Lesson 12 The Suffering Servant, pt. 2

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

"He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

(Ps 22:1, 6-8, 14-18, NIV)

Shakespeare said “all the world’s a stage” and “the play is the thing.”

The Sovereign LORD has written, produced and directed our play for one performance only.  In His Word He has recorded His production notes and commentary on the play.

1. Our Star has been rehearsing His part with His Disciples. From the following references give at least 12 details He predicted: Mt. 12:39-40; 20:17-19; 26:2; Mk. 10:45; Lk. 9:22, 31; 11:29-30; 17:25; 18:31-33; Jn. 2:19-22; 18:31-32.

* Sign of Jonah—3 Days & 3 Nites in earth    * Flogged/suffer many things 

* In Jerusalem                                             * killed/executed via crucifxion 

* Son of Man will be betrayed                      * Raised on the 3rd Day to life 

* Condemned to death                                * Handed over at Passover 

* Turned over to the Gentiles                        * Give life as ransom for many 

* Mocked, insulted & spit upon                     * Rejected by this generation  

* Everything written by the prophets fulfilled

2. Places please, the performance is about to begin. Where must our drama take place?

* Dt. 16:5-6 Passover sacrificed in the place God choose as a swelling for His Name

* Isa. 50:7 Because the Lord helps me I will not be disgraced, I have set my face like flint

* Isa. 59:20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins

* Mt. 16:21 Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem & be killed

* Mt. 20:18 Going up to Jerusalem & the Son of man will be betrayed & condemned to death

* Lk. 9:51 as the time approached . . . Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem

* Lk. 13:33 Must keep going . . . for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem

* Mal. 3:1 suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His Temple, the msgr. of the covenant

* Ps. 69:9 zeal for your house consumes me, insults of those who insult you fall on me

* Mt. 21:12 Jesus entered the Temple are & drove out all who were buying & selling there

* Mk. 11:11 Jesus entered Jerusalem & went to the Temple

* Lev. 4:21 bull taken outside the camp—as a sin offering 

* Mt. 27:31-33 they led him away to crucify Him; going out . . . to a place called Golgotha

* Heb. 13:11-12 sin offering burned outside, so also Jesus suffered outside the city gate to make atonement

3. Timing is everything—“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). Previously Jesus had stated that, “The right time for me has not yet come” (Jn. 7:6) and even though they tried to arrest Him earlier, “Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come” (Jn. 7:30; 8:20). When was the right time? 

* Dan. 9 :25-26 from the issuing of the decree until the Anointed One comes there will be 7 7s & 62 7s, after the 62 7s the Anointed One will be cut off

* Zec. 9:9 your King comes to you righteous & having salvation, gentle & riding on a donkey·

* Ps. 8:2; 118:25-26 from the lips of children & infants you have ordained praise: Hosanna; Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord

* Mt. 21:15; Mk. 11:9-10 the children were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David”

* Lk. 19:44 you did not recognize the timeof God’s coming to you

* Ps. 21:11 Though they plot evil against you, they cannot succeed

* Isa. 46:10 God makes known the end from the beginning—His purpose will stand 

* Mt. 26:2,18 Son of Man handed over to be crucified at Passover—His appointed time is near

* Mk. 14:1-2 Chief priests were looking for a way to arrest & kill Jesus, but not during Passover

* Jn. 12:31-33 now is the time for jdgmt. in this world, now the prince of this world driven out—when I am lifted up I will draw all men to me

* Jn. 13:1 Just before Passover, Jesus knew the time had come for Him to go to the Father

* Jn. 17:1 the time has come for the Father to glorify the Son, so the Son may glorify the Father

* Ps. 17:3 though you examine me at night, you will find nothing, my mouth will not sin

* Jn. 13:30; 27:1 it was night; after examining all night came to decision early in morning

* Mt. 26:57-60 Though they looked for false witnesses against Jesus, they did not find any

* Ex. 12:6; Dt. 16:5-6 sacrifice Passover Lamb at twilight on the 14th when the sun goes down

* Mt. 27:46, 50 shortly after the 9thhour [3 pm] Jesus cried out & gave up His spirit

4. Casting & Roles

   a.  Messiah: Jesus—Who is He?

