likeness... [the sameness] ...of sinful flesh..." (v 3). What is this telling us? And that's right after Rom. 7 where he says the law of sin and death. What did Jesus have to take of human nature that came from His mother? No such thing as an immaculate conception with Mary. All human beings have the law of sin and death within them. If He inherited that through the genes, which we all do from our parents, then He had to inherit this from Mary. Couldn't come from the Father, because He's totally righteous. So, in order for Him to die, but not only die, and pay for the sins of all mankind, He had to take on the law of sin and death within Himself so that He was to live a perfect life and never sin. You talk about a challenge—right? I mean, we can hardly go through a day before we have quite a few things curl up on us—right? Yes!

"...and for sin... [as an offering for sin] ...condemned sin in the flesh… [That's the only way that He could have done it. He had to take the same nature that we have.] (Now notice what is going to happen when we receive the Spirit of God.): …in order that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us... [not doing away with the law] ...who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (vs 3-4).

Let's come to Matthew 19:16; here's a verse that kind of astounds people when they read it: "Now at that time, one came to Him and said, 'Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?' And He said to him, 'Why do you call Me good?.…[Here's the Son of God, also the Son of man, not taking the exaltation of being called good.] ...No one is good except One—God.…'" (vs 16-17).

This also helps verify that Jesus could not have been 100% God/ 100% man. He had just enough of God left in His being that He was the Son of God, but He was not God. He was God manifested in the flesh, but not God. Why would He say that? That's because He had the human nature, the law of sin and death! What did Paul say of the law of sin and death? 'In my members there is no good thing.' Isn't that amazing? So when you go to God the Father and pray, and you pray to Christ, it's perfectly all right to pray to Christ, but directly to the Father, because Christ is

• our Intercessor
• our Savior
• our Redeemer

He knows what we have gone through. That's what's important.

He says: "'…But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments'" (v 17). Then He names them off and then the man, he was extremely rich and didn't want to give up what he had. Compare that to what Christ gave up.

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Let's go back to Hebrews 2, this is also important and fits right in with this. So we need to realize what Jesus did. It's talking about what Jesus did. Remember where we saw that He 'came in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin to condemn sin in the flesh.'

Hebrews 2:9: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death... [that's what it is in the Greek—the death, meaning there's no other death like His] ...in order that by the grace of God He Himself might taste death for everyone." In other words, His death was so profound that in dying—since He was Creator—that can be applied as a sacrifice to all human beings who repent. Think of that. Thedeath! This is something that had to be done. In other words, look at it this way, God said, 'All right, I'm going to give mankind free choice.'

• What if he chooses something wrong and the 'wages of sin is death'?
• Are you going to kill him right away?
• What's going to happen?
• And how's it going to work?

You made him subject to vanity (Rom. 8), not willingly. We don't even know who we are until we're about 5-years-old and that's only because our folks tell us.

"…might taste death for everyone; because it was fitting... [proper, right, the thing to do] …for Him, for Whom all things were created, and by Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory... [complete the plan of God] ...to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (vs 9-10).

Now we're going to see how Jesus suffered here in just a little bit, v 14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same in order that through death... [His death, the death] ...He might annul him who has the power of death—that is, the devil; And that He might deliver those who were subject to bondage all through their lives by their fear of death" (vs 14-15).

• What was it like for Jesus to be a man?
• Was it something that was really easy to do because He had the Holy Spirit from birth and His father was God the Father?
• Did that make it easy?
• Did He have more things against Him than anyone of us?

Look at when He started His ministry. Who did He have to face? Satan the devil! That's because God let Satan the devil take over where men gave him permission to do so. So He's got to deliver them from Satan, so He had to be tempted by Satan. This becomes a fantastic thing when you understand what Christ did.

But notice Hebrews 5:7, speaking of Christ: "Who, in the days of His flesh, offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death... [He had to be saved from death. Think of that!] ...and was heard because He feared God." We're going to learn something important here. It ties right in with what we read there in Heb. 2.

