Sunday, August 15, 1999   

INTRODUCTION: Twice in Isaiah 53:7, we read of Christ: "He opened not his mouth."

     1. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth."

     2. "He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter...he opened not his mouth."

Back in verse six, we see man as having "gone astray..." having turned everyone to his own way." We went astray, He didn't! We turned away; He didn't! Christ is the sinless substitute who suffered because of man's sinfulness. All of this expresses the patient voluntary endurance of Christ.

I. HE WAS HARASSED

     A. The Hebrew word for "oppressed" is nagas. This word is full of meaning.

     B. "He was oppressed."

          1. He was not treated right; he was harassed, treated roughly, mocked, etc. (Matthew 27:27-31).

          2. They pushed Him from place to place (Luke 23:9-12).

          3. John Gill said: "He was injuriously treated by the Jews; they used him very ill, and handled him very roughly."

     C. "He was oppressed." Not only does the Hebrew nagas mean those things already covered, it also means: "It was exacted" or "exaction was made." The verb means "to have payment of a debt sternly exacted."

          1. The sheep went astray in Adam, verse 6, and a demand was made of Christ to bring the sheep back into the fold.

               a. It was demanded that Christ go to the cross and become the only substitute for the wayward sheep.

               b. This was no after thought. God knew that man would fall and the way to salvation was foreordained (Acts 2:23-24).

               c. The Savior suffered voluntarily for the lost (Hebrews 12:2-3).

          2. Christ paid the penalty that you and I deserved to pay (Romans 6:23).

               a. He is the just one who suffered for the unjust (I Peter 3:18).

               b. There is no remission of sin without the blood (Hebrews. 9:22).

          3. On the cross, Christ satisfied the demand of God. On the cross:

               a. The law was magnified.

               b. The Father was satisfied.

               c. The believing sinner was justified.

II. HE WAS PUT DOWN

     A. "He was afflicted." The Hebrew word for afflicted is anah; and it too is rich with meaning.

     B. "He was afflicted." Jesus was looked down on and put down.

     C. "He was afflicted."

          1. The Hebrew word anah also means that, "He submitted Himself, He abased Himself."

          2. Christ voluntarily submitted Himself to pay our sin debt.

               a. He submitted to the mocking, cursing, beating, the crown of thorns, and the cross. He did not rise up against His attackers.

               b. He submitted Himself to the wrath of God that came upon Him. "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Verse 6).

          3. What Christ did for His people He did voluntarily.

               a. Matthew 20:18, Christ came "to give his life a ransom for many."

               b. In John 10:11, 17-18, we read that Christ gave His life voluntarily.

               c. In Galatians 1:4, Paul wrote concerning Christ: "Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world...."

               d. The fact that Christ gave His life for us is found many times in scripture including (Ephesians 5:2; I Timothy 2:6;Titus 2:14).

          4. Christ could have escaped; He could have evaded the death penalty, but He choose to die for us (Matthew 26:53-54; Luke 24:46).

III. HE MADE NO COMPLAINT

     A. The first time that we have the phrase, "He opened not His mouth." It refers to Christ the obedient sufferer.

     B. Christ was innocent. He suffered; He endured much but did not complain.

          1. He was innocent; He had no sins of His own. He suffered for mine and for yours, and He did so with patience and obedience.

          2. How different from man this is. We sin and complain: "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins" (Lam. 3:39).

     C. The justice of God made demands upon Christ. He owed the obligations the Father put on Him. He paid the debt and bore the punishment of sin without hesitation or complaint.

     D. When He stood before Pilate, Christ did not cry: "I'm innocent", although He was (Matthew 27:11-14).

     E. He was falsely accused before the Sanhedrin; yet He answered nothing (Mark 14:60-61).

     F. He was silent before Herod as well (Luke 23:8-9).

     G. Although Christ talked with the Father from the cross, He did not answer the accusers and mockers around the cross.

IV. HE WAS SLAUGHTERED

     A. "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter."

          1. Christ went to the cross as willingly as a lamb goes to the slaughter.

          2. Christ knew what was awaiting Him; yet He went as the Lamb of God (John 1:29).

               a. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (I Peter 1:19).

               b. Ephesians 1:7.

     B. He not only went as "a lamb," He went as "THE LAMB."

          1. Christ did not have to be dragged or driven up Calvary. He was led!

          2. Like a meek lamb, He did not offer resistance, make complaints, or show any reluctance.

V. HE SUBMITTED QUIETLY

     A. Notice with me the last words of this verse (Isaiah 53:7). "...as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

     B. The shearers are those who reviled Him, who cursed Him during the trial and on the cross (Psalm 22:12-13).

          1. I Peter 2:23 is a commentary on this verse.

          2. The words, "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), were spoken while others mocked Him.

               a. He could have threatened and carried out His threats.

               b. He could have spoken the word and the earth would have opened up and swallowed the mockers, hurling them into hell.

          3. Christ is our example of how we are to treat our enemies. He practiced what He preached (Matthew 5:44; I Peter 2:21).

CONCLUSION: The Lord Jesus was obedient; He suffered and died willingly. He consented to the Father's will. Let us learn to be silent in our suffering, but never silent about the silent one.