   * Ps. 2:7; Isa. 9:6 Son of the Father; Child born, a Son, to reign on David’s throne

   * Lk. 22:70; Jn. 19:7 Son of God—according to the Law He must die

   * Ps. 2:6-9; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:5; Mic. 5:2; Zec. 9:9 King ruling with iron scepter over Israel

   * Jn. 1:49; 18:33, 36-37; 19:19-21 King of the Jews—kingdom from another place

   * Isa. 52:13; 53:1 My Servant; arm of the Lord

   * Ps. 118:22; Mt. 21:42 the Stone the builders rejected, has become the capstone

   * Isa. 8:14; Mt. 21:44 Stone that causes men to stumble & a rock that makes them fall

   * Rom. 9:31-33 Israel stumbles over Stone because they pursued it not by faith but by works

   * 1Pt. 2:7-8 stumbled over Stone because they disobey the message they were destined for

   b. Disciples: Peter, John, Thomas & Co.—denials & desertion

   * Zec. 13:7 strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered

   * Mt. 26:31 the night of Jesus’ arrest He predicted all of the disciples would fall away

   * Mt. 26:56 all the disciples deserted Him & fled so the prophets’ writing might be fulfilled

   * Dan. 11:35 some of the wise will stumble so they may be refined, purified & made spotless

   * Lk. 22:31-34 Satan asked to sift Simon Peter as wheat—will deny, but when turn back . . .

   * Lk. 22:56-62 Peter denied Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed

   * Jn. 21:15-19 Jesus restores Peter—turns back—feed My lambs, take care of My sheep

   c. Religious Leaders: Anna, Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin—the plot thickens

   * Jer. 11:18 Lord revealed their plot to me, showed me what they were doing

   * Jn. 7:19; 8:37, 40 Jesus was aware of their plot to kill Him

   * Ps. 35:19; 59:3-4; 69:4; 109:3 enemies without cause—hated without reason—for no offense or sin of His—forced to restore what He did not steal

   * Jn. 15:24-25 they are guilty of sin—hating both Me & My Father—hated Him without reason

   * Ps. 71:10; Jer. 11:19 enemies speak against, wait to kill Me & conspire together—plotted against, let us cut Him off from the land of the living

   * Mt. 12:14; 21:45-46 Pharisees went out & plotted how they might arrest & kill Jesus 

   * Ps. 2:1-2; 21:11 Nations conspire & plot in vain, kings & rulers take their stand against Anointed One—though they plot evil they cannot succeed

   * Mt. 26:3-4 they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way & kill him, but not during the Feast

   * Lev. 24:16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death

   * Ps. 94:21 they band together against the righteous & condemn the innocent to death

   * Mt. 27:1 all the chief priests & elders came to the decision to put Jesus to death

   * Dan. 6:17 stone placed over the mouth of den & sealed so situation might not be changed

   * Mt. 27:62-66 Pharisees went to Pilate to have the tomb made secure by putting a seal on the stone & posting a guard 

   d. Betrayer: Judas

   * Ezek. 33:31 with mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain 

   * Jn. 12:4-6 Judas objected to Mary anointing Jesus—professed devotion, but was greedy

   * Zec. 11:12 they paid 30 pieces of silver

   * Mt. 26:15 Chief priests paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to hand Jesus over

   * Ps. 41:9 even my close friend, whom I trusted, who shared my bread, lifted up his heel against me

   * Jn. 13:18, 26-27 one of the disciples to betray Jesus, the one He shared His bread with

   * Ps. 55:12-14 not an enemy, but a close friend with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship in the house of God, who raises himself against me

   * Mt. 26:45-49 Judas led the crowd to arrest Jesus & betrayed Him with a kiss

   * Dt. 27:25 Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person

   * Mt. 26:24 Woe to the man who betrays the Son of man

   * Mt. 27:3-4 Judas was seized with remorse, returned the 30 silver coins to the chief priests