Verse 8: "Although He was a Son, yet He learned obedience... [You would think that He would be perfect in obedience, which He was, but He learned obedience. If you think you have to fight against the flesh to overcome it, I wonder what it was like for Jesus—have no idea.] ...yet He learned obedience from the things that He suffered." Remember, He was one man in the world alone, the Creator, the Son of God. Satan the devil was after Him. Remember what it said after the temptation? Satan left Him for a season!

Verse 9: "And having been perfected..." Now think of that! He gave up being perfect to become more perfected, by having the whole human experience and carrying within Him the law of sin and death,yet without sin. Now, that's a challenge! I don't think any of us, not one of us alive, can go through a whole 24-hour day without some kind of sin. Not that we necessarily go out and deliberately sin, but there are a lot of things that come to us. All you have to do is turn on your television and there's sin right before your eyes, nearly every advertising—right? Yes!

"And having been perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him" (v 9). No such thing as doing away with the law. No such thing as abrogating the law. Paul never did it. Jesus never did it.

Hebrews 4:12: "For the Word of God is living and powerful..." The Word of God's just like the law of gravity, automatically works, and powerful! You can't escape it! What did David say when he was talking about how great it was that he was created and fashioned and formed by God? David said, 'If I go to heaven, You're there. If I go to the depths of the earth, You are there. If I'm in the darkness, it's like light to You.'You can't escape God! Everything that is created has the stamp of the creation of God.

I've been reading a book against atheists, by Ray Comfort {You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence but You Can't Make Him Think} and he brought up something very, very important, which is this: The sexuality of male and female in human beings and animals and everything that there is, birds, insects, and whales. Whales procreate. Now you talk about there's a lot of blubber in the way that they need to get around and that's something. Can you imagine these great blue whales 120-feet long mating. They've never seen it, they've never captured it, but nevertheless—male and female, male and female. You know what he said? He said there's no such thing and they cannot produce an evolving genetic set of male and female that would be perfectly matched going down in time. You have to have the original and what comes from the original male and original female is what is passed on. And the very sexuality of all the things that God has created proves that there is God, and that nothing could evolve. I thought that was really quite a tremendous point.

Here's what Christ went through, v 12: "...sharper than any two-edged sword... [it's always working] ...piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." There's no other book on earth able to do that, that you can read and be convicted of sin, that you can read and say, 'Oh, boy, this knows what I'm thinking.' Here's how powerful it is:

Verse 13: "And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account…. [And look what He did and went through. That's the whole purpose. We're coming up to Passover. We're going to be very well prepared for Passover.] …Having therefore a great High Priest... [One Who lived His life and never sinned.] ...Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith" (vs 13-14).

• don't get weak
• don't give up
• don't let down
• God loves you
• God is for you
• God is there to help you
• God is with you

—even in your troubles and difficulties with His Spirit in you, He's with you!

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses... [Not just sympathize, but empathize—understand why. Because He had to cry out 'with strong crying and tears and supplications to Him Who is able to save Him from death.' That's how He was able to never sin.] ...but One Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations; yet He was without sin" (v 15). Boy, I tell you, that's so much different than the concept of the world with the long-haired Jesus hanging on a cross with a few drops of blood dripping out of His hands and feet. Here's what we are to do. This is why we are never, never,ever to be afraid, v 16: "Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We need that every day—isn't that correct? Yes, indeed!

Let's come to Isaiah 53. We won't be able to go through all of these prophecies, but one of the most important things that everyone should have understood, including the Jews—now a lot of them did, because when the Church began they were all Jews. And what were they taught? They were taught out of the Old Testament—weren't they? From the prophecies about Christ! This talks about the whole crucifixion day, all in one chapter. Then we're going to see in Psa. 22 what David went through, the very words of Christ while He was on the cross, the very thoughts. So God wanted us to know what was going to happen and He conveyed those to us through the prophecies.

