The Trials and Triumph of the Servant

This sermon, based on the final "servant song" in Isaiah 53, explores the profound character, calling, and exaltation of Jesus Christ as the suffering servant of God. The speaker emphasizes the "manner in which Jesus loved His people", focusing on three main points: the trials, the author of the trials, and the fruit of the trials. The sermon begins by highlighting Jesus's silence before his accusers, which was not a sign of weakness but a purposeful act of strength and submission to the Father's will.

The sermon then addresses the paradox of Jesus's death and burial. Although he was "numbered with the transgressors," meaning he was crucified with common criminals, the prophet also foretold that he would be buried with a rich man. The speaker explains that this was an extraordinary fulfillment of prophecy, showing that even in death, God the Father was vindicating His Son and proving His innocence. This act demonstrated that wickedness had not won, and the Father was honoring His servant.

A key point of the sermon is the role of the Father as the "author of these trials." The speaker addresses the shocking biblical statement that "it was the will of the Lord to crush him." The "pleasure" of the Lord was not in the suffering itself but in the glorious salvation that would be accomplished through it, fulfilling His promises and glorifying the Son. The sermon concludes by discussing the fruit of the servant's suffering: a long life and a vast number of "offspring." These "offspring" are all those who believe in Him, forming a "great multitude which no man can number" from every nation. This is the ultimate triumph won by the servant who poured out his soul unto death.