   * Zec. 11:13-30 took the 30 silver pieces & threw the into the house of the Lord to the potter 

   * Mt. 27:5-10 Judas threw money into the Temple—chief priests bought the potter’s field

   * Ps. 69:25; 109:6-8 May their place be deserted; evil man/accuser at His right side—may another take his place of leadership 

   * Ac. 1:16-26 Judas’ place among the disciples was given to another who had been with them since the beginning—Matthias

   e. Gentiles: Herod & Pontius Pilate

   * Ps. 2:2 Kings & rulers together to take their stand against the Lord & His Anointed One

   * Mt. 20:19 turned over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged & crucified

   * Mt. 27:2 Jesus was bound, led away & handed over to Pilate, the governor

   * Lk. 23:7 Pilate sent Jesus to Herod because He was under Herod’s jurisdiction

   * Dt. 21:6-9; Ps. 26:6 when someone is murdered & cannot determine the killer, the elders wash hands & state, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done” so the Lord will not hold guilty for the blood of an innocent blood

   * Mt. 27:24-25 Pilate washed his hands & declared himself innocent of Jesus’ blood

   f. Soldiers: Temple Guard, Herod’s Soldiers & the Roman Soldiers—mocking, beatings & flogging

   * Ps. 89:50-51 they have mocked every step of your Anointed One/Servant

   * Job 16:10; Isa. 50:6; Lam. 3:30 they pulled out my beard & strike my cheek in scorn; did not hide face from mocking & spitting

   * Mt. 26:67-68; Lk. 22:63-65 they spit in His face & struck Him with their fists, others slapped Him; guards mocked & beat Him & said insulting things to Him

   * Ps. 119:22-23 Rulers sit together & slander me

   * Lk. 23:10-11 Herod & his soldiers ridiculed & mocked Jesus—dressed Him in an elegant robe 

   * 2Sam. 7:14; Ps. 89:32; Isa. 50:6; 53:5 will punish Son w/ rod, w/ floggings inflicted by men; offered my back to those who beat me; punishment that brought us peace was upon Him

   * Lk. 23:16, 22; Jn. 19:1 punish Him—Pilate took Jesus & had Him flogged

   * Mic. 5:1 They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod

   * Mt. 27:27-31 governor’s soldiers stripped Him & put a scarlet robe on Him, twisted together a crown of thorns, mocked Him, took a staff & struck Him on the head again & again

   * Ps. 22:16; Isa. 53:5; Zec. 12:10 band of evil men surround Him—pierced His hands & feet

   * Mk. 15:15 Pilate handed Jesus over to be flogged & crucified

   * Ps. 22:18 They divide my garments among them & cast lots for My clothing

   * Mt. 27:35 When they crucified Him they divided His clothes by casting lots

   g. Crowds—rejecting & mocking

   * Isa. 49:7 He was despised & abhorred by the nation 

   * Mt. 27:20-23 crowd asked for Barabbas instead of Jesus

   * Isa. 52:14; 53:2-3 many were appalled at Him—disfigured beyond any man, form marred beyond human likeness; no beauty or majesty to attract us, despised & rejected by men

   * Jn. 19:5-6, 15 Jesus came out wearing crown of thorns & purple robe—people shouted “Crucify!” & “Take Him away!”

   * 2Sam. 1:16  Blood on your own head—testified against yourself, “I killed Lord’s Anointed.”

   * Mt. 27:25 All the people answered, “Let His blood be on us & on our children.”

   * Ps. 22:6-8, 17 Scorned & despised—people stare & gloat; all who see mock me, they hurl insults, shaking their heads: “He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue Him.”