Isaiah 53:1: "Who has believed our report?.… [look at what we've already covered] ...And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?.... [it talks about Jesus growing up] ...For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; He has no form nor comeliness that we should look upon Him, nor beauty that we should desire Him" (vs 1-2).

Let's see the prophecy of how Jesus was educated as a child. God the Father was the One Who taught Him, Isaiah 50:4: "The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned... [Remember they asked: How did He know letters? Where did He go to school? Can you imagine what they would have done to that rabbi if they would have found the one who taught Him everything He was teaching? They would have strung him up right away.] ...tongue of the learned, to know to help the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning... [every morning God the Father was waking up Jesus Christ, probably right away as an infant.] …He awakens my ear to hear as one being taught.... [that's who taught Him, God the Father] ...The Lord GOD has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor turned away backwards" (vs 4-5).

Notice what it does in the next verse. It leaps straight ahead to the crucifixion, from His infancy in childhood right into the crucifixion. Verse 6: "I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I have not been disgraced. On account of this I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed…. [Look at how He faced these things. That's quite a thing!] …He is near who justifies Me; who will contend with Me? Let us stand together; who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Behold the Lord GOD will help Me; who is he who shall condemn Me? Lo, they all shall grow old like a garment; the moth shall eat them" (vs 6-9).

So then it goes through some other things about Christ. How do you think He was accepted in the world? Well, it tells us right here. What we need to understand is this: Every single emotion that we go through as human beings Jesus went through—magnified. It says there in John 1, 'He came to His own and His own didn't receive Him.' Isn't that something? It's like this, you walk up to the door of your family, open it up, and they slam it in your face!

Isaiah 53:3: "He is despised and rejected of men... [Even of the disciples, what did He tell them after they were resurrected? Oh, you hard-hearted and slow!] ...a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... [No one gave Him any comfort—did they? No!] ...and we... [referring to people] ...hid as it were our faces from Him, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our infirmities..." (vs 3-4).

Now think of this: When everything was poured out and heaped upon Him, you take all the sickness, all the disease, all the infirmities, all the things that cause men sorrow and sickness and death, came down upon Him because He had within Him the law of sin and death and yet, never sinned.

"...yet we esteemed Him stricken... [that's what they said] ...smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions... [That's why He died, not for His. He had none. He was without sin.] ...He was crushed... [And boy, that's what a scourging does—isn't it?] ...He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace... [That is the chastisement that we would take in order to have peace with God.] ...was upon Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed" (vs 4-5). This is tremendous! All of this prophesied ahead of time.

Then it shows what we're like here. He talked about the sheep, v 6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." That's something! The iniquity of all mankind! We have to repent! Even though that's been laid on Christ, if people don't repent, then they give up their lives. That's why we're made in the flesh.

Verse 7: "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth." Remember what Pilate said? 'I'm astonished! You're not going to say anything? Don't you know I have authority to let You go? or The authority to crucify You?' So Jesus finally spoke, and said, 'You would have no authority unless it was granted from heaven.'

Verse 8: "By oppression and judgment He was taken away... [All rigged! His crucifixion and death covers all of those who have been unjustly put in prison and executed.] ...and with His generation who did consider that He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken? And He made His grave with the wicked... [that's why there was a thief on one side and on the other] ...and with the rich in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet the LORD willed to crush Him... [Think of how much crushing that human beings have done to other human beings. He took it upon Himself.] ...and He has put Him to grief: You shall make His life an offering for sin" (vs 8-10).

Isn't that something? You can't have a better offering for sin that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ! It covers every single human experience—every single one! And just like it says in Hebrews 12 where it talks about the crucifixion again.

• in all the suffering
• in all the beating
• in all of being despised
• in all of being deserted by His disciples

When He was arrested He was given over into the hands of the instruments of Satan the devil. And we're going to see from Psa. 22 that when He was there on the cross dying the demons were probably flying around in the air laughing hideously, 'We've got Him! We've got Him!'

Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great throng of witnesses... [let's add in all of the Scriptures that we have read and all the Scriptures that apply to it] ...let us lay aside every weight... [Don't go around and carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You can't handle it. Twenty pounds is plenty good enough.] ...and the sin that so easily entraps us... [Gotcha!] ...and let us run the race set before us with endurance. Having our minds fixed on Jesus..." (vs 1-2). Knowing

• what He did
• what He went through
• what He experienced
• what He thought

"...the Beginner and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that lay ahead of Him endured the cross... Because

• He kept His mind on the goal
• He kept His mind on God the Father
• He kept His mind on saving the world
  • saving humanity
  • redeeming the whole world
  • the whole human race.

 "...although He despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (v 2).

These Scriptures are here to strengthen us mentally, spiritually, and every way we need to, especially facing the things that we have in the world today.

Verse 3: "Now meditate deeply on Him... [That's what we're doing here in this study today. We're meditating deeply on Him.] ...Who endured such great hostility of sinners against Himself so that you do not become weary and faint in your minds…. [No, we can go forward.] …You have not yet resisted to the point of losing blood in your struggle against sin" (vs 3-4).

Keep that in mind. Now you can understand the rest of Isaiah 53:10, because it jumps from "…You shall make His life an offering for sin... [to]: ...He shall see His seed... [the children that God's going to give Him] ...He shall prolong His days... [He'll be resurrected and live forever] ...and that the purpose of the LORD might prosper in His hand…. [All of sudden it's a flash forward to see what's going to take place.] …He shall see of the travail of His soul.... [His whole being there] ...He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; and He shall bear their iniquities?…. [That's powerful—isn't it? All right here for all to know Who Jesus was.] …Therefore, I will divide to Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul to death; and He was counted among the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors" (vs 10-12). When you come to God and pray, confess your sins, Jesus knows—He understands.

• He had to fight against it
• He had to overcome it
• He had to resist it

—and was successful.

Now, let's go to Psalm 22; one of the most amazing Psalms that there is, because here is a prophecy given to David. Go through the book, The Day Jesus the Christ Died, we have it right here, I have a copy of it. Or the Christian Passover book, and we have the Twenty-eight Prophecies Fulfilled in One Day. David was given the very words that Jesus was going to say while He was dying on the cross. When He had 'by Himself purged our sins' (Heb. 1), what Jesus had to do—and this is why He prayed for three hours before His arrest and why there were great drops of blood coming out as He was sweating, because He knew He was going to be left alone—He had to do this alone!

That's why He said on the cross, the very words that open Psalm 22:1: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me, and why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not answer; and in the night season, and am not silent. Yet You are Holy, O You enthroned upon the praises of Israel" (vs 1-3). This Psalm blends in and out of the thoughts of David and the circumstances he was going through, and the prophecies of the words of Christ on the cross.

Verse 6: "But I am a worm, and no man... [Remember how He was beaten, how He was scourged, lost His blood, flesh torn off.] ...I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see Me mock Me; they shoot out the lip; they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted on the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, since He delights in Him!'" (vs 6-8).

Isn't that what they said? Even one of the thieves said, 'Well, if You're the Christ, come down off the cross and take us with You.' The other one said, 'Hey, you don't know what you're saying.' And the priests were out there jeering. And there was Mary—His mother—watching, and the other women. Quite a thing that happened here!

"...they shake the head saying, 'He trusted on the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, since He delights in Him!' For You are He who took Me out of the womb, causing Me to trust while on My mother's breasts…. [So He was with Him all through His life, from the instance of conception to the instant of death. But there on the cross He had to do it alone.] …I was cast upon You from birth; You are My God from My mother's womb. Be not far from Me; for trouble is near, for there is none to help" (vs 7-11).

You ever been in a situation you feel so desperate and there's just no one there? That's the time to really pray because Christ is there! If you have God's Spirit in you, He is there with you in you and so is the Father. They are there to help.

