Sunday, October 3, 1999   

INTRODUCTION: When we hear the word travail, we automatically think of birth pangs. Travail precedes the birth of a child. We know that the pangs of childbirth give way to joy once the child is born. John 16:21 says: "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy a man child is born unto the world."

Yes, birth brings joy! And there is one birth that has brought more joy than any other: the birth of Christ.

1. This birth was predicted in Isaiah 7:14: "....Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

2. The birth of Christ is good news, Luke 2:10-11:"And the angel said unto them [shepherds], fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a

Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Why has the birth of Christ brought joy to so many? We find the answer to this question in Matthew 2:21-23, friends. ...He shall save His people from their sins." There is an important fact that we must remember: Christ was born to die and it is through His death, burial, and resurrection, we have eternal life.

I. THE TRAVAIL OF CHRIST

     A. "He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied...."

            1. God is the one speaking, and He declares that Christ shall see the results of His sufferings: He shall see the fruit of labor and be satisfied.

               a. I have many times looked into the eyes of a mother holding her newborn baby. The travail was worth it all for her (John 16:21).

               b. Oh, the satisfaction that Christ has in "bringing many sons unto glory."

          2. It was on the cross that Christ suffered the birth pains to bring all who would believe into the family of God.

          3. The birth pangs of Christ bring about a new creation in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17).

          4. Christ suffered the wrath of God that we might be born into the kingdom. The pain was terrible, but like a woman when her child is born into the world is satisfied, Christ looked beyond the sufferings and saw the multitudes of men and women, boys and girls born into the family of God. This is why He is satisfied. He looked beyond the pain and saw the fruit.

     B. Christ is satisfied with the travail of His soul because He is satisfied with:

          1. The number of the redeemed (Revelations 7:9) "A great multitude which no man can number."

          2. The variety of the redeemed "of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues" (Revelations 7:9b).

          3. The character and achievements of His redeemed "as for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (Psalms 17:15). "We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (I John 3:2).

          4. The great prospects of the redeemed. John 17:24: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me, where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

          5. The songs and praise of the redeemed (Revelations 5:9,12; 7:10).

          6. The service of the redeemed. There is a place for travail in Christian service, and Christ is satisfied when we labor for Him (I Thessalonians 2:9; II Corinthians 2:14-17).

     C. What Christ saw with His travail. He saw:

          1. The Father glorified and satisfied with His work.

          2. Satan cast down and defeated.

          3. The Gospel preached to every nation.

          4. Churches established everywhere.

          5. The millennial reign where all the kingdoms to the world would be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as waters that cover the sea.

     D. No regrets.

          1. Christ has no regrets for His humiliation and suffering.

                a. Bethlehem, a humble birth - no regrets.

                b. Nazareth, a humble upbringing - no regrets.

                c. The wilderness temptations He is sinless - no regrets.

                d. The beatings, cursings, and mockings - no regrets.

                e. The crown of thorns - no regrets.

                f. The nail prints in His hands and feet - no regrets.

                g. The spear in His sides - no regrets.

                h. Buried in a borrowed tomb - no regrets.

          2. Christ saw what He would go through as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and He has no regrets. He was satisfied (Hebrews 12:2-3).

II. THE PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST

     A. "By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many."

          1. It is according to His knowledge that many are justified. This is omniscience.

          2. As we read Romans 8:28-22, we see the foreknowledge of God. The foreknowledge is shared by the Son of God Jesus Christ.

          3. Our knowledge of Him is based on His foreknowledge of us.

                a. "We love him because he first loved us" (I John 4:19).

                b. Isaiah 11:2 tells us that the Spirit of knowledge rests on Christ.

                c. Divine foreknowledge leads to the experiential knowledge of all who come to believe (John 1:12).

     B. "My righteous servant."

          1. Christ is the righteous one the virgin born Son of God. His blood is the blood of God not man.

          2. Christ is the only truly righteous servant.

                a. He was able to "bring in everlasting righteousness" (Daniel 9:24).

                b. Romans 5:18.

     C. He makes righteous all who come unto God by Him (Hebrews 7:25; Acts 13:39).

     D. He is the servant of God. This points to the obedience of Christ (Romans 5:19).

     E. "Many."

          1. "Many," this word is in opposition to "few" and "to all."

          2. The "many" in this verse are the many justified by Christ (Matthew 20:28).

          3. The "many" are those given to the Son by the Father (John 17:2).

          4. The "many" are those ordained to eternal life (Acts 13:48).

III. CHRIST BEARING OUR SINS

     A. "For he shall bear their iniquities."

          1. Christ bears the sins of the "many."

          2. Our sins were carried by Christ; they were placed on and in Him.

     B. He bore our sins that we might live unto righteousness (I Peter 2:24).