   * Ps. 35:15-16; Jer. 20:7 when I stumbled, they maliciously mocked & gnashed their teeth—I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks Me

   * Ps. 69:7-8, 19-20 endure scorn for your sake; stranger to my brothers, own mother’s sons; scorned, disgraced & shamed, all my enemies are before you; scorn has broken my heart

   * Job 12:4; Lam. 1:12 I have become a laughingstock to my friends; all you who pass by

   * Mt. 27:39-40 those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads—save yourself

   * Mt. 27:41-43 religious leaders—He saved others, but He can’t save Himself—He trusts in God—Let God rescue Him

   * Mt. 27:44 robbers crucified with him also heaped insults on Him

   * Lk. 23:36 soldiers also came up & mocked Him

   h. Thieves

   * Isa. 53:12; Jer. 48:27 numbered with transgressors; caught among thieves

   * Lk. 23:32-33 2 criminals executed w/ Him—one on His right, the other on His left

   i. Friends: Nicodemus & Joseph of Arimathea, the Women—preparation & burial of the body

   * Ps. 38:11 friends & companions avoid Me because of My wounds; neighbors stay far away

   * Lk. 22:54; 23:49 Peter followed at a distance; all those who knew Him stood at a distance

   * Dt. 21:22-23 man guilty of a capital offense—must not leave body hung on a tree overnight

   * Mt. 27:57-58 as evening approached Joseph of Arimathea & asked for Jesus’ body

   * Isa. 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked & with the rich in His death

   * Mt. 27:57-59 Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, placed Jesus’ body in His own tomb

   * Ps. 16:10 will not abandon to the grave, nor let Holy One see decay 

   * Mt. 27:60; Lk. 23:53 body placed in a new tomb—one in which no one had yet been laid

5. Opening Night—the show must go on: Gethsemane

* Ps. 55:4-5 My heart is in anguish w/in Me, terrors of death assail me; fear & trembling, horror

* Lk. 22:41-44 Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane—“Take this cup from me”—in anguish

* Ps. 40:7-8 Here I am, I have come to do your will as written in the scroll

* Mt. 26:39, 42, 44 prayed 3x—if possible the cup be taken from Me, yet not My will, but Yours

* Isa. 50:5 I have not been rebellious, I have not drawn back

* Jn. 12:27 heart is troubled—will I ask Father to save me, no it was for this reason I came

* Isa. 53:10 Lord’s will to cause Him to suffer—make His life a guilt offering

* Jn. 18:11 Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?

6. Silence please, the performance has begun: Trials

* Ps. 17:3 though you examine me at night, you will find nothing, my mouth will not sin

* Mk. 14:55 chief priests & Sanhedrin looked for evidence against Jesus, but they didn’t find any

* Ps. 27:12; 35:11 false witnesses rise up against me—ruthless witnesses come forward

* Mt. 26:60; Mk. 14:56 many testified falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree

* Ps. 56:5-6 all day long they twist my words; they conspire to take my life

* Jn. 2:19-22; Mt. 26:61; 27:40 “Destroy this temple & I will raise it again in 3 days”—twisted to mean that He would destroy Temple, instead of them destroying Him (the Temple)

* Ps. 38:12-14; Isa. 53:7 I am like mute who cannot open my mouth—oppressed & afflicted yet did not open His mouth, led like a lamb to the slaughter, silent, did not open His mouth 

* Mt. 26:62-63; 27:12-14; Lk. 23:9; Jn. 19:9-10 Jesus remained silent during all His trials

* Isa. 50:8-9 Who will bring charges against Me—let accuser confront Me—who will condemn Me?

* Jn. 8:46; 18:29 Can anyone prove Me guilty of sin? What charges are you bringing against Him? 

* Isa. 53:9 He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth

* Mt. 27:4, 19 Judas betrayed innocent blood—Jesus is an innocent man

* Lk. 23:4, 14-15 Pilate found no basis for charge against Him, nor did Herod—not deserve death 

* Jn. 18:23; 19:4, 6 If I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong—no basis for a charge 

* Isa. 53:8 by oppression & judgment He was taken away—for the transgression of my people

* Lk. 23:22-24 What crime has He committed?—I have found in Him no grounds for death penalty