"Many bulls have encircled around Me... [That's why I said that it was probably Satan and the demons flying around, cheering, and mocking.] ...strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded Me. They opened wide their mouths at Me, like a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water... [No strength, totally feeble, completely weak, hanging there on the cross.] ...and all My bones are out of joint... [think of how painful that was] ...My heart is like wax... [like hot wax, beating so hard because of this] ...it is melted in the midst of My bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evildoers have encircled me; they have pierced My hands and My feet; and You have brought Me into the dust of death" (vs 12-16). When David wrote that and I always comment on it when I get here, because when I read that I wonder what David thought when he was given these words. It wasn't him.

"I count all My bones... [He could see His ribs, flesh torn away from His ribs.] ...they look and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots upon My vesture" (vs 17-18). There were the Roman soldiers down there doing it right at the base of the cross. They didn't know they were fulfilling prophecy. They had no idea about God or Christ. They were just there as soldiers doing what they do.

"But You, O LORD, be not far from Me; O My strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver My soul from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth... [That's Satan the devil, 'goes about as a roaring lion.'] ...yea, and from the wild ox's horns. You have answered Me…. [It talks about what He would do after the crucifixion and the resurrection.] …I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You.... [You find that in Heb. 2.] ...You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all of you, the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and stand in awe of Him all of you, the seed of Israel" (vs 19-23). For all that God has done, that's something! That is amazing!

"For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and He has not hidden His face from him, but when he cried to Him, He heard.... [Jesus went through all of that to answer those prayers.] ...From You comes my praise in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those who fear Him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD shall praise Him; may your heart live forever. All the ends of the earth shall remember... [a prophecy of the completion of the plan of God]: ...and turn to the LORD... [When will that happen? When Christ returns and the saints rule with Him!] ...and all the families of the nations shall worship before You" (vs 24-27). All of the suffering, all of the things that He went through were for what? To complete the plan of God!

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him; even he who cannot keep his own soul alive. A seed shall serve Him... [that's us] ...it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall yet be born... [I believe that has to do those who are born again into the Kingdom of God.] ...that He has done this" (vs 28-31). This has the same connotation as Jesus said, 'I finished the work You gave Me to do.' And His last words before He said, 'Into Your hands I commend My Spirit,' He said, 'It is done!'

So there are the prophecies of what Jesus went through. Quite a thing—isn't it? That's why God loves us! You look out and you see this world, God is going to save it and we're going to be part of it. That's why we are being prepared right now for that very thing.

So we'll have some more sermons leading up to the Passover time, and so that we can be fully prepared for the Passover and that prepares us for the whole year beginning with the Feast of Unleavened Bread after that.

Scriptures Referenced:

• 1-Corinthians 11:23-27
• Philippians 2:5-9
• John 17:4-5
• Isaiah 9:6-7
• Matthew 1:18-25
• Luke 1:26-32, 34-37
• John 10:14-18
• Romans 5:12
• Romans 8:3-4
• Matthew 19:16-17
• Hebrews 2:9-10, 14-15
• Hebrews 5:7-9
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• Isaiah 53:1-2
• Isaiah 50:4-9
• Isaiah 53:3-10
• Hebrews 12:1-4
• Isaiah 53:10-12
• Psalm 22:1-3, 6-8, 7-31

Scriptures referenced: not quoted:

• Revelation 13:8
• Genesis 3
• Romans 7; 8
• John 1
• Hebrews 1

Also referenced:
Sermon: The Covenant Between God the Father and
Jesus Christ
Books:

• You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence but You Can't Make Him Think by Ray Comfort
• The Day Jesus the Christ Died by Fred Coulter
• The Christian Passover by Fred Coulter

Article: Twenty-Eight Prophecies Fulfilled on the
Crucifixion Day (cbcg.org)
FRC:lp
Transcribed: 03-6-11        Formatted: bo—3-11-11