* Jn. 19:16 Finally Pilate handed Him over to be crucified 

7. He’s dying out there: Crucifixion

* Isa. 52:13 Servant will be raised & lifted up & highly exalted

* Jn. 3:14; 12:32-33 the Son of Man must be lifted up—kind of death He was going to die

* Gen. 3:15 serpent will strike His heel

* Isa. 53:5 he was pierced for our transgressions

* Ps. 22:16 a band of evil men has encircled me; they have pierced my hands & my feet

* Zec. 12:10 they will look on me, the one they have pierced—they will grieve for a firstborn Son

* Mt. 20:19; Jn. 18:31-32  handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged & crucified

* Mt. 27:36; Jn. 19:37 they kept watch over him there—they’ll look on the one they have pierced 

* Isa. 53:12 He poured out His life unto death & was numbered with the transgressors

* Lk. 23:33 they crucified Him, along with the criminals—one on His right, the other on His left

* Ps. 27:7-9; 69:17; 88:14 Hear Me when I call—don’t hide your face, reject or forsake Me 

* Ps. 22:1; 88:3-7 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”—my soul is full of trouble, my life draws near the grave—your wrath lies heavily upon me

* Mt. 27:46 about the 9th hour Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

* Ps. 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth

* Jn. 19:28 knowing that all was now completed & to fulfill Scripture, Jesus said “I am thirsty”

* Ps. 69:21 they put gall in My food & gave me vinegar for My thirst

* Mt. 27:34, 48 they offered Jesus wine vinegar to drink, mixed with gall

* Dan. 9:24 70 7s decreed to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness

* Jn. 19:30 after He drank, Jesus said, “It is finished.” bowed His head & gave up His spirit

* Heb. 9:26-28; 10:12-14  Christ appeared once for all to do away with sin by sacrifice of Himself

* Ps. 31:5 into your hands I commit my spirit

* Lk. 23:46 Jesus called out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

* Ps. 22:14; 69:20 I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax & melted away within me—scorn has broken my heart

* Jn. 19:34 one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a flow of blood & water

8. Lighting & Special Effects

* Ps. 88:18 the darkness is my closest friend

* Isa. 50:3; Am. 8:9 I clothe the sky with darkness—make the sun go down at noon

* Mt. 27:45 from the 6th hr. (noon) to the 9th hr. (3 pm) darkness came over all the land

* Ps. 18:7 the earth trembled & quaked—they trembled because He was angry

* Mt. 27:51 the earth shook & the rocks split

* Isa. 26:19 your dead will live; their bodies will rise; they will wake up & shout for joy

* Mt. 27:52-53 tombs broke open & the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life—came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection & appeared to many people

9. And Curtain

* Lev. 16:2 Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark

* Isa. 25:7 He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all people, the sheet that covers all nations

* Mt. 27:51 the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom at His death

* Heb. 10:19-22 we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus thru the curtain of His body—so we can draw near to God

10. Break a Leg—Proof of death

* Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12 don’t break any bones of the Passover Lamb or leave any of it ‘til morning

* Ps. 34:20 He protects all His bones, not one of them will be broken

* Jn. 19:31-36 so bodies not left ‘til morning, thieves legs were broken, but not Jesus’ legs

11. Intermission—3 Days

* Jnh. 1:17; 2:2-6  Jonah was inside the fish 3 days & 3 nights—from depths of the grave I called for help, you brought my life up from the pit

* Mt. 12:40; Lk. 11:29-30  as Jonah was in the fish for 3 days & 3 nights, so the Son of man will be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth—sign of Jonah—Son of Man a sign to this generation

12. Skeptics sometimes state that Jesus manipulated people and events so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled. How many of the events could realistically have been controlled by a mere human being? Do you think all 100+ prophecies could have been fulfilled by chance?

Realistically, only a handful of the Messianic prophecies could be humanly manipulated. The vast majority had to be divinely orchestrated to happen at the right time and place. His death alone fulfills so many prophetic details, I cannot help but conclude that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah. When I add that to what I know of His genealogy, birth, ministry, divinity and teachings, the evidence is overwhelming that Jesus is Who He claimed to be.